Developmental Disabilities Institute

Developmental Disabilities Institute We help children and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities experience personal growth and fulfillment.

For more than 60 years, Developmental Disabilities Institute (DDI) has provided compassionate personal care to meet the emotional, educational, therapeutic, and vocational needs of children and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities. Founded by parents of children with developmental disabilities, DDI has grown into a dynamic, nonprofit, multi-site agency serving more than 1600 children and adults in our care each day. The parental influence continues with several of our board members being mothers and fathers of the people we serve. DDI recognizes that each person in our care has unique needs and deserves every opportunity to live a rich and meaningful life. Over six decades, we have built a strong reputation for providing exceptional services for all people in our programs, and in particular those who present with the most significant challenges. With a workforce made up of people inspired by purpose®, DDI provides the highest standards of individualized services from expertly trained, caring, and competent staff. For more information, visit www.ddiny.org.

Come join the Team! Check out the list of our recruitment events for the month of April. Don't forget to bring your re...
04/13/2026

Come join the Team! Check out the list of our recruitment events for the month of April. Don't forget to bring your resume and get ready to make a difference. 💙💛

Participants in the Without Walls program scouted the grounds for rocks to paint, helping beautify the new "Take a Book,...
04/11/2026

Participants in the Without Walls program scouted the grounds for rocks to paint, helping beautify the new "Take a Book, Leave a Book" library at our Smithtown location. They cleaned the rocks and, with their creativity, added personal designs to bring a splash of color to the library station.

During , we are honoring the diverse abilities and differences of those with autism. We are thrilled to feature Bridget...
04/10/2026

During , we are honoring the diverse abilities and differences of those with autism. We are thrilled to feature Bridget, the Self-Advocacy President of her day habilitation program. Her peers elected her to this position, and she is proud to serve as their representative. "Being the Self-Advocacy President is a great experience! I love to share happiness," Bridget said. She is a shining example of the immense value that every person brings.

Students in the Children's Residential Program were visited by the Easter Bunny last week. They also enjoyed a festive e...
04/09/2026

Students in the Children's Residential Program were visited by the Easter Bunny last week. They also enjoyed a festive egg hunt, scouring the grounds for hidden treats and celebrating the holiday season with excitement and joy.

Our preschool students had a whale of a good time learning about the ocean! Their hands-on lesson included “tasting the ...
04/07/2026

Our preschool students had a whale of a good time learning about the ocean! Their hands-on lesson included “tasting the ocean” with themed snacks and discovering marine life in the touch tank. Kudos to our teaching staff for making science both creative and fun.

🎙️Episode 8 of the [EYE] on Autism Podcast -- brought to you by has dropped.April is , and what better time to unveil...
04/07/2026

🎙️Episode 8 of the [EYE] on Autism Podcast -- brought to you by has dropped.

April is , and what better time to unveil a cutting-edge project in the Autism field. Clinical psychologist Dr. Michael Romas speaks with the team leading the EMPAACT Project.

Listen now on:
✔️Spotify - https://bit.ly/4suggK4
✔️YouTube - https://bit.ly/3NNJhCb
✔️Apple Podcasts - https://apple.co/3PWrw47
✔️Our website - https://bit.ly/41jwJp7

Today is National IEP Writing Day! We’re shouting out the incredible special educators and team members who dedicate the...
04/06/2026

Today is National IEP Writing Day! We’re shouting out the incredible special educators and team members who dedicate themselves to creating truly person-centered goals. It is a gift to know a student so deeply that you can tailor every goal to match their unique strengths and potential. Thank you for the heart and hard work you put in every single day! Day

We wish a blessed and Happy Easter to all who celebrate. May your day be filled with peace, renewal, and the joy of the ...
04/05/2026

We wish a blessed and Happy Easter to all who celebrate. May your day be filled with peace, renewal, and the joy of the season.🌷

The students in the Children's Day Program are busy preparing invitations to our upcoming Annual Classic on Monday, Ju...
04/03/2026

The students in the Children's Day Program are busy preparing invitations to our upcoming Annual Classic on Monday, June 8th, at The Muttontown Club in East Norwich. This is a valuable workshop opportunity for them to learn and practice their clerical skills.📫

Their hard work is a big part of what makes this event so special for our community! Visit https://bit.ly/4dsW3R0 to register for a foursome, sponsorship, or the evening reception. We look forward to seeing you on the green!⛳

Happy World Autism Acceptance Day! This year’s theme is a powerful reminder: Autism and Humanity—Every Life Has Value.Ac...
04/02/2026

Happy World Autism Acceptance Day! This year’s theme is a powerful reminder: Autism and Humanity—Every Life Has Value.

Acceptance means more than just awareness; it means valuing the person behind the diagnosis. Our world is richer when we embrace neurodivergent minds and build communities where everyone truly belongs.

We’re trading awareness for action because every voice matters. Thank you to our dedicated workforce for living this theme every day by supporting the people in their care—they prove that every life has immense value.

Such a great day!
04/02/2026

Such a great day!

Autism Acceptance Month begins today! This year’s theme, , is at the heart of what we do at DDI every day. We believe a...
04/01/2026

Autism Acceptance Month begins today! This year’s theme, , is at the heart of what we do at DDI every day. We believe acceptance goes beyond awareness—it’s an intentional action to see, understand, and value the 'minds of all kinds' across the spectrum. Join us as we advocate ➡️ https://bit.ly/4cjy1qg ⬅️for true equality and inclusion for the people we support and the entire I/DD community.

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99 Hollywood Drive
Smithtown, NY
11787

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Our Story

Developmental Disabilities Institute (DDI) was founded in 1961, to address the special needs of children with Autism and other developmental disabilities, and provide therapeutic intervention. Today, DDI is a non-profit, multi-site agency serving over 1,500 children and adults with autism and related disorders, providing educational, residential, day habilitation and vocational services across Long Island, NY. DDI’s educational, residential day habilitation and vocational offerings are as diverse as the people we serve. Due to this, we have grown to include 5 main campuses located in Smithtown, Huntington, Medford, Riverhead and Ronkonkoma, NY, as well as 30 residential and day habilitation sites.

Through almost 60 years of sustained effort, DDI has become widely known in our area. Today, we are the largest provider of services and programs for children and adults with autism on Long Island. The goal of our agency is to recognize the needs of each individual while maintaining the highest standards of teaching and training for our children, their families, and our staff. DDI prides itself on being in the forefront of the most effective methods in use today for the treatment of autism and related disorders.

Our Purpose: “We help children and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities experience personal growth and fulfillment.”