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LADDERS Program

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65 Walnut Street, Suite 260A, Wellesley, MA 02481
Phone: 781-449-6074

LADDERS Is Moving

We are excited to announce that LADDERS is moving to its new location at 1 Maguire Road, Lexington, MA, on May 30th, 2008. We will no longer be in Wellesley, MA. We will open for business on Monday, June 2nd, and can be reached by calling 781-860-1700 or fax: 781-860-1766.

Our new space will enable us to offer a larger array of services and add faculty members. We look forward to seeing you in Lexington.


LADDERS (“Learning and Developmental Disabilities Evaluation & Rehabilitation Services”) is a multidisciplinary center designed to evaluate and treat children, adolescents, and adults with a wide variety of handicapping conditions. The program is affiliated with MassGeneral Hospital for Children in Boston and provides expertise in neurology, developmental pediatrics, gastroenterology, and psychiatry/psych-pharmacology.

Patients with the following conditions are frequently referred to this clinic:

  • Autism and autism spectrum disorders
  • Early detection of autism
  • Asperger syndrome
  • Developmental delays
  • Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
  • Language and learning disabilities
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Mental retardation
  • Seizure disorders
  • Sleep apnea
  • Dysautonomia
  • Tourette's syndrome
  • Agenesis of the corpus callosum
  • Hypomyelination
  • Rett syndrome
  • Tuberous sclerosis
  • Angelman syndrome
  • Other genetic and metabolic conditions

A Credo of Access for All Children

The LADDERS program is born out of a philosophy that developmentally handicapped persons deserve to be viewed as individuals, each with personal patterns of talents and challenges. We strongly believe each child deserves the opportunity for careful evaluation as well as access to the quantity and quality of services needed to reach his or her full potential, regardless of economic, social, or ethnic background.

A Methodology of Collaboration

The LADDERS methodology combines evaluation and treatment by physicians in close association with other professionals involved in the child’s care, including teachers, physical and occupational therapists, psychologists, and speech and language pathologists. Our unique team approach is applied not only to diagnosis but also for designing and implementing the most appropriate interventions and therapies for any one child’s special needs. The multidisciplinary model further offers the opportunity for physicians involved in the child’s care to more effectively communicate and learn from each other, thus improving the care of frequently complex children.

Comprehensive, Child-Specific Rehabilitation Plans

LADDERS physicians develop a comprehensive, child-specific evaluation and rehabilitation plan for each patient, which is shared with the child’s family, referring physician, and school. Multidisciplinary evaluations are also available which might include one or more therapists, depending on each child’s profile and need. Care is taken to help the family locate appropriate resources in close proximity to where they live. Long-term follow-up care is provided via periodic consultations and regular re-assessments.