The Cantalician Center for Learning has opened a new state-of-the-art building in Cheektowaga to teach life skills. The building is located in the former St. Barnabas Parish rectory.
The new 2039 Life Skills Center is located at the corner of George Urban Boulevard and Dick Road. Cantalician adults are enrolled in the center's certified day habilitation program serving those with developmental disabilities, who now have a new place to develop life skills.
“They are learning skills, social skills, behavioral modifications, getting some sensory skills together. They’re also working on their independent living skills such as cooking, cleaning, learning how to take care of themselves, learning how to toilet on their own,” explained Rachel Martin, director of community and day services.
Frankie, a Cantalician client, had a big smile and was seated in one of the center's multipurpose rooms. He wanted to give a hug to welcome reporters.
This new center will provide services for about 20 individuals. The site was built in response to the New York State Office of People with Developmental Disabilities' Transformational Plan. It requires those with disabilities to be shifted from segregated programs into their communities.
“We use to have a very large building that was kind of segregated from the community in Buffalo. It had a 120 individuals all in one location and we weren’t getting out as much as we wanted to, so we reduced our certified day-hab, which is what we had. It’s 85% and now we only have 20 who come to the same location every day. The other 100 individuals are in the community all day long every single day,” Martin said.
Cantalician Executive Director Anne Spisiak declared the opening of the new site a “huge day” for the Center.
“We’re really so excited that we have been part of OPWDD’s transformational plan,” Spisiak remarked. “It’s so important for us to be sure that, not only are our individuals going out in the community, but that the community is also very accepting of us, and so staff has done a great job of forging relationships with lots of different community partners.”
Individuals in this program are in need of more support. The former rectory has been transformed into a fully accessible site with ramps, wide hallways, multipurpose rooms, a new kitchen and custom bathrooms.