Our story begins with an educator’s unwavering belief – that every child deserves the chance to learn, grow, and belong. In 1952, our founder, Dr. Gertrude A. Barber, opened a small school for children with intellectual disabilities, a bold act of love at a time when few believed in their potential.
History of the Barber National Institute
About Dr. Barber
As an administrator in the Erie School District, Dr. Barber was faced with the difficult task of telling parents that there was no place for their children with disabilities. These youngsters would either have to be educated at home or sent to a distant institution to live.
Dr. Barber believed there was a better way, and working with families, borrowed a room from the local YWCA to begin the first class for students with intellectual disabilities.
Over the next nearly 75 years, the organization founded by Dr. Barber has served children and adults in need because of the support of so many generous donors and friends.
1952-1956
1952: Dr. Gertrude Barber worked with parent groups to organize the first community based program for children with disabilities at the Y.W.C.A.
1956: Opening of preschool classes at community sites for children with intellectual challenges, vision, and hearing impairment.
First programs for adults.
1958-1969
1958: Lakeview Hospital leased to Erie Council for Exceptional Children providing a permanent home for Dr. Barber’s programs.
1962: Dr. Barber was appointed by President John Kennedy as one of 25 national delegates to the new White House Task Force on the Education and Rehabilitation of Children and Adults with Mental Retardation.
1963: The Dr. Gertrude A. Barber Center is designated as an Approved Private School by the PA Department of Education.
1968: Groundbreaking for administration offices and adult services
1969: Opened children’s program at Corry, Pa. satellite.
1970-1972
1970: Dedication and opening of new facilities at 136 East Avenue, Erie, Pa.
1972: Residential wing opened for adults returning to the community from Polk State Center.
1973-1979
1973: Opened the first three community homes in the Erie community.
Began family support services.
Opened the adult program at Girard, Pa. satellite.
1975: Opening of the gymnasium and library on the main campus.
1979: Natatorium completed on the main campus.
Corry adult workshop building completed.
Established Happy Hearts childcare program.
1980-1989
1980: Expanded residential wing.
1981: Girard workshop completed.
1982: Dedication of Adult Rehabilitation and Training Center
Opened seven more community homes.
1984: Established agreements with Office of Vocational Rehabilitation to provide training and job placement for adults.
1986: Established Title XIX residential waiver and supportive employment programs.
1987: Established adult literacy program and dual diagnosis programs.
Completed new adult day services building addition to expand developmental programs.
1989: Established Corry adult day care waiver program and opened of the retirement opportunities center for older adults.
Initiated community-based instruction model classrooms and therapeutic art program.
1990
Established Barber Resources for Delaware Valley in Philadelphia at the request of the Pennsylvania Secretary of Welfare.
Opened the first of eight ICF/MR community homes, leading to the eventual opening of 27 homes in Philadelphia, Bucks, and Montgomery counties.
Dr. Barber attended the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act in Washington D.C., prohibiting discrimination based on disability.
1991-1992
1991: Established retirement opportunities center and supported employment opportunities center.
1992: Converted family support service to family driven model of service delivery.
1993-1997
1993: Established in-home waiver, enhanced supported living, and family living programs.
1994: Expansion of early childhood program to provide inclusive preschool program. Established Dr. Gertrude A. Barber Educational Institute to provide professional development and consultation in the disabilities and behavioral health fields.
1995: Behavioral health rehabilitation services established for children ages 3 - 21.
1997: Expansion of family living and Polk initiative in the residential program.
2000
Opened six residential community homes in Pittsburgh, Pa. for persons previously residing at Western Center.
Closed large facility-based residential site and eight-person homes, moving 43 adults into smaller community homes.
Opened 23 new community homes.
Initiated Camp Connections, one of the first summer therapeutic programs in Pennsylvania to meet social needs of children ages 5-18 with high-functioning autism.
Launched Project 2000, an $11 million capital campaign to build a new school and educational facilities.
Barber National Institute mourned the passing of our founder, Dr. Barber, on April 29.
John Barber becomes President and Chief Executive Oficer.
2001-2007
2001: Collaborated with local colleges to develop expanding social opportunities dances, a peer-to-peer social interaction for adults ages 18+ with intellectual disabilities.
2003: Grand dedication of Barber National Institute on September 26 to provide new diagnostic and treatment facilities, state-of-the-art areas for professional development, and classrooms for students.
2006: Opening of services for children with autism and behavioral health challenges in Warren-Forest counties with a grant from the Department of Public Welfare.
2007: Published “Effective Instruction for Children with Autism,” a professional manual providing an applied behavior analytic approach for autism treatment.
2008
In-home waiver program converted to Agency With Choice, enabling families and individuals to self-direct some or all of their services to remain in the family home.
Barber National Institute became among the first organizations in the country to receive training in A.R.T., Artistic Realization Technologies, to assist adults with physical disabilities in creating art.
Elizabeth Lee Black School first school in Pennsylvania named “School of Excellence” by National Association of Special Education Teachers.
2009
Two new behavioral health services started for children and teens with autism and their families offering intensive in-home therapy and blended case mangement.
Opening of community endeavors, a new concept to Philadelphia that provides a community-based day program enabling adults to access comunity resources to meet their interests and needs.
2012-2015
2012: Research collaboration with University of Notre Dame using robots to reinforce social skill development for children with autism.
2014: Opened new children’s acute partial hospitalization program for children with behavioral health challenges.
2015: Elizabeth Lee Black School receives the Leadership and Innovation Award from the National Association of Private Special Education Centers for achievements integrating technology in education.
2016
A new wireless infrastructure installed throughout all 51 community homes in Erie County to move toward electronic record keeping and streamline communications.
2018-2019
2018: Elizabeth Lee Black School opens the first of two classrooms in General McLane school district for students with behavioral challenges and autism.
Barber National Institute assumes 10 additional residential group homes in Philadelphia.
2019: Prevocational and community participation supports programs in Bedford and Somerset transition to Barber National Institute.
Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie opens cause for canonization for Dr. Gertrude Barber.
2020
Project Search® collaboration provides first internships at AHN Saint Vincent Hospital for graduating high school seniors.
Transition of Bollinger campus to Barber National Institute.
New trainings begin explaining COVID-19 to persons with disabilities.
2021-2022
2021: Adult programs begin phased reopening at main campus and satellite sites in Erie, Corry, Bollinger, Bedford, and Somerset, Pa.
Elizabeth Lee Black School transitions to hybrid learning in January.
2022: Barber National Institute celebrates its 70th anniversary.
2023
Published the second edition of “Effective Instruction for Children with Autism”.
Robert Barber and Patrick Barber were named Senior Vice Presidents.
Groundbreaking of a $3M pool and natatorium renovation to modernize the space and add additional adaptations.
Ribbon cutting and completion of a new sensory play space at the Elizabeth Lee Black School.
Completed a $1.4M renovation at the Bollinger campus in Warren expanding services and programs.
2024
Hosted the 60th anniversary of the Barber Christmas Ball: A Diamond Christmas.
Telemedicine technology changed how adults living in community homes see physicians for routine and non-emergent visits.
“Total Eclipse of the Art” commemorated the historic solar eclipse over Erie.
Barber Beast on the Bay was recognized as an “All Star Destination Partner” by SportsEvents Media Group.
The journey toward possible canonization for Dr. Gertrude Barber took an important step forward when members of the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops (USCCB) voted to advance her cause for sainthood.
2025
Dedicated the Founder’s Room which celebrates the life and legacy of Dr. Barber.
Kicked off the $1M Strengthening Foundations Home Renovation campaign investing in more than 50 community homes.
Record participation in the 12th and final Barber Beast on the Bay.
One of the Elizabeth Lee Black School’s most groundbreaking initiatives is an adaptive kitchen, a fully accessible culinary learning space, opened in May.
Relocated children’s acute partial hospitalization program to a centralized downtown Erie location.
Celebrated the 25th anniversary of Camp Connections.
Founder's Room
The public is invited to visit our Founder’s Room located at our main campus in Erie. This commemorative space honors the legacy of Dr. Barber and celebrates our history. The Founder’s Room is open Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and is free and open to the public.
Cause for Canonization
Dr. Barber dedicated her life to serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, transforming the landscape of care and education in Erie, Pennsylvania and beyond.
Today, her legacy lives on not only through the institutions she founded, but also through a formal cause for canonization—the process by which the Catholic Church investigates and recognizes individuals whose lives reflect extraordinary holiness and virtue.
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