Gompers Opens Its Doors
Gompers first opened its doors in 1947 as the Maricopa County Crippled Children’s Society, serving 79 children.
Our Programs
Gompers serves individuals with disabilities and their families in the Phoenix area with the goal of promoting increased independence and an enhanced quality of life. Our services are designed to meet the unique needs and opportunities for each one of our members. The programs we offer include:
Day Training for Adults (DTA)
Individuals with disabilities ages 18 and older are encouraged to fulfill their dreams and maximize their abilities, while being supported to reach their highest potential for independence.
K-12 Private School (GPS)
GPS utilizes research based, special education strategies to develop each student’s academic strengths while using a variety of teaching methods to increase communication and independence.
Employment Services (ES)
Gompers offers one of the finest employment training programs for individuals with disabilities members have opportunities to explore interests and gain experience with a goal of independent, competitive employment.
Assistive Technology (AT)
Assistive technology (AT) is embedded into daily routines to provide our members and students with access to various assistive or adaptive products, devices and equipment.
In-Home Services
We offer respite, habilitation, and attendant care services, aimed to assist families in caring for a loved one with disabilities.
Transportation
Each day, our large fleet of accessible vans are on Valley roadways to safely and reliably transport approximately 350 individuals to and from Gompers each day.
Our Legacy
For almost 75 years, Gompers has served people with disabilities in the Phoenix metro area with a holistic focus on the needs of the individual. As a core value, Gompers recognizes and celebrates that each person brings a unique set of abilities, skill sets, and potential to our organization. The result is that Gompers’ daily environment is rich with insight, humor, humility, compassion and genuine caring about the needs of others.
1947
1951
Gompers is Arizona Easter Seals Society for Crippled Children
In 1951, our name was changed to the Arizona Easter Seals Society for Crippled Children, which led to the desire to stop renting space and finally put down roots in a home of our own.
1953
Gompers Honors Its History
10,000 members of the American Federation of Labor (AFL) each donated one hour of pay to construct a facility on 7th Street in Phoenix. The facility and operations were turned over to a nonprofit Board of Directors. In return, the AFL asked the legacy of Samuel Gompers be honored and so it was that we became Gompers.
1954-Present
Gompers Expands
Today, Gompers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization led by an all-volunteer Board of Directors. Our programs have expanded to include three campuses, one in Phoenix on 27th Avenue which houses Gompers Private School (GPS) and our Day Training for Adults program, the second campus in Glendale on Bethany Home Road, that hosts our employment training and placement program, and our newest campus, The Blythe Campus in Peoria that houses our newest Day Training for Adults and In-Home Services programs!
Stay up to date!
About Gompers
For almost 75 years, Gompers has existed solely to provide outstanding services to people with disabilities and their families. We believe our best days are ahead, as we relentlessly seek out ways to transform the services we provide.
Recent News
- Understanding Different Learning Styles for Special Needs Individuals
- Mercy Care and Touchstone Health dispatching mobile vaccination teams to Gompers COVID-19 vaccine clinics serving individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities
- People With Disabilities Having Trouble Getting Vaccinated
Quick Links
Gompers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization EIN# 86-0098909.