Developmental Disabilities Institute rebrands as Brightway Living & Learning

For the 1,600-plus children and adults with developmental disabilities who depend on the agency across Suffolk and Nassau counties, the question behind Developmental Disabilities Institute’s new name is simple: does anything change beyond the sign on the door?

The answer, at least from the organization, is that Brightway Living & Learning is meant to reflect a broader reach rather than a new mission. The nonprofit, now one of Long Island’s largest autism and developmental-disabilities providers, said it supports more than 1,600 people from early childhood through adulthood through educational, residential, day habilitation and vocational programs.

The rebrand lands as the organization marks its 65th anniversary and points back to a legacy that began in 1961. Brightway says it operates across more than 65 locations on Long Island and employs more than 2,500 professionals, a footprint that gives it a major role in daily life for families navigating services in Suffolk County and beyond.

CEO Kim M. Kubasek said the organization’s mission has not changed and described Brightway as the next chapter in its history. That framing matters in a county where families often spend years piecing together school support, housing options, job training and adult day services for loved ones with developmental disabilities. A name change alone would mean little to those households; what matters is whether the agency’s expanded identity brings more access, smoother transitions and stronger continuity of care.

Brightway says the answer is built into its structure. The organization says it provides a full continuum of care and continues to work with universities and academic institutions, while also noting that it has published hundreds of research findings on autism and developmental disabilities. That research arm suggests the nonprofit is trying to position itself not only as a service provider, but also as a Long Island center of expertise.

The rollout has been public and deliberate, carried through the organization’s website, news pages, podcast content and a May 2026 announcement event. For families in Suffolk County, the practical test will come later, in whether Brightway’s new banner translates into clearer access to services, stronger staffing and a wider path from childhood supports to adult life.