Students at the ECLC of New Jersey school in Chatham for children with special needs created snowflakes as a show of support for the students who attended Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.
The snowflakes were sent to the middle school in nearby Monroe where the childen will continue their school year and try to return to a normal routine after last month's horific massacre, which took the lives of 20 first-grade classmates and six educators.
About ECLC
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Founded in 1970, ECLC of New Jersey offers lifelong support and services – education, employment and enrichment. It has grown from a small, early-intervention program into a comprehensive network of non-profit agencies serving nearly 700 people with special needs,
ECLC’s two schools, in Chatham and Ho-Ho-Kus, educate more than 300 children with special needs including autism, Down syndrome, severe learning and/or language disabilities or multiple disabilities.
Find out what's happening in Chathamfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
As students prepare to graduate, ECLC’s affiliate, Community Personnel Services (CPS), also based in Chatham, takes over, guiding them into the next chapter of their young lives. CPS’s employment specialists help them find jobs and provide ongoing support and advocacy in the workplace.
ECLC graduates who are not ready to work are able to enroll in the P.R.I.D.E. program (in Chatham and Paramus), which offers adult clients an opportunity to enhance their daily living skills, socialize with peers and volunteer in the community. Last year, P.R.I.D.E. in Chatham added a micro-business venture, called P.R.I.D.E.CO, to give clients an opportunity to improve their work skills and earn a paycheck.
Meanwhile, the ECLC Foundation supplements funding for all entities and supports afterschool activities, respite weekends (overnights), alumni programs, adult services and capital projects. Learn more about ECLC at www.eclcofnj.org.
