On September 8, Community Options of Princeton opened its second Red Ribbon Academy, located at 2230 Camplain Road in Hillsborough.

The Red Ribbon Academy is a state-of-the-art medical special needs adult day program with a combination of tender loving care, therapy integration, and fun adapted activities. The program provides quality medical, therapeutic, and recreational support to medically fragile adults with developmental disabilities.

“This represents where we started from and the journey we endured to get to the next level,” said Ayesha Patrick, executive director of the Red Ribbon Academy. “Community Options Enterprises (COE) broke down doors and boundaries and has stepped out of the traditional program/medical day program model and created a quality, state-of-the-art program that is being duplicated within COE in accordance with the overall mission and in continuing to make a difference in the life of medically fragile individuals.”

Originally launched in 2013, the first Red Ribbon Academy in Wayne, New Jersey quickly became a model day-program that garnered significant media attention and numerous awards for its barrier-free design and advanced therapy rooms with special sensory environments for people with profound intellectual disabilities and medical needs. A wide array of therapeutic experts and advanced recreational programs also are available to maintain and increase the participants’ mental acuity and maximize their physical ability.

Sixteen individuals are currently enrolled in the Hillsborough program for its opening. The Red Ribbon Academy is open to anyone who qualifies for services under the N.J. Division for Developmental Disabilities with transportation provided to and from the Academy.

For more information, visit www.comop.org.