Neighbor News
ECLC of New Jersey Recognizes Local Volunteer Leaders!
The amazing programs run by students at Chatham High School and Millburn High to support ECLC's students with special needs were honored.
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.
Find out what's happening in Chathamfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The P.A.I.R.S. initiative won a state Innovations Award in 2008 from ASAH and the New Jersey School Boards Association.
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.
Find out what's happening in Chathamfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
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 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 P.R.I.D.E. Adult Program, with centers in Florham Park and Paramus. More than 160 adults are enrolled in the P.R.I.D.E. Program, which is exclusively for ECLC’s graduates. Adults in P.R.I.D.E. spend meaningful days continuing to learn and grow throughout adulthood.
