Benhaven history

1975 A second group home for five opens.

In 1976, fifty years after the first celebrations, President Gerald R. Ford, officially recognized Black History Month.

1983 Benhaven develops an unofficial affiliation with the Yale Child Study Center through its Director, Doctor Donald Cohen.

1987 Amy Lettick announces her retirement and is succeedeed by Larry Wood, a long-time Benhaven employee.

1990 Benhaven adopts person-centered approaches to program planning, evaluation, and improvement – a major step forward in helping people with autism become prepared for positive future lifestyles.

1996 Officials of Connecticut’s Department of Mental Retardation (now Department of Developmental Services) approach Benhaven about a grant to start a program that would train people to provide respite for families of children with disabilities.

2001 Benhaven’s own consulting group, the Benhaven Learning Network, is established, growing out of requests from the teaching staff of public schools for technical assistance and consultation from Benhaven staff.

2003 Benhaven is invited to participate in a business plan competition for non-profit agencies conducted by the Yale University School of Management.

2006 Benhaven purchases a building in Wallingford to serve as the permanent home of Benhaven School.

2016 Larry Wood retires after serving as the Executive Director for almost thirty years.