EARLY LEARNING PROGRAM
For families of young children with special needs
The Early Learning program offers training and education for parents of young children ages 0-6 with developmental or intellectual disabilities. In addition to receiving family support through our Family Support Specialists (see Parent Resource Center tab), families enrolled in the Early Learning program receive classroom-based education on topics relevant to the age of their children. Past topics have included Positive Behavior Support, child development, and IEPs and special education.
Parents enrolled in the program also participate in Play and Learn sessions. These interactive, hands-on sessions involve both parent and child as they have time for unstructured play, sing songs, play games, and read stories together. Parents learn to play with their children with special needs, and the children bond with their parent and play—which is how children learn! Sessions are culturally-specific, meaning that the songs, games, and stories are from the families’ own language and culture.
The first ASQ Screening and Outreach event
Open Doors Early Learning Program Staff went to this year’s Vietnamese New Year celebration at the Seattle Center. This is an annual event celebrating Lunar New Year for the Vietnamese community where families come together to celebrate their culture, have food and just enjoy spending time together. It was a great opportunity for us to raise awareness about developmental milestones and just to celebrate parents doing all that they do for their children. We invited parents and caregivers to take a 5-10 minute questionnaire so they can see their own child’s development and gave their kids some books and developmentally appropriate toys.
The Woven Together Project’s Parent Advisory Committee Celebration
The Woven Together Project.
As a part of this project we are doing cross agency trainings. This was a training for Children’s therapy center Early Intervention Staff about the project and to present our learnings from the Parent Advisory Committee and the program model.