Elwyn Unveils Student Transition Center For Neurodiverse Students

The first step of Elwyn’s 10-year transformation of the 250-acre Middletown headquarters into a modern, comprehensive children’s campus is complete and on Tuesday officials celebrated.

Officials unveiled the $7.35 million Judy and Bill Strine Student Transition Center for neurodiverse students.

Chuck McLister, Elwyn president and CEO, said the center is key to Elwyn’s $100 million campus master plan, the first building within that footprint as Elwyn approaches its 175th birthday campaign.

As part of Elwyn’s newly imagined school, officials unveiled Tuesday the $7.35 million Judy and Bill Strine Student Transition Center for neurodiverse students.(PETE BANNAN-DAILY TIMES)

The master plan includes renovation and expansion of the Children’s Residential Treatment Facility. At the center of the plan will be a new, state-of-the art school at the exact location of Elwyn’s first school, originally built in 1857.

McLister said the new transition center will simulate actual jobs in the following areas: food service, cashiering, technology, warehouse operations and retail.

It also will build independent living skills with an apartment and rec room. These two features differentiate Elwyn’s program from others in the area, which only offer classroom-based training, Elwyn said.

“It’s the latest in the evolution of our education complex. We’ve got two other buildings that support very young children in school. This is going to support kids 18-21 who are getting ready for the next phase in life,” McLister said. “This will help kids to be more independent and outside of the typical curriculum.”

Chuck McLister, Elwyn president and CEO, said Elwyn is moving toward supporting employment and meaningful work for its clients.(PETE BANNAN-DAILY TIMES)

McLister said the organization is moving away from day programing and sheltered workshops and more towards supported employment, meaningful work.

“This is a real step toward advancing the supported offering that Elwyn has. It’s important that people have a choice what to do next,” McLister said. “We want our kids to graduate, where they live and what they do.”

The building is named for longtime Elwyn supporters Bill and Judy Strine, who donated $1 million to the project. Judy served on Elwyn’s board of directors for nearly a decade and Bill is CEO of Media Real Estate.

McLister said the donation will allow the program to change lives for generations to come.

In addition to the $1 million donation, the Pennsylvania Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program provided a $750,000 grant.

State Rep. Lisa Borowski, (D-168) who along with state Sen. John Kane helped secure the grant, said Elwyn has a long history of helping those with learning differences.

“We can’t do enough to help support those who have those specialized needs and they know how to do that here at Elwyn,” Borowski said.

She said the grant and new facility also helps train more skilled workers.

“It’s fulfilling many needs, not only the students, whom it gives training that they need and make a life for themselves, but it also helps support our economy.”

McLister also thanked The Wawa Foundation, who donated $250,000 toward the project.

The charitable arm of Wawa convenience stores has a long history of supporting neurodiverse individuals through its supported employment program, which provides store operations employment opportunities to more than 500 neurodiverse individuals since 1981, officials said.

Wally the Goose joined Wawa Foundation officials, from left, Liz Simone, Jay Culotta and Mark Pinto as Elwyn unveiled the $7.35 million Judy and Bill Strine Student Transition Center for neurodiverse students. The Wawa Foundation donated $250,000 to the project.(PETE BANNAN-DAILY TIMES)

Elwyn officials estimate the new facility will serve up to 100 students and is opening for the fall 2024-25 school year.

Elwyn archivist Caitlin Angelone with 100-year-old vocational training tools, including a bracing pillow on the left and a small farm implement model for students to learn on. The archives will be in the basement of the transition center.(PETE BANNAN-DAILY TIMES)

In the basement of the new building, Elwyn will house its archives.

Elwyn archivist Caitlin Angelone was on hand Tuesday displaying some of the 100-year-old vocational training tools staff once used. The items included a bracing pillow for thread work and a small farm implement model for students to learn on.

Angelone said at the turn of the 20th century students would be shown farming techniques with the goal of getting them work on local farms.

She also brought along a number of photos showing the school in its early years.

A photo of the object room, which was part of the vocational training at Elwyn 100 years ago.(ELWYN PHOTO)

 

On an unrelated topic, McLister said movement at the Sleighton property is still tied up in pending litigation.

“We’re still trying to work that out,” he said.

McLister previously said that the next phase of transforming the campus, starting in 2025, will be building another new school for children and youth funded primarily with public bonds or other debt.

Elwyn Inc. in Middletown Township

More information on a third phase is expected to come as the first two phases play out.

Elwyn deals with adult intellectual development disability support, group homes, day programs and employment support; and child services, including providing early learning services; and adult behavioral health.