About Waban

Our mission & our values

Waban is a non-profit corporation organized to develop and operate programs which promote the general welfare and education of children and adults with intellectual developmental and other disabilities.

Our values

We believe in the principles of normalization, community integration and self-empowerment through community activities and engagement. All programs, residential and day, operate utilizing those principles.

For more than 55 years, these principles have guided our spirit and our programming and made a difference in the lives of thousands of Mainers with disabilities.

Five decades of dedication

Fifty years ago, four lifetime friends had a vision for a special place where people with developmental disabilities and other special needs could come and enjoy the summer.

This restful place would be founded on the principle of providing loving help, motivation and patience vital to the human needs of each person. Programs would be designed to create a sense of self-awareness, to build strong self-esteem and pride borne from accomplishment. Their goal was to offer people of all ages with physical and intellectual and developmental disabilities the best ways to reach their maximum potential.

Through the support and generosity of the community, many individuals, and annual fundraisers, such as the Telethon, Camp Waban has blossomed into a larger organization known as Waban that provides a comprehensive array of programs that each year provides essential services and supports to children and adults with special needs.