(Long Island, NY) The ELIJA School and Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of education and intervention services for individuals with autism in the Long Island and New York City areas, announces its “RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY” on April 2, 2014 to celebrate its new, larger location at 11 Laurel Lane in Levittown, New York.
ELIJA stands for Empowering Long Island’s Journey Through Autism, and with its expansion, the school and foundation look forward to increasing enrollment and providing more community outreach programs to the families and professionals who count on their support and services.
On February 3, 2014, ELJIA packed up and moved to its new home which previously served as an elementary school in the Levittown School district. The 13-room school house spans over 12,000 square feet of classroom and community space.
“We would like to thank the leadership of the Levittown School district for opening their doors to our growth,” said Director Debora Thivierge. “Their support truly means the world to us.”
The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony is ELIJA’s way of expressing their gratitude toward the ELIJA families for their continued involvement over the years, as well as those who helped make this move possible. Among these people is a close friend of Thivierge, David Hunt of Hunt Corporate Services, who generously donated his time and energy representing ELIJA in negotiations to help secure an appropriate relocation site. ELIJA Parent Tom Havens and Adam Verstandig of the law firm Jones Day negotiated the lease probono, deserve a special thank you for their tireless efforts. Councilman Gary Hudes also played a crucial role as an advocate for ELIJA’s new space. They are extremely grateful for his constant support for a quality education system for children with autism.
Visit www.elija.org for more information about the ELIJA School and Foundation.
About ELIJA
The ELIJA Foundation is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization serving parents, educators, professionals and caregivers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) on Long Island, New York. Since 2002, The ELIJA Foundation has provided the community with educational opportunities that focus on improving the quality of programs and services available to children with Autism. In 2006, The ELIJA School opened its doors to extend the mission of the Foundation and start helping children with Autism. The Foundation’s focus is to empower families and improve the competency level of professionals, by providing training on the most advanced treatment and educational strategies that maximize the potential of those affected by Autism. The Foundation hosts workshops that give the community access to local and nationally recognized Autism professionals who present topics that will allow those with Autism to more fully participate in their families, communities and educational settings.
