The executive director of the Achievement Center of Texas (ACT), Andrew Mlcak, recently announced that the center will close its doors and suspend its operations as of May 25.
ACT, a dayhab center for children and adults with disabilities, is a victim of the pandemic. In the announcement, Mlcak explained that the center had to close in March 2020 because of COVID-19. He said that after nearly a year they reopened, but it was to a much smaller number of students. They have not been able to get back to the pre-pandemic student population.
“Unfortunately, we have had to make a difficult decision we never thought we would have to make, but we are financially drained and have been unable to reach the number of clients we had before the pandemic,” Mlcak wrote.
The director used the word “heartbroken” to describe how he and everyone at ACT feels about the closure. He added that the organization needs time to regroup and they hope to reopen in the future.
ACT has provided an important and much-needed service to its students and their families since 1977. The organization began in a one-room facility. After that, they moved to a community center, and in 2003, they moved into their own facility.
Mlcak, along with the board of directors, have spent many hours and worked very hard to revitalize the operation. Sadly, they have not been unable to find a solution.
There will be a parent/community meeting Monday, May 23 at 6:30 p.m. Parents, caregivers and community members will have an opportunity to ask questions and talk about possible ways to reopen in the future.
Mlcak expressed determination in a later email.
“We know this is difficult, as we are all heartbroken, but we are not giving up,” he said.
Mlcak asked for prayers for the ACT staff, clients and families.