Massachusetts Special Commission on State Institutions

The Center for Developmental Disabilities Evaluation and Research (CDDER) was selected to provide support to the Massachusetts Special Commission on State Institutions. 

This historic commission, led by people with disabilities, was formed by Section 114 of the FY2023 Massachusetts Budget bill.  The commission is tasked with reviewing records of people who live or lived at state institutions for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities or mental health conditions, access to these records, records of burial locations for people who lived at the institutions, possible unmarked graves at the sites of these institutions and the design of a framework for public recognition of the institutionalization of people with these disabilities.

CDDER's research report prepared for the Commission in 2025 is available here: Full Report

A plain language summary of CDDER's 2025 research report is available here: Plain Text Report

The Commission's 2025 recommendations are available here: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/special-commission-on-state-institutions-reports

Inquiries can be directed to the Commission at: SCSI_Support@umassmed.edu