The American School for the Deaf (ASD) celebrated the opening of two new dormitories for the PACES program, designed to support students with behavioral and emotional challenges. The new facilities, funded by the Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority (CHEFA) and M&T Bank, will accommodate 50 students from nine states. The program, established in 1982, has grown from five to 42 students. The dorms feature sensory rooms, clear lines of sight, and spaces for independent living skills. ASD's PACES program, which serves deaf students with additional needs, has seen significant growth and impact. The event highlighted the collaboration between ASD, state officials, and donors, emphasizing the importance of providing specialized education and facilities.
“These dorms are truly designed to meet the needs of our students,” said ASD Executive Director Jeff Bravin. “Our students often come from homes where there is no language or communication, and we provide that here. With spaces dedicated to teaching kitchen and laundry skills, we’re helping them develop the independence they need to thrive in the future.”
The event celebrated the collaboration between ASD, state officials, and the design team, all of whom played a vital role in the project. Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz praised the school's efforts, emphasizing the importance of the dormitories in providing workforce development, therapy, and training to students. “These new residential spaces will allow ASD to continue its great mission of supporting students and preparing them for independent living,” said Bysiewicz. “And to the architects [TSKP STUDIO], what a great job—if students walk in and say, ‘This is home,’ you know you’ve done it right.”
U.S. Senator Chris Murphy also commended ASD’s leadership, calling the school a “national model” for deaf education. “ASD provides students with a level of services that you can't get virtually anywhere else in this country or the world,” said Murphy. “This institution sets a high standard for other schools and service providers to follow, and I’m eager to continue working with my colleagues to help secure federal funding that will allow ASD to build on its innovative programming.”
Hartford Business Journal: https://www.hartfordbusiness.com/article/american-school-for-the-deaf-opens-2-new-dorms-for-students-with-behavioral-emotional
TSKP STUDIO team: Susan Pinckney, Tai Soo Kim, Whit Iglehart, Mehmet Sahin
Case Study: PACES Dormitories - American School for the Deaf
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