YAI and its network of affiliate agencies offer children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities a comprehensive range of services. YAI is committed to seeing beyond disability, providing opportunities for people to live, love, work, and learn in their communities.

Our Roots:

YAI was launched in February of 1957 out of a small school in Brooklyn, New York. Initially staffed by Co-Founders Bert MacLeech and Pearl Maze MacLeech alone, their pilot program served just seven people. According to Bert, from its very beginning YAI has been dedicated to providing innovative services for the I/DD community. MacLeech envisioned a “total life adjustment approach, emphasizing personal growth, social responsibility, employment goals, and the development of independence for the individual.” At a time when institutional living was the norm for people with I/DD, this vision was nothing short of revolutionary.

YAI Today: 

Today, YAI has a team of over 4,000 employees and supports over 20,000 people in the I/DD community. This extraordinary growth shows the ongoing need for these important services and YAI’s success in offering them. YAI supports people with autism, Down syndrome, and cerebral palsy, among others. Operating in New York State, New Jersey, and California, YAI now offers more than 300 programs for people of all ages. 

Better Together: 

At YAI, we are driven by our mission of living, loving, working, and learning. This applies not only to the people we support but to our staff as well. Commitment and passion for the work continue to unite employees and drive the organization forward. Empowering the people we support to reach their goals remains at the heart of our organization. 

Introduction to I/DD
YAI is committed to being an inclusive and equitable organization.Read our Equity Statement.

Learn more about YAI's mission to support people with I/DD: