Molloy Education Center Takes the Next Step

Morton Grove's Molloy Education Center has been providing special educational services to students ages 3 to 21 since they opened their doors in 1969.  

Julia Sale Molloy, former principal of the Molloy Education Center was ahead of the curve in educating and advocating for children with special needs and her spirit remains alive today. The center serves as the main educational facility for children with a wide spectrum of disabilities. The population served is as diverse as the students within the classrooms. Molloy is under the umbrella of the Niles Township District for Special Education 807 (NTDSE) and has an additional 9 satellite rooms, which are rented in general education schools located throughout Niles Township.

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Julia Molloy’s spirit can still be seen in the innovational efforts put forth by the current staff and administration. Construction on a gross motor and therapy room began the day after the summer school session ended in July. In mid-September, construction was completed and the doors were opened.

Some new features include two motorized lifts attached to beams affixed to the ceiling struts, which hold harnesses and slings. These slings and harnesses allow therapists to suspend students previously confined to wheelchairs or walkers into a standing position for greater engagement during therapy. The room’s floors are covered with mats and cheerful paint covers the walls. The students can access a wide variety of therapeutic materials in this room in addition to the lifts, such as foam wedges, a sensory bed, therapy balls, parallel bars for walking and a tunnel to practice wheelchair navigation.

The district hopes to obtain a therapeutic treadmill that can be positioned under the ceiling track to encourage students who are somewhat ambulatory to continue to strengthen muscles that can assist in balance, gait and movement.

“This room is an incredible opportunity for our students who would otherwise be limited to therapy on the mats or in their wheelchairs. The data we are already collecting supports the anticipated results for improvement in our students who face physical challenges”, said Katie Papp, NTDSE Physical Therapist.  

Papp went on to explain that the funding for the room came from federal stimulus revenue available to school districts last year and some Medicaid funding. The greatest payoff though can be seen in the smiles and laughter from the students using the room.

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