The Kindering Center Bellevue

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A special place for special children Kindering Center teaches disabled little ones and their family life skills

By Casey McNerthney
For the Journal

BELLEVUE � Susan and Erik Landahl started having serious concerns last summer. Their 3-year-old son, Carter, was enrolled in a toddler class, but he didn't act like the other kids. While his classmates played around the room, he would sit with one toy for hours, or stare out the window and say nothing.

The Landahls took Carter to Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center in Seattle, where doctors said it was likely he had autism. Susan Landahl said she cried for days about the diagnosis.

'I didn't know what to expect,' Landahl said, of the complex neurological disorder that can impact a child's development and social skills.

She cried a bit this week, too, but not because of sadness. On Wednesday, Carter was one of nearly 500 children who graduated from Kindering Center � a neurodevelopmental day-treatment center in Bellevue for infants and small children with disabilities.

The center, which helps children up to age 3, offers comprehensive developmental assessments; physical, speech and language therapy; special education classes; family counseling and foster programs.

The Landahls enrolled Carter at Kindering Center six months ago on advice from pediatricians at Children's Hospital, who said the condition of their youngest son may not improve for years.

'The progress he made here is amazing,' said Erik Landahl, who walked with his son to get his diploma during Wednesday's ceremony at Crossroads Park Pavilion.

At the Kindering Center, Carter learned to drink out of a straw and take his first ride on a swing, among other achievements. And last week, he tried to take his shoes on and off.

'He can understand and talk back,' his mother said. 'He never could do that before. The teachers gave Carter attention like he was the only kid in his class, and were focused on loving the children instead of pressuring them.

'I cried when we found out (his condition), but I cried harder when we had to leave here.'

Kindering Center's focus is not only on infants and small children, said executive director Mimi Siegel. The goal is to embrace the entire family.

The Kindering Center staff knows the attendant anxiety of helping a special-needs child through a transition, said graduation speaker Greg Schell, director of the Washington State Fathers Network. He told about the mix of tears and excitement that came the day his own daughter, who has Down syndrome, took her first step onto a school bus.

'You're not bad because your child is not the same at others,' he told parents gathered. 'You're perfect just the way you are.'

Kindering Center receives referrals from independent physicians and therapists, school districts, social-service agencies, child protective services and the University of Washington Center on Human Development, among others.

When Siegel started as director 28 years ago, the graduating class had 11 children. During 2005, Kindering Center served more than 2,000 families, she said.

Kindering Center's specialized foster-care program, started in 1985, focuses on finding homes for disabled, behaviorally challenged and medically fragile children. The program is designed to share the parenting between the birth parents of the youngsters, who can't provide full-time care, and the foster families.

'We love letters to know how you're doing,' Siegel said. 'Visits are the best.'

The annual graduation ceremony provided a return visit that Patrick Evezich had been anticipating for months.

Evezich, who has Down syndrome, sat front and center dressed in a pressed maroon shirt and khaki slacks. After the ceremony, it was hard to tell who was more proud of his return � Evezich or his parents, who watched him graduate from the center in 1971.

Evezich went on to graduate from Eastside Catholic High School in 1987 and Bellevue Community College in 1990, but it was the experiences and early intervention at Kindering Center that Evezich and his parents credit as his foundation for success.

Ongoing emotional support from his family and Kindering Center is what helped Evezich get a job at Microsoft in 1992, his dad, Ron Evezich, said. Speech therapy helped Evezich, who lives independently in Bellevue, teach Microsoft founder Bill Gates about his condition, and has given him the confidence to talk to people across the world about his experiences.

'They gave us strength and they create hope for parents in similar situations,' Evezich's mom, Carlita, said of Kindering Center. 'They don't give up with their love and support. Not for one day.'

KINDERING CENTER
Year founded: 1962

Number of staff members and volunteers: 80 staffers, 250 volunteers

Number of children served: In 2005, more than 2,000 children and their families received services

Ages: Up to age 3

What disabilities does Kindering Center serve: Children have a wide range of conditions, including autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, chromosomal abnormalities, congenital heart failure, Down syndrome, spina bifida, metabolic disorders, prematurity, and visual impairments.

How to help: For more information or to volunteer,
call 425-747-4004.

Spiritridge Neighbors : Bellevue, Washington

The Kindering Center Bellevue