Mary Mavec Opportunity School

Ask people in and around Euclid about Mary Mavec Opportunity School and many are not really sure what the school is all about. The school has always operated quietly, without a lot of fanfare. But if you ask Peter, one of the school’s clients, he will tell you that Mary Mavec Opportunity School is the place he goes every weekday to work, learn and hang out with his best friends.

It has been this way for more than 60 years. Mary Mavec Opportunity School is an adult center especially for clients over the age of 22 who have developmental disabilities. The school offers opportunities to work and participate in a variety of activities that encourage independence, life-long learning and growth.  

So far this year, the group has been very busy taking advantage of a number of new opportunities. With helping hands from volunteers and staff members, Mary Mavec’s clients took a couple of turns staffing the coatcheck for the Euclid Exposition Center’s Home & Garden Show and the Cleveland Sport Travel and Outdoor Show earlier this year. The group is currently organizing and taking orders for a spring flower sale, with flowers available for pickup on Saturday, May 8. Clients will also be participating in Euclid’s 200th Street Stroll on June 5, riding in the Euclid Beach Rocket Car during the festivities. 

When they are not out and about in the community, clients can be found completing mailings and other workshop projects for area businesses. Other days, you will find them practicing reading and writing, working on art projects, or developing their sign language skills. With so much going on, the clients recently decided they needed their own newsletter to report all their activities to the community, friends and family members. So, beginning in April, the first issue of the Mary Mavec Newsletter will go to press. Newsletters will be available via email to anyone who would like to receive a copy and sends a request to marymavec@att.net.

Day to day activities are overseen by Executive Director, Christine Hazlinger and a handful of volunteers and part-time staff. Christine’s primary goal is to support maximum independence through the continued development of lifeskills and the individual talents of each client.  “We welcome visitors and are very interested in building new relationships with businesses and other organizations. I invite anyone interested in learning more to give us a call or stop in for a visit. “

Mary Mavec Opportunity School currently has a limited number of openings for people who could benefit from the services offered. For information on enrollment, volunteer opportunities or workshop services please call Christine Hazlinger at (216) 731-4666 or visit the schools website at www.marymavec.org.