Parc preps to open new children’s center and help more kids with disabilities

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Parc Center for Disabilities will soon be able to accommodate more young kids of varying abilities in its new Children’s Services Center.

Parc has a set of programs that help young kids ages 2 months to 5 years old reach their milestones. One of the services is its early intervention preschool which has a mix of students with disabilities as well as typically developing children.

Chief Operations Officer Marion White says they’ve had to exclude children who could benefit from their preschool program just because of the age and accessibility of their facility. The building that houses the preschool program was built in 1970 and does not meet modern-day ADA standards.

“Right now the building we’re in limits us,” White said. “The classroom sizes are very small, and mobility for wheelchairs and walkers is very difficult.”

The new Children’s Services Center is 14,000-square-feet with large, open rooms that are entirely ADA accessible. It contains large doorways and state-of-the-art security, as well as a playground full of adaptive equipment for students of all abilities. The center also has on-site therapy rooms for physical, occupational, and speech therapy to take place during the school day.

“That’s why we’re here,” White said. “To help this population that often goes unseen and make a difference in their life.”

VPK teacher Avis Reyes Sullivan says she can’t wait to move into the new facility and be able to have more space and more resources to serve her class.

“I’m excited to be able to reach a whole new spectrum of children that can come in and be welcome and feel like they can belong into a classroom…  even with those different accessibilities,” she said.

The facility is roughly 85% done and White hopes it will be complete early next year. The project cost about $10 million.

Philanthropists Tom and Mary James gave Parc $2 million toward construction earlier this year. Parc still needs about $2.5 million to finish the project.

“People say what I can do isn’t enough, and I want to tell them that it matters … it matters if you come and read to the children or if you come to our adult programs and play games,” White said. “It all matters to every person you meet at Parc and to our community.”