A Special Mix : Preschool Center in Arleta Integrates Children Who Have Disabilities With Those Who Don’t

ARLETA —  At first glance, Early Start seems like any other preschool program. Children sit at tiny tables and chairs, others pull toys from shelves and even more kids climb on playground equipment.

But a closer look reveals severely developmentally disabled children eating, singing, playing and learning with peers who are mildly disabled or without disabilities.

School officials hope the intentional integration will embolden developmentally disabled children to keep up with the other kids--who, it is hoped, will in turn become more sensitive toward those with special needs.

“There is a window of opportunity that opens between birth and age 3 and begins to close by age 5,” said Kirsten Roostaeyan, associate program director. “If you catch children as young as possible, you can have a major impact on what they do today, and who they have the potential to be in the future.”

The infants and toddlers learn to grasp crayons, stack blocks, roll balls, hold cups and wash their hands in blended play groups.

Children with mild disabilities, such as some caused by prematurity, delayed speech or a cleft palate, sit side-by-side with peers who have severe disabilities such as autism, seizures and various genetic disorders, including chromosomal defects.

On a recent weekday morning, some 40 preschoolers arrived at the center with their parents or care-givers and some siblings in tow. They were divided into two classrooms according to their age and abilities.

In one classroom, Johnie Flukers and her 1-year-old fraternal-twin foster daughters, Juawan and Juaral Guillory, sat among the other parents and children on the brightly colored carpet.

As Flukers played hand games with Juaral, who is not disabled, occupational therapist Ezra Ndolo worked with Juawan, who has Down syndrome.

Flukers said she has seen an improvement in Juawan’s development since the infant began the program three months ago.

Juaral is crawling, standing and walking by holding onto furniture, and Juawan is trying her best to keep up with her sister, Flukers said.

“Juawan is trying to reach for things, hold her bottle and turn over,” Flukers said. “She is already trying to do the things Juaral already knows how to do.”

Flukers sees Juaral relating to her mentally disabled sister. “When Juawan is in the walker, Juaral will crawl over to her, pull up, and they hold hands,” she said.

Giving special-needs children a positive educational and social experience has been Early Start’s guiding principle since its founding nearly three decades ago, officials said.

“We have tried to make [the center] friendly, warm and toasty,” Roostaeyan said. “We want parents to come in and see that it’s a preschool, not a place with sterile white walls and people in white lab coats.”

Roostaeyan said the family-friendly atmosphere is designed to allow parents, who endure enormous stress in caring for a developmentally disabled child, a chance to unwind with other parents who understand their situation.

Through the center’s therapeutic, educational and support services, staff members say they hope to prepare as many children as they can to eventually take their seats in LAUSD special education or mainstream classrooms.

In addition to the Arleta center, Early Start programs are run from sites in South-Central Los Angeles and Lomita, officials said. All three programs offer center-based and in-home services for a total of 160 infants and toddlers.

Early Start is one of eight privately funded programs for developmentally disabled children, adults and their families operated by the Exceptional Children’s Foundation, said President and CEO Scott D. Bowling.

The organization’s $10-million annual budget is funded by individual contributions, fund-raising events and tuition and fees, Bowling said. The nonprofit agency serves 1,500 clients at 11 sites throughout Los Angeles County.