A new center for developmentally disabled children and adults is coming to Howard Beach.
New York Families for Autistic Children (NYFAC) looks to offer a number of new programs and workshops to help individuals with autism spectrum disorder and people diagnosed with a developmental disability at a more convenient location.
The center — the first NYFAC center in Queens — is slated to open closer to May 2012, according to spokesperson Mitch Udowitch. It will be located at 164-14 Cross Bay Boulevard, the former spot of Danny’s Szechuan Garden.
“South Queens in general is an area that has not been serviced and is in need of service,” Udowitch said. “It’s convenient for our Brooklyn and Queens clientele.”
The center will provide after-school educational and recreational programs for children, workshops during the day for adults and teen socialization networks. The center will also host support groups, family education programs, speech and occupational therapy.
“We want the building to serve as a community center, so we will be outreaching into the community to share our vision with residents that might want to get involved,” said President and CEO Andrew Baumann.
The center will also have a training area that can provide live web casts for professional development, a full-sized television studio to teach in and a working kitchen for its home economics program.
“We’re looking to especially help the children and improve their lives,” said Udowitch.
NYFAC, a nonprofit organization, is based in Ozone Park. It serves almost 80 families in Queens and Brooklyn. For more information, call NYFAC at 718-641-3441.
