District 225 has announced plans to relocate its Glenbrook Transition Services Program, which supports students with disabilities as they move from high school into adult life, to a newer and larger facility in downtown Northbrook opening in August, District 225 Director of Operations Kimberly Ptak said. The District has allocated $475,000 for the renovations, Ptak added.
The Glenbrook Transition Program serves District 225 students ages 18 to 22, offering vocational education, life skills training, and real-world community experiences, Stacey Wolfe, Assistant Director of Transition Services, said.
“Glenbrook Transition Services empowers students to develop purpose, connections, experiences, and independence in community-based settings to assist with the ongoing pursuit of postsecondary goals,” Wolfe said. “[The service is used] to teach professional skills designed to meet the unique needs of each student.”
Currently, the program operates across two locations: a small office in Northbrook and a site in Highland Park, Ptak said. The new 8,076-square-foot facility at 1200 Shermer Road will consolidate all students in one space, providing a larger, more accessible environment, she explained.
“The old space was too small and the space in Highland Park was not near public transportation and stores,” Ptak said. “The [new] location in downtown Northbrook is close to stores, restaurants, coffee shops, the library, Sunset Foods, and transportation.”
The program hopes renovations will make the space more compliant to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) laws, laws that prohibit discrimination against people with disabilities, and suitable for the students’ needs, with the addition of two bathrooms, a teaching kitchen, and larger classrooms, Ptak said. The building purchase costs approximately $178,000 per year, funded through the District’s operating budget and an Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) grant, Ptak added.
By moving to this new location, the district aims to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for students to develop vocational skills and independence, Wolfe said.
“Our goal is not to delay the [difficulties] but to remove the [difficulties during the transition] between school and adult life,” Wolfe said.
