ECLC Executive Director Bruce Litinger (with his wife, Renee) recognized the P.A.I.R.S. Program’s original parent advisor, Judy Greenblatt, and Monica Kanter (far right), who also volunteered as a parent advisor for the popular club.
For nearly 15 years, students from Millburn High School have been coming once a week, in the evening, to ECLC of New Jersey’s school in Chatham for students with special needs.
The students all shoot hoops in the gym, create arts and crafts projects, play board games and bingo and socialize through the P.A.I.R.S. program.
P.A.I.R.S. stands for “Partners in Afterschool Inclusive Recreation for Special Needs” and it has become among the most popular clubs at Millburn High.
The P.A.I.R.S. initiative won a state Innovations Award in 2008 from ASAH and the New Jersey School Boards Association.
Chatham Principal Diane Gagliardi recognized Play Unified Co-Advisors, ECLC Teacher Russell Fay and Chatham High School Teacher Christine Cavallo, Chatham High School student leader Olivia LeRoy and Chatham High School student Olivia Perlmutter, a founder of Teens Connecting program.
Over at Chatham High School in 2012, students launched the “Teens Connecting with Teens” club to forge new friendships with ECLC students. This club organized activity nights and special events throughout the year. Gradually, this program evolved into a new effort: Play Unified, which is part of Special Olympics. The students play on sports teams together in tournaments and participate in other joint activities.
Both programs are notable in offering ECLC students a chance for recreation, learning and fun with their “typical” peers. Learn more about connections between ECLC and area schools. It is one of the hallmarks that makes an ECLC education so special.
ECLC’s Chatham school celebrated Special Education Week by highlighting links with the local community. Weichert Realtors Chatham is one of many businesses that welcome students for weekly job sampling opportunities.
ECLC of New Jersey’s school in Chatham is celebrating Special Education Week by highlighting how links with the community support our students with special needs.
The second week in May has been designated by Governor Phil Murphy as “Special Education Week” in the Garden State. This year’s theme, “Working Together to Build a Special Future for All” celebrates the importance of teamwork and connections in creating a positive outcome for students with disabilities.
“ECLC would not be the school it is today, without the warm embrace of the Chatham community,” said Principal Diane Gagliardi. “We are so grateful to businesses that allow job sampling, the public and private schools that welcome our students for activities and the longtime support of organizations, like Kiwanis and Jaycees.”
More than 16% of New Jersey’s students—234,000 children ages 3–21—are eligible for special education services. As one of New Jersey’s 180 state-approved private schools for students with disabilities, ECLC is proud to be part of the support network available to these children.
ECLC stands for “Education, Careers & Lifelong Community” and serves more than 800 children and adults from 11 counties who have special needs, including autism, Down syndrome and multiple disabilities. ECLC is an accredited, nonprofit with two private schools in Chatham and Ho-Ho-Kus, educating nearly 300 students, and offering adult programs and services.
At ECLC, all students graduate with a clear plan for their future. ECLC offers employment services through an affiliate, Community Personnel Services (CPS), also based in Chatham. Specialists from CPS help adults with disabilities find meaningful jobs in their communities and provide ongoing support and advocacy in the workplace. Graduates who are not ready for the workplace can enter the PRIDE Adult Program, with centers in Florham Park and Paramus. More than 160 adults are enrolled in the PRIDE Program, which is exclusively for ECLC’s graduates. Adults in PRIDE spend meaningful days continuing to learn and grow throughout adulthood.
ECLC works in close collaboration with local school districts to serve students whose needs cannot be met in a public school setting. Students with a wide range of disabilities from autism to physical disabilities are eligible for special education services, including private special education services.
Like all children, students with disabilities have unique strengths, interests, talents and challenges. Dedicated educators, therapists and para-professionals work with these children, their parents and school districts to get them ready for a complex world.
The special-needs school’s state association, ASAH, is committed to the concept of “Partnerships for Promising Futures” and has been working in collaboration with the New Jersey School Boards Association for more than 30 years in celebrating Special Education Week.
This week, ECLC, together with all ASAH schools, celebrates the achievements of students with disabilities and thanks the local community for its important support role in the success of these students.
The Sensory Room is dimly lit to enhance the atmosphere of calm and quiet.
ECLC of New Jersey’s Chatham school celebrated Autism Awareness Month with the grand opening of a new Sensory Room to provide therapy for the growing number of students with autism.
Elected officials from Chatham borough and nearby communities helped with the ribbon cutting! The guests included Chatham Borough Council President Len Resto, Chatham Township Deputy Mayor Karen Swartz, Chatham Borough Councilwoman Victoria Fife, Chatham Borough Councilman Thaddeus Kobylarz, Chatham Township Committeeman Mike Kelly, Madison Mayor Bob Conley and Madison Councilman John Hoover.
The student population at ECLC’s school in Chatham has dramatically changed, requiring new tools and techniques to support them. Two decades ago, ECLC students primarily were classified with learning disorders, such as dyslexia. Today, about one-third have autism or another disability with a behavioral component. The severity of the students’ sensory challenges also has increased.
As the student population has changed, the ECLC Chatham school has proactively addressed their needs and evolved its approach. Recently, the school hired a BCBA (Board-Certified Behavior Analyst), who is trained to integrate positive behavioral supports and other therapies with students.
Sensory Diets
Elected officials showed their support for the ECLC Chatham school!
The school has found tremendous success with providing sensory breaks, “sensory diets” and sensory input to help students regulate.
The Sensory room creates a new, permanent space for this purpose. It creates an atmosphere of calm and includes equipment that students can utilize with staff to smooth out their emotional states. The room is a “Snoezelen Room” and delivers stimuli to various senses, using dim, lighting effects, color, gentle pressure, sounds, music, scents and vibration.
A therapist, teacher, or aide always accompanies students when they use the room. Students come to relax or take a break from class, when they are over-stimulated or during times of stress. They can also earn time in the room as part of their behavior plan.
Each student will have a customized list of activities and uses for the Sensory Room. For example, some students complete listening therapy, while lying on the beanbags, in the rocker or on the hammock swing.
Help ECLC of New Jersey students with special needs, like Emma Boland of Millburn and Elizabeth Garcia of Cranford, learn new skills before they go out into the workplace.
ECLC of New Jersey’s students with special needs want to put their new skills to work for you! Let them create custom items imprinted with your name, initials, logo or other design. They can make personalized products including napkins, T-shirts, coffee mugs, travel mugs, coasters, water bottles, mouse pads, jar openers and much more. They also can take chores off your busy schedule, such as mass mailings, collating, copying, binding, laminating, packaging and sorting.
Students complete these jobs in the SKIL program, which prepares them for possible future employment and life after school.
The program begins at age 14. Initially, students learn to complete in-house jobs and operate different types of equipment. Then, they transition to nearby workplaces to gain experience on the job. The program is possible through the support of many local employers, including the Library of the Chathams; Overlook Hospital; and New Eyes for the Needy. Students also work at child care centers and retail stores and in food service, maintenance and office administrative support.
“Our goal is to prepare students for independent living and for a smooth transition from school to young adulthood,” said SKIL Teacher Ann Cooper. “By ordering a product or giving us a job to complete, customers help our students with special needs practice jobs, while being supervised.”
ECLC is a nonprofit offering “Education, Careers & Lifelong Community” to more than 800 children and adults with autism, Down syndrome and multiple disabilities. The ECLC Chatham school is located at 21 Lum Avenue, behind the municipal building.
The ECLC school sets the stage for lifelong learning, offering a highly personalized education in a nurturing setting. The school provides an outstanding academic program, aligned with the state Department of Education Core Curriculum Content Standards, plus all the extras students would enjoy in a typical school experience. Students play on sports teams, run for Student Council, dance the night away at prom, socialize with their non-disabled peers at after-school, evening and weekend activities, join a school-based Boy Scout troop, perform in shows and proudly march in their own graduation ceremony.
Help ECLC students get on the road to success by giving them an opportunity to work for you. To provide SKIL students with a job, please contact Cooper by e-mail at acooper@eclcofnj.org. or by calling her at 972-635-1718.
ECLC of New Jersey is thrilled to be featured on American Graduate Day, a live national, public television broadcast and outreach event dedicated to engaging the country around the high school dropout crisis, which is airing on Oct. 14.
ECLC was chosen for its excellence in fully preparing students with special needs for life after school—whether a job, day program or continued education. “At ECLC, all students graduate with a roadmap to their future,” said ECLC Executive Director, Bruce Litinger. “Our students sample jobs prior to graduation with the goal of identifying the best match. For students who may not be ready for employment, we have the PRIDE Adult Program as an option. Our affiliate, Community Personnel Services (CPS), also helps students and their families navigate through the maze of state and federal agencies to access aid and services.”
ECLC Public Affairs Director, Amalia Duarte (seated, second from right), met with PBS executives and representatives from nonprofits around the country that are helping students stay in school and graduate.
American Graduate Day is focused on telling stories, creating resources, and building community connections. This year, with the graduation rate at an all-time high, American Graduate Day is expanding the conversation and stories beyond the high school diploma, highlighting the inspiring individuals and organizations helping students graduate high school and look toward their next chapter: achieving career success.
Award-winning journalist Soledad O’Brien hosts the four-hour special, which will broadcast and stream live from the Tisch WNET Studios at Lincoln Center on Saturday, Oct. 14, from 2 p.m., to 6 p.m., on PBS stations. (Viewers should check local listings.)
ECLC is honored to be among nonprofit organizations featured on American Graduate Day, including:
