Kindering Center’s pint-size graduates

When Kim Brooks’ son, Connor, was first diagnosed in 2003, she was terrified. At the time, her son was unable to enter a room without first having the lights turned off, had difficulty comprehending when spoken to and had trouble tolerating a lot of noise. Now, thanks to the early intervention and therapy classes taken at Bellevue’s Kindering Center, the once shy boy has become an outgoing six-year-old.

By Lindsay Larin • July 30, 2008 12:00 am
Daniel Erwin plays with bubbles during the Kindering Center graduation ceremony at Crossroads Park on Wednesday
Daniel Erwin plays with bubbles during the Kindering Center graduation ceremony at Crossroads Park on Wednesday

Students

with difficulties show their progress

When Kim Brooks’ son, Connor, was first diagnosed in 2003, she was terrified. At the time, her son was unable to enter a room without first having the lights turned off, had difficulty comprehending when spoken to and had trouble tolerating a lot of noise. Now, thanks to the early intervention and therapy classes taken at Bellevue’s Kindering Center, the once shy boy has become an outgoing six-year-old.

“Here’s a kid who today would get up in front of a huge group and sing Kanye West,” Kim Brooks said. “He’s very outgoing now and has no problem with people what so ever. He’s not my shy child anymore.”

Connor was joined by more than 300 other children and their families for a graduation ceremony on July 23 at the Crossroads Park Pavilion. Proud parents, staff, volunteers and friends gathered to celebrate the accomplishments of the Kindering Center’s pint-size graduates. Each graduate was given a diploma and a flower to signify their growth and success through the program. The ceremony was followed by Family Fun Day that included a bubble machine, tumbling mats, coloring stations, face painting and a drum circle.

The Kindering Center provides a variety of one-on-one coaching, therapy, and classroom settings for infants and toddlers with developmental delays and disabilities such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, metabolic disorders, prematurity, Spina Bifida and visual impairments. The program was founded in 1962 and today has a staff of nearly 100 and more than 250 volunteers.

Kindering Center is the only neurodevelopment center on the Eastside and serves almost 3,000 children each year. The program focuses primarily on ages birth to three, which provides the greatest window of opportunity to effect neurobiological and behavioral mechanisms.

“There’s quite a bit of research that tells us if you’re able to impact a child’s motor, feeding and language skills by a particular age, then they are likely to not need services by age one,” Program Director Kim Gerdes explained. “However, if you wait until age one or 18 months, then it’s less known as to when they will catch up to their particular peers.”

In addition to the early intervention program, Kindering Center offers a large variety of support services to parents and family members including a Sibling Support Group, Father’s Network, Mother’s Circle, Parenting Plus and more. Senior Development Officer Joe Cunningham first got involved with the Kindering Center from a parenting perspective following his son’s diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Through joining the Father’s Network, Cunningham was able to access resources and gain valuable information about his son’s diagnosis.

“I learned how to access speech therapy and which ways to help him through the school process,” said Cunningham, adding that the center encourages parents to take an active role in their child’s progress. Classrooms throughout the center have observational windows where parents not only can sit and view their child’s progress but also can interact with other parents and network while sharing in successes.

“As a parent, having someone to lean on when you’re working through something emotional is key,” Cunningham explained. “We really encourage parents to have the opportunity to observe their child’s growth and development.”

According to Gerdes, following graduation, about 25 percent of those who exit Kindering Center no longer require special education or additional services after age 3. The other 75 percent may, if their families chose, enter a program through their school district such as an early preschool program, private special needs learning center or a community program.

“It can be a little intimidating to leave here because everybody is so nurturing and loving and it’s truly like a family,” said Brooks. “But the program really prepares the kids for what’s next. Brooks was excited to announce that Connor just completed his first year as a kindergarten student at Somerset Elementary School. “He had such an amazing year and we are so proud of him.”

For more information on the Kindering Center visit www.kindering.org or call 425-747-4004.

Lindsay Larin can be reached at llarin@reporternewspapers.com or at 425-453-4602.