There has never in our 25+ year history been a time like this. Yes, we have moved before, but the time we moved over 13 years ago we had just around 50 students and a similar number of staff members. It’s a huge undertaking which we still need a great deal of help with.

If you were thinking of donating to help, we need you now more than ever. Please select the Donate Button on this page, and give generously. Every bit will help us pay the many expenses involved in this project. We are deeply grateful for the gifts helping so far, and for the pledges for future gifts.

Thank you for following the progress here and for being part of the journey to A Building of Our Own.

Our Story continues>>>

(Story updated 6/21/24)

Over the past few months, we have witnessed incredible strides in construction, thanks to the hard work of our dedicated team and the unwavering support of our community.

Early Steps:

Building Purchase: We successfully closed on the purchase of our new facility, marking the beginning of this transformative journey.
Demolition: Key areas within the building were demolished to make way for new, functional spaces tailored to the needs of our students.
Groundwork for the New Wing: Preparations for the construction of the additional wing began, laying the foundation for the expanded facility.
Flooring and Walls: Old flooring was pulled up, and outdated walls were knocked down to create modern, open spaces.

Recent Progress:

Framing the New Wing: The framework for the new wing is now in place, bringing us one step closer to expanding our capacity.
Roofing: This week, we reached another significant milestone with the start of the structuring of the roofing on the new wing.
Butterfly Garden: Our cherished butterfly garden has been mostly transported to the new location, and new plants have been added, ensuring continuity in our therapeutic outdoor activities.

The daily progress we see is a testament to the dedication and hard work of everyone involved. Each step brings us closer to providing a state-of-the-art facility where our students with autism and developmental disabilities can thrive.

We Need Your Help to Keep the Momentum Going!

As we continue this journey, we are reaching out to our incredible community for additional support. We are focused on raising funds to ensure we meet our goal and complete this project on time. One of the most impactful ways you can contribute is through monthly giving. Your consistent support will help us navigate any challenges and ensure we can provide a top-notch educational environment for our students.

Join Our Monthly Giving Program

By becoming a monthly donor, you provide us with a reliable source of funding that helps sustain our progress and plan for the future. Every contribution, no matter the size, brings us closer to our vision of a better, more inclusive learning environment.

Thank you for your continued support and for being a vital part of our journey. Together, we are building a brighter future for our students and their families.

To set up your monthly donation, please click the Join the Give button and select options that suit you best.

Our Story:

Since 2010, Crossroads has enjoyed our location on North Westcott Road in Schenectady. We lease 25,000 sq ft of space in our current building for all 12 months of the year. The building has long served its purpose; it was originally built as an office building and was retrofitted for us when a water main break devastated the previous building we leased space in. We have always been grateful to have a place to provide services but the space has significant inefficiencies and does not belong to Crossroads.

Our Board and Executive Director have long discussed the pros and cons of owning versus leasing, and about 3 years ago, with our lease end in sight, and the availability of a near-perfect building opening, the timing was right to decide to move forward. This particular site is an opportunity that cannot be ignored, one that will give our children the best environment for learning, growing, and succeeding.

The building we are in the process of purchasing is just about 2 miles west of our current site. It was built as a school and with individuals with disabilities in mind, and has been unoccupied since Covid shutdowns were in effect. It has ample green space, an outdoor courtyard with raised garden beds, dedicated gym space, high ceilings, wide hallways, lots of light, classrooms with bathrooms, administrative offices, conference rooms, a welcoming reception area, a loading dock, and so much room to grow planfully and strategically in the future. We envision being able to more effectively serve our community, collaborate with other organizations, and most of all be a welcoming and enriching center of education and therapy for our children and families.

The space, 22,000 square feet, is smaller than our current space, but by constructing an additional wing, and restructuring some of the spaces, all of our current classrooms, therapies and offices will fit, and it will cost us less per square foot. The entire project - purchase, addition construction, fit up - is estimated to cost 9.2 million dollars, so a decision to phase the project and complete essential aspects only in this first phase has been made, bringing our costs down to 7.4 million. We were hoping to finance up to 5.4, however, that number has decreased, so the scope of Phase 1 has along with it. While we have plentiful ideas and plans for future phases, phase 1 will strictly involve the purchase of the building, rehab of several spaces, and a new addition to fit our current population. Our campaign fundraising goal is $2 million. The project will save Crossroads money overall in the future every month.

https://crossroadcenter.org/a-building-of-our-own/

Crossroads Mission & Approach
To prepare individuals with and without developmental disabilities for life success within their family and community. We utilize interventions from the field of applied behavior analysis (ABA) which is a branch of psychology and education with a foundation based on scientific analysis of human behavior and learning.

We want the public to know that we are here to help, and that we believe fully in using the methods which have been proven effective through scientific research. We encourage family members to learn about applied behavior analysis. Here are some great resources.

We invite you to reach out to let us know you are interested in helping! Contact VickiR@Crossroadcenter.org to start a conversation.

A Building of Our Own

By Crossroads Center for Children

A Building of Our Own

A permanent location for Crossroads.