Our Mission 

Empowering People, Enriching Lives

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At Ardmore, our mission is to empower people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to live the life they choose. Since our founding, we have been dedicated to breaking barriers, fostering inclusion, and igniting possibilities for individuals to thrive in their communities. With deep roots in advocacy and support, Ardmore has evolved into a comprehensive provider of services that enable personal growth, independence, and opportunity. From housing assistance to meaningful day programs, we walk alongside every person we serve—building bridges to a brighter future.

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Our Vision 

A world where people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are empowered to live boldly, thrive independently, and are fully embraced as valued contributors to inclusive communities. At Ardmore, we envision a future where every person has the freedom to pursue their goals, make meaningful connections, and lead a life of purpose, dignity, and choice.

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Our History

Sixty Years of Empowering Possibilities

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Since 1963, Ardmore has been committed to empowering people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), evolving alongside the changing landscape of support services to meet the needs of the people we serve. What began as a small daycare center for children with developmental disabilities filled a crucial gap—supporting children excluded from the public school system. However, when the 1975 legislation ensured greater access to education for children with disabilities, Ardmore embraced a new challenge: creating opportunities for adults with disabilities to thrive.

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A Shift Towards Adult Services and Community Integration

In 1979, Ardmore expanded with the opening of a sheltered workshop and later a day program, offering vocational training and care in a structured, facility-based environment. These early programs provided a stepping stone for adults with disabilities to build skills and gain work experience, though they were limited by the segregation typical of the time. In 1981, Ardmore took another step forward with the launch of residential services. Over the next three decades, our service offerings grew to include in-home supports, job development, employment services, and programs to promote community participation. As our understanding of inclusion and independence deepened, so did our commitment to helping people engage meaningfully in their communities.

 

Embracing Change: A New Era of Inclusion

In 2015, Ardmore closed its sheltered workshop, marking a pivotal moment in our journey toward full community integration. This shift reflected our belief that everyone deserves to belong, contribute, and participate in society. We introduced new, dynamic programs like Community Development Services and launched an internship track to complement our employment services, creating more personalized pathways to success. Today, Ardmore’s Community Living Services include 19 single-family homes and apartments, along with an extensive Personal Supports Service designed to meet the unique needs of the people we support.

 

A Legacy of Excellence and Innovation

Beyond our direct services, we are proud to be among the first eight nonprofits in Prince George’s County to achieve Tier-Three Level Standards for Excellence® certification, a recognition of our commitment to high standards of governance, ethics, and accountability—a certification we have proudly maintained for over 15 years. As we look to the future, Ardmore remains steadfast in its mission to ignite possibilities and empower every person we support to live the life they choose.

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