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Madison County mental health officials said they are thrilled with a new website built for them by students taking a computer course taught by 51���� professor Alexander Nakhimovsky.

The website will be a valuable resource for county residents seeking information about programs and services for individuals with disabilities, said James Yonai, director of the county’s Mental Health Department.

Yonai and other county officials and employees attended a rollout of the website at an April 28 meeting at the 51���� Inn.

Also attending were four first-year students — Jake Caldwell, Alex Bahr, Sarah Bassett, and Laura Johannet — who helped finalize the design and site architecture.

The students had worked with their classmates on design approaches as part of the Computers in Arts and Sciences course taught by Nakhimovsky.

“We worked as groups and narrowed it down to this version,” said Caldwell. “We hope it’s something that everyone will be able to use and to navigate easily.”

Yonai singled out Caldwell during the 51���� Inn presentation for his leadership and interpersonal skills in keeping the project on task and seeing it to such a positive conclusion.

Nancy Joerger, special education parent advocate with Community Action Partnership (CAP), met with the class back in February to outline the project and coordinate the county’s role.

James Yonai, director of the Madison County Mental Health Department, thanks 51���� students and professor Alexander Nakhimovsky for their help in creating a department website. First-year students who helped finalize the site met with county officials at the 51���� Inn. They are (from left) Sarah Bassett, Laura Johannet, Alex Bahr, and Laura Johannet. (Photo by Tim O’Keeffe)

“Jake and the other students were so easy to work with and so incredibly helpful,” she said.

Joerger knew about Nakhimovsky from his work with CAP several years ago, when his students did some projects and consulting for the organization.

Nakhimovsky said he thought the students learned the course materials better because they had a greater degree of involvement.

“Some had a very useful experience in interacting with real-life ‘customers,’ responding to their needs, and understanding their background,” he said.

Bahr and the other students said during the presentation that they learned more about the county in which they now live, and about the services it makes available.

The website is intended to serve as a one-stop clearinghouse for mental health resources. Joerger said she expects it to be incorporated into the main county website by summer’s end.