Our Lady of the Wayside is a residential service provider for children and adults with mental retardation and developmental disabilities (MR/DD). We operate 40 homes throughout Cuyahoga and Lorain counties that service 200 individuals. Our residents have a variety of complex medical conditions, frequently in combination with mental retardation and mental health issues, neurological disorders and other conditions such as downs syndrome and cerebral palsy. Our Lady of the Wayside operates on the philosophy that those with MR/DD deserve a safe, welcoming home where they can feel that they are part of a family and where they can achieve their full potential in life. To that end, we have moved away from the traditional notion of housing individuals in large institution-like facilities and assisted the majority of the residents we serve by moving to smaller neighborhood homes shared by three to eight people.

These neighborhood homes allow the residents more choice and freedom while providing them with the support they need. Each home is staffed with professional direct care workers 24/7, nurses that service each home and two on call physicians. In addition, each resident has access to a full spectrum of services that are not government funded and include transportation, physical therapy, music therapy, speech therapy, computer skills development, occupational therapy and equine therapy. Residents and families are also offered professional assistance in navigating the complex healthcare and medical system. Our Lady of the Wayside operates in conjunction with the Cuyahoga County Board of MR/DD and the Lorain County Board of MR/DD.

Our Lady of the Wayside serves as an icon of hope for those who, through no fault of their own, seek help in learning how to live more healthy, independent and meaningful lives within their own personal limitations and challenges.