Students ages 18-30 will be able to receive college and career readiness support at the Calais School in Whippany through the school’s new Adult Transition Program thanks in part to a generous grant for the program from the Kessler Foundation.

The $35,000 Community Employment Grant will help fund the program, which will start this fall and fill an unmet need in the community.

“Each year, many wonderful proposals are considered on merit first by our staff, then our grant making committee and finally by our Board of Trustees,” said Elaine Katz, Kessler Foundation Senior Vice President Grants & Communications in a letter to the Calais Foundation. “We believe your project, along with others funded this year, will make a unique and valuable contribution to our community in the effort to provide high-quality employment opportunities for people with disabilities.”

Calais School Executive Director David Leitner thanked the Kessler Foundation for their generous support of Calais and its new Adult Transition Program, which will benefit so many special needs students. “The Calais School is proud to serve 86 students from nine New Jersey counties as we celebrate our 50th year,” he said. “With the pandemic, it has been a challenge for us, as humans, on how to deliver our services effectively, but Calais has risen to the challenge.”

“Our goal with our Calais Adult Transition Program is to help young adults with developmental disabilities move forward in their lives and succeed with our academic and emotional support,” Leitner said. “We are developing partnerships with local community colleges and career and technical education programs to help young adults pursue a variety of opportunities.”

The new program also falls in line with the school’s vision “to be the premier institution for higher functioning students and young adults with multiple learning disabilities that prepares them for productive and independent lives. This is accomplished by delivering exceptional academic, transition and clinical services.” The program will begin accepting applications in June 2021 for fall enrollment.

This blog was originally public on the Calais Foundation website here.

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