Our History
Creative Works was founded in 1967 by Marcel and Lois Houle, along with several other families, who were unsatisfied with educational opportunities available for their children with disabilities. These families, unwilling to institutionalize their children with special needs, started their own school in the Houle’s Saco, Maine, home to ensure equal treatment for their loved ones. They grew from offering day programming to providing enriching activities and skill development opportunities, and then eventually opened community-based homes. Originally known as the York-Cumberland Association of Handicapped Persons, the organization gradually shifted from serving children to serving adults, changed its name and expanded geographically. Over the past five years, Creative Works has seen dramatic growth, more than doubling the number of people served, reaching people as far north as Waterville, and adding several new types of programming, including Brain Injury Services, Care Coordination and Shared Living. Creative Works is now one of the largest employers in Maine.
While much has changed over the 54 years since its founding, Creative Works remains just as dedicated to the vision of inclusion that inspired it and still retains the same can-do spirit of its founders. Consistent with the drive to empower independence, Creative Works has become a leader in developing innovative, inclusive programming for people with disabilities.
“From the very beginning, when my parents and their friends founded Creative Works, its spirit was that of a scrappy, entrepreneurial organization that understood the importance of allowing participants to share in the pride of accomplishing things for themselves.”
Today, our 424 employees serve 534 adults with intellectual disabilities, autism and brain injury. Creative Works offers residential programs at 35 Maine homes from Waterville to Sanford, Auburn to Portland, Augusta to Biddeford. Our comprehensive Brain Injury program is highly regarded and rapidly expanding. Our Community Services day programs in Saco, South Portland, Auburn, and Augusta provide people the opportunity to explore, create, be part of their communities and take part in many other enriching activities and engaging experiences. Our self-sustaining social enterprise, Maine Woodworks, creates handcrafted, cottage-style furniture that is sold throughout the United States. Maine Woodworks employs an integrated workforce comprised of individuals with and without disabilities who all earn competitive wages.
“Whether providing a place to live, a place to work, or a meaningful, engaging place to socialize, learn and grow, Creative Works ensures that the people we serve know their worth and continue to explore and expand their abilities.”
Creative Works’ commitment to providing the very best supports for the people we serve begins with our exceptional staff, the foundation of our success. Our team demonstrates experience, dedication and passion every day with each relationship they build and every experience they share. Creative Works provides employees with extensive training and certification programs, professional development, mentoring and advancement opportunities, and celebrates their successes to ensure that our people know their hard work is valued and rewarded. Our commitment to creating communities of inclusion drives everything we do.