Lacey PAC Adaptive Movement Center in new location

The Lacey PAC Adaptive Movement Center in New Philadelphia held a grand opening for its new facility after it experienced rapid growth in the short time it had been open.

The nonprofit organization provides services for children and adults with diverse abilities. With the move it will increase its services from two days weekly to five days per week, and it has even bigger plans for the future.

The original location was about 1,200 square feet while the new location is about 5,000, and it will have parking and outdoor space for activities.

“We had grown very fast over there,” Lacey Herbert-Stephens said. “Now we’ll be able to take in a lot more children and adults with diverse abilities, and we’re actually going to be open now Monday through Friday and then about two Saturdays out of the month.”

Herbert-Stephens was inspired by her son Cash, who has special needs, to start the center. She is pleased the new location will allow them to provide more services in the day and evening.

“We will have a daycare program for special needs children and their siblings during the day and then in the evening is our after-school program and our continued education program,” Herbert-Stephens said.

Jami Baker, an intervention specialist with teaching experience, will lead the extended learning program at the center. There is a separate room for the learning program, a calming room, a movie area, multiple movement and play areas, and a kitchenette.

The new space was in good condition, so it was transformed in only about a month and a half.

“The foundation was already here. We just painted it, put our own touch on it,” Herbert-Stephens said.

She thanked the Rainbow Connection for helping them secure some more equipment for the site.

“We have that whole big parking area outside, and we can do outside stuff. We’re going to be working on teaching the kids and the adults how to plant their own food outside and grow it throughout the summer,” Herbert-Stephens said.

They also will learn to do the flowers and landscaping around the building.

The Rainbow Connection helped with getting a portable fence so younger children can safely participate in outdoor games and activities.

In addition to the adaptive movement activities that have been provided all along, an additional respite care area for overnight stay is expected to be added within six to eight months.

“Our upstairs is about another 2,000 square feet, and it is going to be very home-based and cozy. There’s three bedrooms up there,” Herbert-Stephens said. “We’ll be able to take anywhere from 12-14 overnight stays, from ages 6 months up to adult, at a time. But it’s going to take us just a little bit of time to get it ready with all the stuff that we need to make sure it’s secure.”

The respite care is for times when parents have to work evening hours or if they are out of town for extended periods of time.

“They’ll be able to stay with us, and then we’ll be able to take them to their day (programs), to their work, pick them up, do different kinds of activities with them, as far as field trips or going to the library, to the park, anything that keeps their day rolling while they’re with us,” Herbert-Stephens said.

The organization is always taking volunteers who enjoy working with children and adults of diverse abilities. The center also is looking to hire two or three more specialists who preferably have experience in the field of special needs.

Anyone interested in volunteering, applying for a position or enrolling a person for activities at the facility may email laceypacamc@gmail.com or reach out on Facebook.

The center started doing intakes this week for members.

“Email is probably the best. Then we can get back with them and get them in here to see the center and build their program to fit their child’s or their adult’s needs,” Herbert-Stephens said.

The Adaptive Movement Center is a more stress-free environment. Children and adults stay busy with activities they enjoy, learn social skills, express their feelings, help others, develop confidence and more.

The center has made a world of difference for Lily Affolter, 10, of New Philadelphia.

“I like getting to meet new people, getting to make more friends, getting to know the people around me,” she said.

Her mother Samantha White has seen the difference.

“I would say it’s less stressful here. If there’s a disagreement between the kids, they really work on understanding each other, and you don’t always get that everywhere else,” White said.

Affolter has learned to help others.

“Lily has been amazing. She would help me with the littles when they got upset. She was bringing them items to comfort them. She really enjoyed that she was a helper,” said Farrah Raines, an activity and movement specialist at the center.

The new facility is located at 152 N. Broadway, rear, New Philadelphia.