Current Needs

What types of services does the Center provide?
The Center offers specialized services provided by professionals in special education, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, nursing, mental health, transportation, counseling and social work.

How many children are in each class at the Center?
Small class sizes and high adult-to-child ratios support optimal learning.  Preschool classes of 12 children include 6-7 children with special needs and 5-6 children with typical needs.  Early intervention classes include 8 children with special needs.  Ratios required by ODJFS are always maintained.

How many adults are in each class and what are their qualifications?
Each class is staffed by a professional teacher certified in early childhood special education and a licensed teacher assistant.  Therapists, driver/classroom assistants and League volunteers provide additional classroom support.

How much does it cost to attend the Center?
There is no charge for a child who has been identified with a developmental delay.  There is a small fee for typically developing children enrolled in the peer model program.

What kinds of activities do the children do throughout the day?
Class experiences are designed to promote active leaning.  Children are actively engaged and immersed in language and sensory enriched environments.  Daily classroom routines include child-directed play, small and large group experiences, literacy, drama, gross motor experiences, snack, art and music.  Therapy is integrated into classroom routines. 

What is the process to enroll a typically developing child into the peer model program?
All children who are typically developing will complete a developmental screening, per Ohio Department of Education Early Learning Guidelines, before enrollment.  Screening will include the areas of communication, motor, self-help, cognition and social emotional development.  If there is a concern regarding development, a referral will be made to the school district. Please call the preschool family services specialist at the Center at (614) 253-6933 for additional information including monthly tuition rates.

What ages of children attend the Center? Where do children go when they leave the Center?
We serve children from birth to age 3 in our Early Intervention Program and children ages 3 to 5+ in our Preschool Program. Many of our children go on to attend kindergarten in public schools. Some will attend special education kindergarten classes in their district. Some children may go on to a community preschool or Headstart if they no longer require intervention at three years of age.

How do you know if a child has a developmental delay?
Areas of suspected delay are assessed by professionals to determine if a developmental delay exists.  A comprehensive assessment for children under age 3 and a multi-factored evaluation for children ages 3 to 5 is used to identify a delay.