Lake Zurich (Illinois) School District 95 has renovated its administrative building and repurposed it as a facility for special needs students.
The Chicago Tribune reports that the Young Adult Center is where students age 18 to 22 with individualized education plans and are eligible for transition services will get services, according to district officials.
By law, students with special education needs are eligible to receive transition services through the end of the regular school year during which they turn 22.
At the center, enrolled students will learn such basics as cooking, doing laundry and upkeeping a home, district officials explained, in addition to providing a place to socialize with their peers.
Until now, the program was housed within the small confines of two high school rooms. The newly renovated, two-story building offers more space - with the added advantage of being near other public buildings.
The building, once home to District 95 administrative offices, is owned by the district and took about two years to refurbish to meet the needs of special education students.
"This was not a building that was big enough to be utilized for many other things, so it's perfect for this program," district spokeswoman Jean Malek said. "It's very close within walking distance to the [public] library and the senior center, and that also makes it ideal."
