Welcome to Exceptional Teens & Adults!
Exceptional Teens & Adults is a structured program for adults and teens that have been diagnosed with developmental or intellectual disabilities such as Autism or Down's syndrome. Exceptional Teens & Adults has been providing care and support to adults and the youth since 1999. Exceptional Teens & Adults serves in two ways—a for profit business in a day setting for adults and a nonprofit for teens providing before and after-school programming during the school year including the summers. The for profit entity is supported by State certified providers while the teen center is supported by private pay clients, grants, and donations.
Exceptional Teens & Adults is committed to providing services that are efficient, productive, and responsive to the exceptional needs of each adult or teen, while striving to work with parents, guardians, referral agencies, and supporters. (funding sources) Exceptional Teens & Adults occupies over 9,000 of the 24,000 square feet building that was renovated, and the teen center shares space with the adult day program until the remaining 14,000 is renovated.
Our Mission/Vision
The mission of Exceptional Teens & Adults is to provide opportunities for individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities to live independent and extraordinary lives.
History of Exceptional Teens and Adults
In 1995 when founder Rose Walton, who has a son with intellectual disabilities, could not find a place for her son to stay while she worked. He was 15 years old, and research revealed that there were no daycare programs in Louisville or the Southern Indiana area for teenagers or young adults that could meet her son's needs. The vision for a program for teenagers and adults with special needs was created. Rose wanted to help parents avoid the pitfalls she faced when her son became too old to participate in a summer program that met his needs.
Exceptional Teens & Adults -Adult Day Center opened in June of 1999. As the adult day program began operations in June; the teen program opened as a licensed childcare center, ETA Teen Center, in August, both on the campus of Christ the King Catholic Church in Louisville, Kentucky. In addition, ETA Teen Center received its 501(c)(3) non-profit status in June 2002.
In 2003, teen enrollment increased which required more accommodating space and therefore efforts began to move the teens to a separate facility. In May 2004, the Teen Center relocated to the campus of Churchill Park School in Louisville, Kentucky. On December 1, 2008, both programs relocated to 724 West Breckinridge Street in the Limerick Neighborhood he new location is large enough for both programs to operate in the same building, but remain separate.
Accreditation, Licensure and Affiliations
Exceptional Teens and Adults is licensed by the Kentucky Cabinet for Health Services as both an Adult Daycare and Adult Day Health Care; and an approved Medicaid Provider.
Exceptional Teens and Adults is a partner with the Support Providing Employees Association of Kentucky (S.P.E.A.K.), an organization formed by Seven Counties Services and The Council on Intellectual Disabilities; member of African-American Business Alliance of Kentucky (ABBA), Committee Member of Families for Effective Autism Treatment (FEAT), and Park Hill Business Association