Work starts on P.E.I.'s 1st autism centre
$1.2M project will serve as home for some, resource centre for others
Last Updated: Thursday, July 8, 2010 | 9:42 PM AT
CBC News
Work began Thursday on P.E.I.'s first resource centre for people with autism.
The Stars For Life Foundation has been waiting eight years to build the $1.2-million centre on land donated by the government.
The foundation raised $500,000 of the $1.2 million, and the provincial and federal governments are also providing funding.
This week, bulldozers started demolishing a boarded-up building on the corner of Maypoint and Beach Grove roads in Charlottetown to make room for the centre.
Construction is slated to start as soon as the old building is removed.
John Terra, 70, said he was excited he would finally get more help for his 33-year-old autistic son, Jeremy, who needs constant supervision.
"Oh, I feel great about it," he said. "You know, I'm getting older, and I've got to look ahead to the future for my son, Jeremy. I won't be around forever, so he's got to have a place to go."
New homes
Carolyn Bateman, president of the foundation, said the centre is designed for older individuals with autism like Jeremy.
"There are no services for them, so we have a great need on the Island to produce some services for our older kids with autism," she said.
The centre will serve as a permanent home for some, with space for five full-time residents, and a drop-in centre for many more.
"There'll be three units for high-needs people with autism and two independent living units as well," she said.
"As their parents age, there are no living accommodations for them anywhere outside their family home."
The centre will also offer training, life skills and cooking programs.
The building will have a library and will house the foundation's new offices.
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