Darrell Zellars

LifePath, formerly the Community Foundation for Human Development, was started in 1974 by a group of parents from the Pennridge area who wanted more individualized care for their special needs children. LifePath's dedicated pediatric facility, Ridge Crest, was opened in Sellersville as a place where medically-fragile/technology-dependent children and their families could find the help they needed. Soon after, residential housing was established for adults with developmental disabilities as the transition from institutionalization to community-based supports continued. From 1987 through 1993, LifePath continued to grow. We established an adult day program, vocational services program, intensive supports program and a laundry training program. These programs work with the existing skills and level of ability of each individual to help give these special individuals a sense of accomplishment, confidence, self-worth and independence. In the mid-1990s, LifePath obtained a license as a community mental health center and opened outpatient psychiatric clinics in Delaware county. The center is open to the general public, not just residents of LifePath. The services were met with overwhelming enthusiasm and resulted in the addition of adults with autism to LifePath's adult day programs. Today, LifePath has more than 100 community living arrangements and program sites throughout Bucks, Berks, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, Montgomery and Northampton counties in PA.