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YDR.COM
Autism school seeks change in
zoning
April 24, 2007
By Greg Gross
For the Daily Record
At bottom of article: · ZONING
HEARING
The West Manchester Township zoning
board will hear a proposal by Rotz Realty tonight to re-zone a
commercial property so a school for autistic children may move
there. The property, at 3151 W. Market St., has lain vacant for many
years.
Should the proposal be approved,
the NHS Human Services school would open for the 2007-08 school year
for as many as 50 students ranging from ages 5 to 21. To be
eligible, the child must have a primary diagnosis of autism. Any
severity is accepted.
NHS, a not-for-profit corporation,
has been providing services to children and families dealing with
autism for more than 10 years with schools across the state that are
similar to the one proposed, according to its Web site. The schools
are NHS' latest brainchild and are meant to blend expertise with a
"comprehensive educational program (that) would result in a stable
nurturing environment," allowing each student to reach full
potential through confidence and skills.
The school would focus on
communication and life skills; behavioral, emotional, and social
development; and academics, according to NHS. Staff would work with
families of students and will use a positive behavioral support
system to "encourage more adaptive responses to potentially
difficult situations," the Web site states. According to Steven Rotz,
president of Rotz Realty, before the school could open the building
would need be modernized with new windows and made handicapped
accessible. Plans also call for a library to be installed.
ZONING HEARING
What: The West Manchester Township
zoning board hearing
When: 7 tonight
Where: The municipal building at
380 E. Berlin Road, West Manchester Township
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