The Arbor School and Development CenterThe Arbor School and Development Center
The architectural design of The Arbor’s new school
wins AIA Architectural Award!

donorsThe award winning design by Powers Brown Architects was recognized by the American Institute of Architects Houston for its unique approach to accommodate children with disabilities. This allows for the creation of optimum, nondisabling environments and barrier-free design with special attention to acoustics and lighting. The Arbor School currently owns 5.3 acres in west Houston, the site of our future home. The property lies east of Beltway 8, north of Hempstead, south of Hwy 290, and west of Gessner.

The Arbor’s new state-of-the-art 38,000 square foot school will provide the muchneeded space to serve up to 100 children. The building will include 16 classrooms, a nursery wing with 2 large classrooms, 3 age-appropriate outdoor playground areas, a vocational area with 2 large classrooms, and a mini-apartment with kitchen for teaching independent living and social skills. A wing especially designed for children with autistic characteristics will be able to provide classrooms for up to 35 children.

The mini-apartment with kitchen, The Arbor Café, living room and dining room furnishings, and vocational classrooms are specifically designed for learning independent living skills. Most of the children participating in Arbor programs will need some degree of supervision throughout their lives. This program is designed to prepare them to work in sheltered settings, providing them with social skills and work experience to fit into a sheltered vocational environment so they will have access to meaningful work in their adult years.

Campaign Progress One of the main thrusts of the new Arbor will be to provide much needed services to the school population and to others from the community. The state-of-the-art Therapy Center is centrally located in the new building, and will provide the latest in physical, occupational and speech therapy. Music, art therapy, water therapy and recreational therapy will be offered. With a Therapy Center in the same building, parents will avoid the need to move children with severe multiple disabilities. Parents seeking outside therapy often face long arduous drive times to physical and speech therapy appointments across a sprawling city, and they will be greatly assisted by having facilities located on the school campus. After the first year, the Therapy Center will be open to the public and will provide an additional source of funds for Arbor programs as services are expanded to the community.

The Pool and Water Therapy Program
will include activities designed for the many children who may be challenged physically and/ or unable to walk, have limited use of their limbs but are able to benefit from water therapy routines and interventions.

The large multi-purpose area
will include space for The Arbor Cafe, Physical Education, and will house a new one-of-a kind Parent and Teacher Training Center equipped for closed circuit viewing of classroom demonstrations and observations. It will also provide much needed meeting space for a staff of ultimately 70. The Arbor School’s reputation is growing and our programs are second to none. With the completion of this beautiful award winning new facility, the city of Houston can be proud of the new building. Special benefactors are choosing to name zones or classrooms of the new building for a loved one they want to honor. This significant opportunity will help raise these children in good health and selfsufficiency, and provide a long lasting benefit to the community.

Please contact Kate Crady at 713-316-0114, or kcpr@airmail.net for information regarding donor opportunities. Each gift will be designated by a plaque in the appropriate area naming an entire service wing or classroom. Each benefactor will have the knowledge that everyday, his or her generous gift will provide high quality services for children with severe difficult challenges.
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Phone: 713 827 8830 after hour/alternate 713 469 9092

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