Post by title1parent on Sept 19, 2009 4:37:31 GMT -5
www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=322600&src=76
New school offers options for autistic children
By Melissa Jenco | Daily Herald 9/19/2009
Autistic children eventually may have another educational option in Naperville.
Turning Pointe Autism Foundation won city council approval this week to build a school, recreation center and residential-care facilities for people with autism.
"If we can be part of the solution and help build awareness and help strengthen the education programs not just at these schools but in our public schools as well, I think that will benefit our community and our society," said Kevin Gallaher, president of the foundation's executive board of directors.
Turning Pointe was started two years ago by Kim and Randy Wolf of Dan Wolf Automotive Group. The Wolf family has a son with autism.
The Wolf's son is one of more than 500 children in Naperville with some form of autism, according to Gallaher. Typically, if the child's school district isn't able to provide adequate services, the child is moved to a specialized school.
Turning Pointe's facilities will be built on 6.44 acres west of Plainfield-Naperville Road between Saratoga and Hamlet roads on the city's south side.
The campus will be constructed in phases. The first will include an 18,700-square-foot school and a 9,455-square-foot recreational facility.
The school will accept up to 36 students younger than 22 and have a faculty-student ratio of one-to-one.
The foundation will use the existing duplex on the property as a respite house where trained employees care for children for a weekend or week to give parents a break.
These first facilities would open as early as fall 2011.
The foundation likely wouldn't start the second phase until 2012 or 2013. This phase calls for additional duplexes that will serve as transitional housing for students 22 and older.
Gallaher said the state's "deplorable" system cuts off services at that age.
Turning Pointe hopes its school will prepare students for living on their own, but the residential component would help them make the transition if they still aren't quite ready.
"Our goal is to have them live as independently as they are capable and to match individuals in a residential setting with people who have similar skills," Gallaher told city councilmen. "But we want them to learn to cook for themselves, to clean for themselves. We want them to be employed."
Jack Ryan, president and CEO of Little Friends, which also helps people with autism, expressed concern to city councilmen that this portion of Turning Pointe's plan may not be subject to any regulatory body that will make sure it complies with best practices.
Gallaher said the foundation has been consulting with national experts on creating and running the facilities.
Councilman James Boyajian said a city councilman's role is to determine whether the land is being used appropriately, not how the organization is going to be run.
In terms of land use, the foundation asked for several deviations from city codes including the size of the campus. Naperville typically requires seven acres for secondary schools while Turning Pointe's is 6.44.
City staff said the site will be suitable due to the nature of the programming and small number of students compared to a typical secondary school.
When the proposal was before the plan commission, some neighbors express concern about the size of the buildings, their proximity to the road and other homes and the impact the development would have on property values.
However, none of the neighbors spoke at Tuesday's council meeting.
Naperville city councilmen approved Turning Pointe's land use proposal in a unanimous vote.
Phase 1 of Turning Pointe's proposal will cost an estimated $15 million. The cost for the second phase is not yet determined but Gallaher estimates it could be about $5 million.
The foundation received a $15,000 community development block grant from the city last year. However, most of the project's funding will come through private donations. The foundation recently received a $2 million gift from Canadian National Railway.
New school offers options for autistic children
By Melissa Jenco | Daily Herald 9/19/2009
Autistic children eventually may have another educational option in Naperville.
Turning Pointe Autism Foundation won city council approval this week to build a school, recreation center and residential-care facilities for people with autism.
"If we can be part of the solution and help build awareness and help strengthen the education programs not just at these schools but in our public schools as well, I think that will benefit our community and our society," said Kevin Gallaher, president of the foundation's executive board of directors.
Turning Pointe was started two years ago by Kim and Randy Wolf of Dan Wolf Automotive Group. The Wolf family has a son with autism.
The Wolf's son is one of more than 500 children in Naperville with some form of autism, according to Gallaher. Typically, if the child's school district isn't able to provide adequate services, the child is moved to a specialized school.
Turning Pointe's facilities will be built on 6.44 acres west of Plainfield-Naperville Road between Saratoga and Hamlet roads on the city's south side.
The campus will be constructed in phases. The first will include an 18,700-square-foot school and a 9,455-square-foot recreational facility.
The school will accept up to 36 students younger than 22 and have a faculty-student ratio of one-to-one.
The foundation will use the existing duplex on the property as a respite house where trained employees care for children for a weekend or week to give parents a break.
These first facilities would open as early as fall 2011.
The foundation likely wouldn't start the second phase until 2012 or 2013. This phase calls for additional duplexes that will serve as transitional housing for students 22 and older.
Gallaher said the state's "deplorable" system cuts off services at that age.
Turning Pointe hopes its school will prepare students for living on their own, but the residential component would help them make the transition if they still aren't quite ready.
"Our goal is to have them live as independently as they are capable and to match individuals in a residential setting with people who have similar skills," Gallaher told city councilmen. "But we want them to learn to cook for themselves, to clean for themselves. We want them to be employed."
Jack Ryan, president and CEO of Little Friends, which also helps people with autism, expressed concern to city councilmen that this portion of Turning Pointe's plan may not be subject to any regulatory body that will make sure it complies with best practices.
Gallaher said the foundation has been consulting with national experts on creating and running the facilities.
Councilman James Boyajian said a city councilman's role is to determine whether the land is being used appropriately, not how the organization is going to be run.
In terms of land use, the foundation asked for several deviations from city codes including the size of the campus. Naperville typically requires seven acres for secondary schools while Turning Pointe's is 6.44.
City staff said the site will be suitable due to the nature of the programming and small number of students compared to a typical secondary school.
When the proposal was before the plan commission, some neighbors express concern about the size of the buildings, their proximity to the road and other homes and the impact the development would have on property values.
However, none of the neighbors spoke at Tuesday's council meeting.
Naperville city councilmen approved Turning Pointe's land use proposal in a unanimous vote.
Phase 1 of Turning Pointe's proposal will cost an estimated $15 million. The cost for the second phase is not yet determined but Gallaher estimates it could be about $5 million.
The foundation received a $15,000 community development block grant from the city last year. However, most of the project's funding will come through private donations. The foundation recently received a $2 million gift from Canadian National Railway.