Kevin Ierardi and his mother, Kate, attended the ribbon cutting. Kevin will be one of five to live in the home.
GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Gerald Ierardi was scared the day he drove his son, Kevin, to Berkshire Meadows.
He knew his son had special needs — needs above what one family can provide on their own. But still, he was worried. Will these people be able to give his son the support and care that he needs? Will they take care of him?
But the organization put him at ease.
"The staff has been great over the years. This has become Kevin's home," Ierardi said on Friday afternoon when the non-profit celebrated the new construction of an adult home for those with special needs.
The 4,000 square foot, five-bedroom, house tucked just outside of downtown on Christian Hill Road will be Kevin's new home. He and four others with developmental disabilities will receive 24/7 care.
"This home will be fully accessible and modern while still blending into the community," said Andy Pond, president of the Justice Resource Institute, which operates the Berkshire Meadows program.
Kevin and his roommates will be fully included in the community when he shops downtown or goes out for recreation.
"We do a lot of things in the community. It is learning not only in your house and day program but also in your community," said Liisa Kelly, Berkshire Meadows program director.
The house is set to open this summer and will be the program's sixth — all in Great Barrington. The program serves both children and adults with disabilities but the house is for adults who need to move past the services provided to children.
"When kids turn 22, it is time for them to move onto a different program. Over the years, it has been harder to find adult housing," Kelly said.
State Rep. William "Smitty" Pignatelli remembers a time in American history when people like Kevin would be institutionalized. But that doesn't provide a good quality of life, he said.
"This building is about community," the Lenox Democrat said.
Pignatelli was flanked by state Sen. Benjamin B. Downing, who echoed his sentiments. Downing said the new home is a "special place" that improves the quality of life for those involved.
Everybody has something to offer the community, Downing said, and Berkshire Meadow's new home helps those with disabilities contribute to society. And the town is supportive of the organization's programming.
"Great Barrington has a lot of offer and is an extremely welcoming place," said Town Manager Jennifer Tabakin. "This is no small action and the town is behind you."
Berkshire Meadows serves 66 people and is one of Great Barrington's largest employers with 180 staff members. It was one of the Justice Resource Institute's first programs. Now, the Needham-headquartered institute serves 20,000 people spanning four states and employs about 2,600.
"Berkshire Meadows is still a place where I send people if I want them to experience a place that really cares for people," Pond said. "Without Berkshire Meadows there would be no JRI."
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Possible Measles Exposure at Boston, Logan
BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health confirmed Wednesday that an out-of-state adult visitor who spent time in Boston and Westborough earlier this month was diagnosed with measles and was present in a number of locations.
This could have resulted in other people being exposed to measles virus.
The visitor arrived at Logan International Airport on American Airlines flight 2384 from Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, on Dec. 11 at 2:39 p.m. They stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Boston-Westborough in Westborough and departed the state on Dec. 12 via Logan at 9:19 p.m. on JetBlue flight 117 to Las Vegas.
DPH is working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local partners to identify and notify those who may have been exposed to measles from this individual.
"Measles is a highly contagious, airborne disease, which has increased significantly in the United States because of the unfortunate decrease in vaccination rates. It is also a preventable disease," said Public Health Commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein. "This current situation serves as an important reminder of the critical role vaccination plays in protecting our communities. While Massachusetts has not had a measles case this year, 2025 saw the highest number of nationwide cases in more than a decade — nearly 2,000 in 44 jurisdictions, and sadly, three deaths.
"Fifteen years ago, measles had been considered eliminated in the United States, but that tremendous progress is at risk. Vaccines are one of the most important public health interventions ever — they are safe, effective, and lifesaving."
Measles is very contagious. However, the risk to most people in Massachusetts is low because the vaccination rate in the state is high. People who are not immune and visited any of the locations on the following dates and times may be at risk for developing measles.
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