When a child is diagnosed with autism, the diagnosis affects
the entire family. And finding help with appropriate facilities
can be difficult.
Eastern Michigan University is moving forward with the
purchase of the former Fletcher Elementary School in Ypsilanti.
This will allow the University to expand services for its
Autism Collaborative Center and relocate its Children's
Institute.
 |
EDUCATIONAL COLLABORATION: The former
Fletcher Elementary School will allow Eastern
Michigan
University to move its Autism
Collaborative Center
and relocate its Children's
Institute. The Ypsilanti
School Board recently
approved the sale of the building
to EMU for $2.2
million. |
The Ypsilanti School Board recently approved the sale
of the former elementary school to Eastern Michigan for
$2.2 million. Built in 1963, the 40,000 square-foot
building will house both the Autism Collaborative Center
and EMU's Children's Institute. It is expected to open
in mid-to-late fall 2009.
"I'm elated over this entire endeavor. This is the concrete
beginning of what we hope will be a lifetime of support
to families with autism," said Pamela Lemerand, assistant
professor of occupational therapy and project director. "The
center will have faculty and students from occupational,
speech and music therapy, nursing, psychology, social work,
dietetics, special education and recreation therapy. We'll
start working with children and young adults, and grow
from there."
The Autism Center, in partnership with Easter Seals of
Michigan, currently provides services for 40 families in
the Bright Horizons building located at St. Joseph Mercy
Hospital in Ann Arbor. The center's goals are to provide
comprehensive services to persons with autism and their
families; train Eastern Michigan students in areas of national
shortages; continue research in the effectiveness of various
interventions and be a community research center. When
fully operational, the program will be the only one in
the state and one of the only university-based autism programs
in the country with a comprehensive, interdisciplinary
approach to assessment and the provision of a full range
of interventions. Lemerand said the goal is to reach 2,000
people in the first year or two. Services will be provided
on a sliding scale.
The EMU Children's Institute offers early childhood education
for the children of EMU students, faculty, staff and surrounding
communities. Currently located in the Rackham Building
on Eastern's main campus, the institute serves approximately
150 children, ages 18 months old to six years, according
to Ellen Gold, executive director of University Health
Services.
"We're excited about the move to Fletcher School. It is
a true design for young people," said Gold. "It will be
a good partnership because there are areas where we can
collaborate with the Autism Collaborative Center. It also
will improve on the quality of safety, security, access
and programs. "
According to Gold, it will take approximately 90 days
to complete the process to get a new license for the Fletcher
School site and the institute's relocation should be finalized
by the end of fall semester 2009.
