Stonington — It's a frequent concern among families with adult children with developmental disabilities: what do they do after the children turn 22 and no longer are eligible for services from the public school system?

How do they get access to and learn the skills they need to live and work independently in the community? 

Now thanks to Alan and Tanya Sylvestre of Stonington and Vista Life Innovations, those services are available at a newly renovated building at 101 W. Broad St. in downtown Pawcatuck called New Heights. Vista Life assists a few hundred clients with facilities, programs, housing and a gift shop in Madison and Westbrook.

In mid-December about 200 people attended an open house to tour the facility, which opened in November, and learned about the programs being offered there weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The programs can serve 18 people who are 17 or older. 

"It's just amazing, being in here and hearing about all their programs," First Selectwoman Danielle Chesebrough said.

The Sylvestres have spent $2 million to renovate the building and Alan Sylvestre said he and his family also will provide funding to make up any operational deficits to ensure the program is successful. The family also has created a nonprofit organization called Inclusion A Sylvestre Foundation, which will not charge Vista Life rent for three years.

The 5-year-long project is the beginning of a larger vision by the Sylvestres to develop two campuses in town that will provide housing and supportive services for those with developmental disabilities, and an entity that will generate revenue.

The program focuses on five core areas: life skills, cognitive and social behavior, community integration, vocational/job training and options for training and education, such as obtaining a driver's license and attending community college or a certificate program. Much of this work will be done in the community.

"We like to say the community is our classroom," Jordan Shamas, the New Heights associate director said during the open house.   

"It's all about access," Alan Sylvestre added. "Access to education. Access to employment. Access to services."  

The building includes offices for meetings with therapists and counselors, an art and program room, a life skills and vocational training room and a Zen room where clients can relax and implement coping strategies. There is also a community meeting room with a small kitchen and staff offices.

The third floor is a two-bedroom apartment where clients can practice skills needed to live independently, such as hosting a dinner party for friends. Sylvestre said the idea is also to have clients with differing abilities share responsibilities and be able to live together.

As he walked through the building during the open house, Sylvestre said, "seeing all the smiles was worth all the effort we put into this."

"It's energized us. This was an important first step," he said, adding the program will now gain momentum. "Until people can see and feel this, they won't understand it."

The town, meanwhile, has allocated $40,000 of its federal COVID-19 pandemic aid to purchase a van for the program.

"We hope to do more and partner with them in the future," Chesebrough said.

j.wojtas@theday.com