Disabilities Studies and Cooperative Extension dedicate new facilities

Maria Pippidis, a Cooperative Extension agent, addresses those gathered for the dedication of the new home of UD’s Center for Disability Studies and UD Cooperative Extension.

5:04 p.m., March 20, 2007--More than 100 guests turned out on Monday, March 19, for the open house and dedication of the new home of the Center for Disabilities Studies and University of Delaware Cooperative Extension, located at 461 Wyoming Road, Newark.

In welcoming community members, program participants, volunteers and their guests, UD President David P. Roselle lauded the revitalized facility and the community outreach efforts of the Center for Disabilities Studies and the New Castle County Cooperative Extension office.

“This new location is a great asset to both groups, since it is easily accessible to all of the community partners with whom they work,” Roselle said. “The fact that this space is physically accessible for persons with disabilities is particularly important for the Center for Disabilities Studies, enhancing the center's ability to work with large numbers of persons who use wheelchairs and other assistive devices.”

Roselle also noted that the new home of the New Castle County Cooperative Extension strengthens its identification with UD by moving closer to University's main campus.

“An additional advantage of this new space is the opportunity it offers for the relationships to grow between the Cooperative Extension and the Center for Disabilities Studies,” Roselle said. “I am confident that their shared location will lead to many valuable collaborations in the future.”

The new facility, adjacent to UD's Early Learning Center and the Institute of Energy Conversion, also fosters an increase in the number of partnering agencies working with both units, while increasing UD's connection to state agencies and nonprofit agencies, Roselle said.

“Last week the Center for Disabilities Studies received a commitment from the Division of Developmental Disabilities Services to support a new initiative to transition youth with disabilities to independent community living,” Roselle said. “This commitment is in conjunction with the new house on South College Avenue donated to the University by Micki Edelsohn's Homes for Life program. It's an excellent example of a public entity and a private effort combining with the University to create new program that benefits the state and those with developmental disabilities. I know that many more opportunities lie ahead.”

Robin Morgan, dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, said the new facility also evidences the support of the UD administration to help the Center for Disabilities Studies and Cooperative Extension enhance their many services to Delawareans and their families.

Michael Gamel-McCormick, director of UD’s Center for Disabilities Studies, explains that the center’s new location “has made a big impact” because it provides easy access for people with disabilities.

“The co-localization of the Center for Disabilities Studies and Cooperative Extension represents a new foundation for a shared initiative,” Morgan said. “It also marks a new symbol of great cooperation that might not have happened if the two had not been joined together. We really appreciate the University administration's strong and tangible support our applied research and community outreach.”

Jan Seitz, director of UD Cooperative Extension, said that the new facility positively positions both groups for future collaborations and will help Cooperative Extension fulfill its mission connecting the public with UD knowledge, research and resources to address youth, family, community and agricultural needs.

“Improving the quality of life through results-based programming that focuses on issues and needs is the Extension's goal, and for almost a century, Delawareans have known that they can turn to the Extension for advice, leadership, research results and timely information,” Seitz said. “It would be an understatement to say that New Castle County professionals and volunteers put this mission into action each and every day.”

Timothy K. Barnekov, dean of the College of Human Services, Education and Public Policy (CHEP), said that the University is proud to have the Center for Disabilities Studies as one of 13 units within CHEP.

“The Center for Disabilities Studies supports some very important projects in the community, including working on all kinds of programs and projects that support the people of Delaware,” Barnekov said. “The Total Life Program helps young people with making the transition from school to independent living. This benefits the community but also brings a lot of knowledge and experience back to UD, and is very much a part of the educational mission at UD.”

Michael Gamel-McCormick, director of the Center for Disabilities Studies, said the new facility has increased the center's ability to partner with community agencies and that the number of meetings held in the new location has increased fourfold.

“That has really been the one piece that has made a big impact with us,” Gamel-McCormick said. “It has provided easy access for people with disabilities. We benefit from their experience and knowledge. It makes our programs better.”

A reception and guided tours of the Center for Disabilities Studies and UD Cooperative Extension facilities followed the open house and dedication presentation.

The designer for the project, completed by Bancroft Construction Co., was Michael Deptula of ABHA Architects. Project manager for the 23,000-square-foot renovation effort was Gerry Galgon in Facilities Management Planning and Construction.

Article by Jerry Rhodes
Photos by Duane Perry

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