Easterseals Southern California officially opened its new Autism Therapy and Disability Services Center, located in Irvine, Calif, during a recent ribbon cutting ceremony.

The center offers a comfortable environment for the people with autism it serves each day, as well as houses offices for the Easterseals Southern California CEO and some of the administrative functions of the organization. H. Hendy Associates, a Newport Beach-based interior architecture and planning firm, completed the renovation of the facility.

The two-story space offers an inviting and playful experience for clients with special needs, as well as a functional space that enhances the well-being of its employees. More than 12,000 square-feet of the new Center are dedicated entirely to autism therapy service, according to a media release from Easterseals Southern California.

Some of the benefits of the new Center include:

  • Room to accommodate more social skills groups for participants and their caregivers.
  • New technology, such as the ability for parents to view their children’s sessions on tablets from another room.
  • Two exploration and discovery gyms that provide more space and equipment for physical therapy.
  • A therapy kitchen that empowers clients to learn functional and practical skills.
  • Enhanced space for families to relax while waiting for their children to receive therapy services, including a large lobby and outdoor area.
  • Increased meeting and workspace to accommodate one-on-one therapy sessions, group sessions, a drop-in workspace for visiting service providers, training programs, business meetings and more.

“Easterseals Southern California is the largest nonprofit provider of autism therapy services in Orange County, and we are proud that our new Autism Therapy and Disability Services Center will enable us to provide more than 1,000 clients yearly with important services, from physical and speech therapy to building social skills,” says Easterseals Southern California President and CEO Mark Whitley, in the release.

The Center incorporates universal design protocols, is fully ADA compliant, and has a number of design features to support people with various disabilities, the release continues. These include:

  • All signs and some graphics include raised braille captions.
  • The training room features assistive listening technology and devices.
  • Changes in floor textures provide landmarks for persons with impaired vision.
  • Natural light and bright overhead lights help illuminate the building.
  • Corridors are wide and clear, and many shared spaces are large and open.
  • The alarm systems feature both sound and visual cues.

For more information, visit Easterseals Southern California.

[Source(s): Easterseals Southern California, GlobeNewswire]