It truly was a team effort to open our first group home, Winsten House, in 1979.
With a small budget and a big dream, Eden parents spent many weekends and late nights working to renovate the house — painting, building, and cleaning. They not only helped create a beautiful and safe home for autistic individuals, but they also paved the way for people with developmental disabilities to live independently across the state.
Eden’s Residential Program, originally called ACRES, was the first of its kind in New Jersey. At the time, the idea of autistic individuals living in a home together was unheard of. Winsten House broke a huge barrier by shattering the stereotype that individuals with developmental disabilities needed to be institutionalized.
“A meeting was announced, and the only agenda item was should we buy what would become Winston House and make that our first group home,” said Eden mom Nancy Richardson. “Geoffrey was six years old, and my husband and I said ‘well, he’ll never need that.’ And of course, the irony is he eventually moved to the old Winsten House.”
The opportunity to live with peers and have 24/7 assistance from Eden staff provides socialization and belonging for the men and women we support. Moments that can easily be taken for granted — interacting with housemates, working with staff to do chores around the house, celebrating birthdays and having meals together, and spending weekends in the community doing the typical things we all enjoy — have a tremendously positive impact on their quality of life.
Today, Eden operates 33 residences across Central New Jersey, with plans to open an additional home later this year. “Our residential program provides autistic individuals with a sense of independence and fulfillment,” said Eden Autism President & CEO Michael Decker. “We are grateful to the parents and staff who had a vision for what residences could be in an era where people did not think such a thing was possible.”
2025 marks Eden Autism’s 50th anniversary. Learn more about our history!
