A mother’s own experience with her disabled son led her to opening a center for special-needs adults.
Bonnie and Victor Wilczynski’s son, Austin, was born with several intellectual disabilities. After attending a special school until the age of 21, the family was looking for a place Austin could go to daily to give his life meaning…but she said there weren’t a lot of options.
“Once they get out of high school, if they’re not able to find a job, there’s not a lot of options for young adults,” Wilczynski said.
That prompted the Wilczynskis to open their own facility in Wexford. They rented space, hired therapists and called it ‘Austin’s Place.’
But it didn’t stay small… Austin’s Place kept getting calls from parents who wanted to bring their own children.
The center has since moved into a gorgeous 22-acre property on Dinnerbell Road in Jefferson Township complete with multiple buildings, a barn and a therapy pool. A ribbon-cutting was held last week.
What was important to the Wilczynskis- giving personalized attention to each client- will remain unchanged.
Parents interested in visiting Austin’s Place to see if it’s a good fit for their child can call the facility’s office. More information here.
