For many years, society saw a person’s disabilities in rehabilitation terms, as problems for professionals to fix. An individual’s capabilities and interests were of secondary concern. When Adelante was formed, in 1978, a very different approach was emerging in the United States, based on the ideas of independence, rights, choice, and respect. Adelante embraced that concept and embarked on an endeavor to make a real difference in the lives of people with disabilities.

The agency was formed by a group of parents who wanted to organize support and training for six autistic men. The original name, in February 1978, was La Familia. Before opening the doors to program participants, in November of 1978, the name changed to the Teaching Home, which reflected the nature of the program. Education and vocational training were provided in a home environment. The original six participants lived in the home where they received services.

In 1980, a like-minded agency began in Belen. It was called Camino Real and was comprised of industry training, residential homes, and day services. Because we both had the same goals in mind and a similar philosophy, it was natural to join forces. In 1981, we began to share a vision, a support staff, and a CEO. Also in 1981, the agency began to see the need to provide more day habilitation services and saw that a complimentary agency, ARCA, could cover the residential needs of the people in our programs. The residential program was transferred to ARCA and the day program, which teaches life skills and pre-vocational training, expanded to serve 20 people. As the focus changed from a residential environment, the name changed to better reflect the agency’s purpose. Adelante, which means ‘forward’ in Spanish was chosen because it reflected our vision of helping people with disabilities to make progress in their lives and to work toward their personal goals.

In 1984, Adelante began to support people with even more severe disabilities. The program began with funding from the United Way and became the only program in New Mexico to support medically fragile individuals. Adelante has been fortunate, through the years, to be able to expand our service areas as the need has arisen. Over the years, the agency has increased employment opportunities for people with disabilities by employing people through Adelante Enterprises and by finding people jobs in the community. We continue to offer therapy services, residential support for people making their homes in the community, and a variety of individualized services designed to help people meet their goals.

A timeline of Adelante – when programs started and when major issues occurred in our field – is included below. It illustrates how we have expanded and grown to meet the changing needs and expectations of people with disabilities.

Adelante is extremely proud to have provided quality services for people with disabilities for over 26 years and prouder still to witness the individual goals achieved by the people we exist to support. Thank you for sharing the journey with Adelante and for your support, encouragement, and empowerment of people with disabilities.

Agency Timeline

Below are some of the key parts of our agency history and the dates on which they occurred.

February 1978 – La Familia incorporated

April 1978 – Name Changed to Teaching Home

October 1978 – Initial budget was $64,000

November 1978 – First residents accepted to La Plata address

January 1979 – Full Capacity of 6 clients being supported

April 1980 – Teaching Home competed in its first Special Olympics

July 1980 – Expanded day program to 20 people with disabilities

April 1981 – Name Changed to Adelante Development Center.   Residential program transferred to ARCA

July 1981 – Adelante affiliated with Camino Real

April 1982 – Adelante became a United Way agency

July 1982 – Adelante Industries started its first big contract

August 1982 – First accredited by CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitative Facilities)

July 1983 – Camino Real Thrift Shop opened

January 1984 – Camino Real group home began

May 1984 – Adelante Industries began packaging and shrinkwrapping services

May 1984 – DASH began supporting severely disabled people, thanks to United Way

April 1985 – Specialized Behavior Management Services began

January 1986 – Adelante & Camino Real merged

July 1987 – Supported Employment Services began

September 1987 – First Supported Employment job placement

November 1987 – Bargain Square Thrift Store opened

June 1988 – CaseLink computerized system developed and in operation

July 1988 – Adelante industries earned over $100,000 in revenues in one year

Fall 1989 – First supervised work group begins work at Rowlands nursery with 7 people

1990 – Adelante Supported Employment became the first CARF accredited SE program in New Mexico (the 5 th in the United States)

Fall 1991-Spring 1992 – Big expansion as Jackson lawsuit returns people with disabilities from institutions back to their communities

December 1992 – Adelante TechWorks sponsored an Assistive Technology Expo at the Albuquerque Convention Center

March 1993 – 112 people with disabilities working in Adelante Industries (name later changed to Enterprises)

November 1993 – 32 people working in supervised work crews, 46 people working at individual placements in the community as part of Adelante Employment Services

Fall 1994 – Adelante was the first New Mexico provider accredited in the outcomes process by the Council.   The agency was one of only 7 that earned a 3-year status on the first try

1995 – Adelante was awarded the National Award of Excellence by the Accreditation Council on Services for People with Disabilities.   Only one award is given per year.

Spring 1996 – Community Options program began in Valencia County.   The Options program tripled in size during the 1995-96 fiscal year.

Fall 1996-Spring 1997 – The last state-run institution closed.   Adelante was selected by a quarter of the people leaving the State system and entering their communities.

Fiscal Year 1996-97 – Adelante Industries handled 1,625 contracts with over 250 companies

1997 – Adelante received the Quality New Mexico Pinon Award for commitment to quality principles

July 1998 – Adelante Janitorial Services cleaning 52 buildings on Kirtland AFB with 45 workers.

Fiscal Year 1998-99 – Supported Employment found jobs in the community for 66 people

Spring 1999 – Seniors Services began with funding from the Albuquerque Community Foundation

1999 – A Community Development Block Grant funded construction and major upgrades at Bargain Square and created 20 new jobs

Fiscal year 1999-2000 – 4 homes were added to the Community Living Program

Fiscal Year 2000-01 – Adelante was the American Marketing Association’s Nonprofit Marketer of the Year

September 2001 – Launch of Adelante Desert Harvest Food Rescue.   During the year the program collected about 5,000 pounds of food per month

May 2002 – Community Options Program expanded to Rio Rancho

November 2002 – Adelante approved to be a Medicaid Personal Care Option Provider, program launch followed in Spring 2003

Spring 2003 – Adelante is recognized for compliance to ISO 9001:2000, an international quality standards program; Adelante was one of the first non-profits to achieve this feat

October 2003 – Document Destruction Services opened

Febrary 2005 - First staff members move into El Centro location on Osuna Blvd.

July 2005 - Adelante takes over FLETC dormitory contract through FSS

August 2005 - Los Lunas location of Bargain Square opens

September 2005 - Los Lunas Community Options location opens

October 2006 - Adelante begins operation of Creative Hands Studio, formerly run by ResCare

October/November 2006 - Adelante adopts four new homes into our Community Living program in Albuquerque. These transitions were also a result of ResCare ceasing operations in New Mexico.