Program areas at Frazer Center
Since 1949, The Frazer Center has been providing exceptional services to young children and adults with physical and cognitive disabilities such as down syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorders and other intellectual and developmental differences. Our programs provide therapeutic, educational and vocational services that help participants realize their full potential and live meaningful lives as fully included, contributing members of The community. Our three main programs are 1) an inclusive early childhood education program, 2) a vocational and therapeutic adult program, and 3) cator woolford gardens, an event space that subsidizes our services. The Frazer Center's two star quality rated early childhood education program (per Georgia department of early care and learning-decal) provides high quality, inclusive child development services to families in metro atlanta. We work year-round with young children to enrich their early development, enhance their capacity to learn and succeed in school, and improve their long-term quality of life. We enroll 179 children ranging in age from 6 weeks to 5 years old, and serve another 60 children aged 5 to 9 years old in our inclusive summer camp and aftercare program. Twenty percent of our children have an identified disability or are at risk for developmental delays identified through research-based risk factors. Our curriculum is tailored to The unique abilities of all of The children enrolled. Our children with special needs benefit from being in a supportive and stimulating environment with instruction that addresses their individual developmental stages and with typically developing peers who serve as role models. Typically developing students learn from their peers with special needs, developing flexibility, empathy, and creative problem solving skills that equip them to thrive and lead in diverse environments. Through early intervention we address The children's social, educational, and developmental needs so that they are ready to succeed when they enter kindergarten. Our ultimate goal is to prepare all children to develop The skills that will enable them to be fully included in their future elementary schools.
The Frazer Center is located on 39 acres of mature hardwood forest, only a few minutes' drive from The heart of downtown atlanta. A portion of The grounds includes 7 cultivated acres that form The cator woolford gardens. Designed as a series of outdoor "rooms", The gardens are ideal for ceremonies, receptions, benefits and corporate events. The gardens not only provide a place of enjoyment for The community, but also are an important source of revenue for our programs. The gardens hosted about 54 events this past year generating approximately $314,000 in revenues.
Frazer Center's adult program serves adults with intellectual disabilities ranging in age from 22 to 70. Our carf accredited program provides high quality, engaging activities to help individuals with daily living skills, to equip them with information needed to make healthy life choices, to prepare them for employment, and to explore talents and interests that lead to meaningful opportunities and relationships. Every program participant has an individual service plan (isp), based on an individual's interests and aspirations, which is used for annual planning of goals and support needed to achieve those goals. Service participation was greatly impacted by The pandemic. Approximately 54 individuals participated in online and/or in-person services.