Photo by John Phelan | CC BY-SA 4.0

A company that operates schools and programs for people with autism in several states has agreed to purchase the Crotched Mountain School property. The purchase price has not been disclosed. 

The Crotched Mountain Foundation had said in June that it would close its Greenfield campus by Nov. 1 after suffering financial hardship because of the coronavirus pandemic. Gersh Autism recently announced it will assume full operational and financial responsibility for the day and boarding schools serving children and adults on that date instead. 

Crotched Mountain first opened a rehabilitation center in 1953 to support people with polio. 

“Contemplating the closure of the school and our Greenfield campus has been extremely difficult and heartbreaking for us and for the community,” said Ned Olney, the foundation’s CEO. “We are elated to know that our current students will be well taken care of, and that Crotched Mountain School and our mission will live on and expand over time to meet this growing need.” 

Gersh Autism’s services include education, therapy, independent living skills and recreation. It operates schools and programs in New York, Washington state and Puerto Rico.