For the past 40 years, Roger Plourde’s career in human services has been characterized by a commitment to supporting individuals with significant physical and behavioral challenges in their quest to find a home to call their own and in a community where they can thrive and realize their dreams.
Roger’s early years in the field provided him with an appreciation of system transition, from institutional care to community programs, and what that transition means to those within the system. From 1979 to 1982, Roger served as a direct support staff, providing overnight support to 22 young men at the Hogan Regional Center in Danvers, and later as a DSP and program director at a sheltered workshop program supporting individuals with intense behavioral challenges. Through these experiences, Roger honed his skills and shaped his philosophy for how services should be provided in spite of the barriers that people with disabilities face.
From 1988 to 2013, Roger applied his direct care expertise and management skills in positions of progressive responsibility at CHS, one of the largest residential providers in the Northeast, serving as Director of Residential Services.
Since 2013, Roger has served as the Director of Residential Services at Communitas, providing oversight and support to the Residential Division for their 24-hour supports community homes and the Independent Home Supports Program.
Roger received his Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services from the College of Public and Community Service at the University of Massachusetts Boston, and for many years has inspired generations of new human service workers with his work as a certified lead instructor for PABC training.