Krystal Odell, Allentown
Recently there has been a flurry of articles concerning the fate of the Katzenbach School for the Deaf in Ewing. As a professional in special education, I have personally been acquainted with this excellent facility, known for its service to the deaf. The campus is extensive, as beautiful as a college campus. And in its present form is underutilized.
A creative solution may be for the landlocked College of New Jersey to take over the campus, keeping the stellar Katzenbach School on the grounds. TCNJ has an excellent Special Education Department having one of the first college programs for people with learning difficulties yet limited dorms for these students.
It could be a magnet campus for special education students; classes on site and dorms in learning communities for special education majors. Students could teach right on campus, living and breathing their major.
Athletics fields in short supply could be shared by all athletes and Katzenbach students could take college-level courses, preparing them for college.
Both learning communities are supported by New Jersey taxpayers, all who could benefit from a cost-efficient way to expand state-funded college facilities, integrate special education into the mainstream and promote a “state of the art” special education experience.
Sounds like a win-win to me.
Krystal Odell
Allentown
Krystal Odell is president and CEO of of PennReach, director of supportive services, Pennrose Management Co., a former director of the Division of Developmental Disabilities for the State of New Jersey and president and CEO of Allies.
