National Lekotek Center partners with Evanston McGaw YMCA to offer additional services for children with disabilities

EVANSTON (Sept. 5, 2003) The National Lekotek Center, based in the Evanston Civic Center since 1990, announces a new partnership with the McGaw YMCA in Evanston at the same time it moves its main offices to 3204 W. Armitage Avenue in Chicago’s Humboldt Park neighborhood. On September 8, the National Lekotek Center will move its Evanston-based services to families from the Evanston Civic Center to a satellite site at the McGaw YMCA at 1000 Grove Street . All Lekotek services for children with disabilities and their families will continue, including: individual family play sessions, parent groups, computer play programs, playgroups, and a toy lending library. Additionally, Lekotek will partner with YMCA staff to offer two classes this fall for young children, including “Toddler Gym” and ‘Stuff-n-Gym.” These offerings are designed so that children of all abilities can be fully included in class activities.

“We believe this move will make Lekotek’s services more readily available to families whose children have special needs and who have limited access to services in Humboldt Park and surrounding Chicago neighborhoods,” says Helen Hilken, director, National Lekotek Center, a division of Chicago-based Anixter Center .

“At the same time, our roots in Evanston are very deeply planted, and we look forward to our new partnership with the YMCA,” says Hilken. The full range of family support services will continue at both Lekotek locations. The organization’s home-visiting program also will be expanded to accommodate family needs.

Says Christopher Hart, vice president of programs and interim executive director of the McGaw YMCA, “By teaming up with Lekotek in this adventure, our goal is to effectively include children with disabilities into our programs and to ensure a successful experience for all children.”

For more information about Lekotek and its offerings or about the classes and services to be offered at either the McGaw YMCA or the Humboldt Park location, contact Lekotek at 773-276-5164.

• • • • • • • • • • •

The mission of the Lester and Rosalie Anixter Center is to assist people with disabilities to live and work successfully in the community. Anixter Center is a leading provider of high-quality vocational, residential and educational options, substance abuse prevention and treatment, and health care. Anixter Center is an advocate for the rights of people with disabilities to be full and equal members of the community.