Cottonwood, Inc.

Our values include customer satisfaction, self determination and personal growth, teamwork, community partnerships, courtesy and respect, and support.  

As a Community Service Provider, Cottonwood’s mission is to help individuals with disabilities shape their own futures. Cottonwood offers a variety of customer driven services that emphasize the use of the community as a learning environment. The services offered are designed to support individuals in pursuing meaningful, person-centered outcomes and to meet individual needs. Cottonwood offers six core services that are broad in scope, yet specific to individual needs, interests and desires:

Support Services

Residential

Work Services

JobLink Employment

Work Enrichment

Retirement Enrichment

Our mission statement states: We help people with disabilities shape their own future. Cottonwood, Inc. is a 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit organization that was established in 1972 to provide services to individuals with developmental disabilities. Over the years, Cottonwood has earned a reputation for quality services and care as a community service provider. In 1995, Cottonwood was awarded an additional responsibility through the Developmental Disability Reform Act. It became the Community Developmental Disabilities Organization (CDDO) for Douglas and Jefferson counties. As the CDDO, Cottonwood is the single point of entry connecting individuals of all ages with developmental disabilities to the network of services in this area. The roots of Cottonwood, Incorporated were planted in September 1962 when the Douglas County Association for Retarded Citizens developed a work-activity program for adults with mental retardation in the Lawrence area. Housed at 745 Ohio, the program was called the Bess Stone Activity Center. Services for approximately 20 adults with mental retardation continued at this location for 10 years. Since that time, Cottonwood has expanded to include a newly expanded facility and a greater range of services for individuals with disabilities.