Where do parents with infants, toddlers, and pre-school children with developmental disabililties go for appropriate education and resources in the San Gabriel Valley?

Welcome To Grelling Residential Home Open Forum . . .

. . . where we hope you will be able to visit to ask important questions, offer suggestions, and receive feedback about your adult family member with developmental disabilities.

When my sons, Zack and Nick, reached pre-school age, I was a single father, so I began my search for the best pre-school I could find. I had several criteria for my selection that included: close proximity to my home and work locations; a good reputation in the community; a knowledgeable, experienced, hands-on director; a caring, well-trained staff; strong academic and play content in the curriculum; good nutrition; sanitary, appealing, colorful classrooms and grounds; immediate accessibility for the parent; and reasonably priced.

In graduate school, I had studied Eric Ericson, Jean Piaget, Maria Montessori, in several developmental psychology classes. Already, I had taught first grade, and I had worked with children in various professional settings. After weeks of searching and observing, I selected one of the several Montessori schools in my area for my sons. I was very particular, and 23 years later, I still think I made a good choice.

But if your infant, toddler, or pre-schooler is diagnosed with a developmental disability, what are the available resources? Last Sunday, a friend at church told me about a friend of hers whose two-month old baby had been diagnosed as severely disabled. Andrea knew that Ann and I are passionate about our work with adults with developmental disabilities, and she asked if we could help with a referral.

Where do infants, toddlers and preschool children with developmental disabilities go for appropriate education in the San Gabriel Valley?

Recently, my good friend, Paula Jeppson, the Executive Director for COVINA DEVELOPMENT CENTER, asked me to visit her Center. I found her amazing school for infants through kindergartners tucked between the Church of Christ sanctuary and Western Christian High School off Grand Avenue in Covina. Paula, over the last 18 years, has developed the classrooms and grounds into highly creative spaces. Individualized butterfly, flower, as well as fruit and vegetable gardens surround the classroom buildings providing an ever-changing park-like environment for almost 100 children. One-third of the children were developmentally disabled, but they were indistinguishable from the other children in the various programs. If you want to know more, just google Covina Development Center. You will be as impressed as I was. I will write more about Paula and her school in future blogs.

Tomorrow afternoon, Ann and I will take our adults clients on a picnic at the PARENTS’ PLACE Information Fair and Festival in West Covina. Paula Jeppson referred me to PARENTS’ PLACE. This is a family resource and empowerment center. They resource “children and young adults with special needs from birth to 22, their families, and the professionals who work with them.” Again I will be able to write more about Parents’ Place after we visit their Fair tomorrow. Their website address is www.parentsplacefrc.com.

Can you recommend any resources? Please join in our open forum.

Ann and I are hoping to meet parents with adult children between the ages 18-29 who may be seeking an appropriate residential home for their family members. Presently, we have two openings in our home. We understand that the decision is rarely a simple one. We hope they will let us help them with some of their concerns.

Blogfully yours,

Russ Grelling

Find out more about Grelling Residential Home at our new web site address, www.GrellingResidentialHome.com.