In fall of 2016, Northwest Center Kids received a letter that started like this:
Dear Northwest Center Kids,
Our relationship started with NWC about 6 years ago. At the time, our family was struggling to get by. My daughter had KLS as well as Rheumatoid Arthritis. These two diseases made her sleep for days at a time, and when she was up, she could hardly move. They also made it nearly impossible to raise her two-year-old daughter.
I had been searching for quite a while to find help. It seems that there are nonprofit groups to help adults with disabilities and there are groups to help children with disabilities but there was no group that I could find that would help disabled adults take care of their children. As a family we were doing the best we could but it was incredibly hard. It was only by circumstance that our paths met.
My Granddaughter, *Erika, had hearing loss. By the age of two, we realized that she was speech delayed. Your school came out to evaluate her and set her up for therapy. It was through this initial process that we learned about the scholarships at NWC.
She was admitted with a very high scholarship. I cannot tell you the relief that this family felt I We had 8 hours a day where we not only felt that Erika was safe but that we knew she was flourishing. Before NWC, when her mother was having episodes, we would have to pass Erika off from person to person. She was always well cared for but the pressure of filling each day with care givers who would work for free was incredibly difficult.
The letter was written by the family of a child who was previously enrolled our Early Learning preschool (and has since left for Kindergarten). Our inclusive classrooms provided a foundation of support and made a lasting impact on the family. The letter goes on to say:
Erika's speech was noticeably different within months. Another real benefit was the social interaction that she was exposed to every day. As a child with hearing loss, she had a hard time blending in with other children because she couldn't always hear what was said. That issue was quickly dissolved as well.
Then came Parker, when Erika was four, Parker was born. It took us about 6 months to realize that he was delayed as well. His disabilities were a whole different set of problems. He had physical disabilities that made him very slow to move and be active.
NWC took him on and within weeks we started to see a difference. Within a year, he was up to standards. He also thrived at the school. He loved every day at the school. His friends were the best part of his day.
Meanwhile at home, we were struggling now to find help for the kid's mother. Without NWC, we would not have had the time to take her to the multiple appointments a week that she needed to get the medication to get her disability under control. She has continued to get better every month and is now a working member of society who can get up and care for her children.
We owe you a debt for all that you have done and I will continue to try and pay you back by spreading the word. Thank you so much from the bottom of our hearts! We couldn't have done it without you.
Sincerely,
In appreciation of our inclusive Early Learning preschool and hardworking staff at Northwest Center Kids, Parker's family purchased some beautiful, custom painted items for the classroom.
A beautiful blue bench
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A fun wooden truck
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Our award-winning services for children provide early intervention, inclusive early childhood education, and after school programs. For more information about Northwest Center Kids and how you can get involved, contact us.
*Names have been changed to protect privacy
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