Maurice touts fan-friendly autism center
Summer is right around the corner, and what’s about to happen this summer is a new era for Easter Seals and autism.
As of now, we at Easter Seals Metropolitan Chicago’s New Therapeutic School and Center for Autism Research are spending the final days at 1950 W. Roosevelt Road, with a new horizon just two blocks away at 1939 West 13th Street.
Beginning July 7, Easter Seals will officially open the new state-of-the-art therapeutic school and center for autism research. The new school will be one of the elite autism programs for not only Chicago, but for the whole country. It will be fan-friendly to many needy families of individuals with autism.
The interior of the building will feature two floors of classrooms, along with several therapy rooms for many students to get highly involved in. The exterior will feature a playground for students, plus a custom-made baseball field, named for the Chicago White Sox. I grew up on Chicago’s south side and have always been a White Sox fan, and while I am writing this they are in first place. No matter what happens the rest of the season, I will always be a fan of this White Sox charity that pledged one million dollars towards our new school.
Easters Seals of Metropolitan Chicago also will receive $1 million toward construction of the new Therapeutic School and Center for Autism Research. The school, located in the Illinois Medical District in Chicago, will be a world-class, one-of-a-kind facility, teaching people with the diagnosis of autism how to live independently, how to get a job and about life skills, in general, as an example.
In conjunction with this grant, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen has agreed to be the spokesperson for Easter Seals for its autism program.
“That’s something we really wanted to be a part of,” said [White Sox senior director of community relations Christine] O’Reilly of the Easter Seals’ program, with this new facility also naming its baseball field in recognition of the White Sox.
I have seen or visited the construction site since Day One. I never thought the different beams being welded together along with concrete would form into a nice, comfortable setting for many people. During my past visits, there were construction people working the interior to make sure everything on the inside stays perfect, in mint condition, all set for the official grand opening. While they continue to work on the Therapeutic School, some of the staff at Easter Seals Metropolitan Chicago already feel right at home in the new building. The Metropolitan Chicago administrative offices have already made their transition to the third floor of the building, with much more office space plus many more amenities for the staff to enjoy. Working in the new building is like heaven on earth!