A Unique Beginning, a Humble Start
Before joining Easterseals Louisiana in January 2022, the Chartwell Center spent over 20 years laying the foundation for and building upon its unique model for Autism services. Through the years, the guiding vision has remained the same—to provide the best possible supports for individuals with Autism.
In 1999, direct services started out of a single classroom at a local school. Soon after, Chartwell expanded its scope to include training opportunities for professionals across the city. As Chartwell continued to grow under the direction of Janet Mora, Chartwell relocated to a small house.
Community Supported Growth
In 2014, Chartwell opened a newly renovated 5,000 square foot building in the Lower Garden District that houses classrooms, an outside play area, and an urban garden.
In 2015, Chartwell began offering adult services through the Program for Adults Transitioning Higher (PATH). PATH provides adults with vocational training, community based instruction (CBI), and opportunities to enhance their independence.
In 2016, Chartwell started providing Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy for the first time. From then onward, ABA is incorporated across programs and age groups to bring evidence-based interventions to Chartwell’s two generations of students. ABA is, at its core, compass for how to help our children and adults navigate the world.
Building Upon Our Cornerstone
In 2021, the Board of Directors began a year-long process to identify a partner who could take Chartwell to new heights, which was found in Easterseals Louisiana (ESL). ESL has provided supports to individuals with disabilities for over 70 years and today supports more than 10,000 individuals and their families each year across the state. By joining the ESL family, Chartwell will immediately be able to increase offerings to families and, in the long term, bring our model to other communities. All abilities and limitless possibilities are truly a reality with our organizations united.