Page 53 - Outlook

By Carol Rich

For Children’s Center

of Mercer County

Throughout its 80 years of

existence the name of the or-

ganization has changed, but

never the purpose.

It has always served the

handicapped children of

Mercer County and their

families. Now called the Chil-

dren’s Center of Mercer

County, it was once known

as Crippled Children’s Soci-

ety. A vision of area doctors,

teachers, and the Sharon Ro-

tary, it was first set in motion

in 1918 to assist handicapped

children.

As declared in its mission

statement, The Children’s

Center of Mercer County “is

a community-based environ-

ment committed to providing

optimal educational, develop-

mental and social opportuni-

ties for all children to reach

their full potential regardless

of their challenges.”

Ms. Cindy works with

Kyla on recognition skills

during class time.

The Early Intervention

Shoot 4 the STARS pre-

school provides for the edu-

cational development of 66

children identified as having

at least a 25 percent delay in

one or more areas (physical,

emotional, behavioral or lan-

guage) of development.

Students are placed here

by Midwestern Intermediate

Unit IV, often through an

identification program called

the Preschool Connection.

We recognize future edu-

cation problems and make

the transition to kindergarten

easier for many of our

clients. Buses and vans ar-

rive and depart twice daily

bringing 3- to 5-year-old chil-

dren to classrooms filled

with toys,

Play Doh,

books, musi-

cal instru-

m e n t s ,

blocks, sand

and water tables, craft proj-

ects, and gentle nurturing.

Singing, laughter, smiles and

encouragement are part of

every day. Two certified spe-

cial education teachers and

three specially trained aides

follow a curriculum that

helps each student attain the

goals set up in his or her in-

dividual education plan.

The intermediate unit pro-

vides an occupational thera-

pist and physical therapist as

well as any additional thera-

pists that may be needed.

The center also employs a

full time speech clinician.

Children enter an inviting

classroom with activities that

help each of them meet the

challenges of their disability.

A sensory room provides

an opportunity for neurologi-

cally impaired students to

use different activities in a

quiet, soothing space. Soft

music, adaptive lighting,

padded flooring and bean

bag chairs have been added

to the curriculum of special

needs students to help in-

crease their attention span.

This non-profit program is

funded through a contract

with the intermediate unit

and private donations. We

are also one of the agencies

supported by the United

Way.

In recognizing the special

needs of our children the

outdoor space provides a

multi-handicapped accessible

play area for all children at

the center so able-bodied

children as well as those

with challenges can interact.

The equipment allows chil-

dren to slide and climb as

well as interact on the tic-tac-

toe board, throw balls in the

hoop and toss bean bags.

The blue rubber mulch is

not only eye appealing but

also a much softer surface to

walk or fall on as well as eas-

ier for wheelchairs to maneu-

ver. Another program offered

to the community is child

care. Assessing the needs of

the community, the board of

directors saw the opportunity

to update the center.

Following three months of

renovation, three new class-

rooms, new colorful flooring,

and a new security system

welcomed our clients this

past fall. Our 4 year olds par-

ticipate in the early interven-

tion preschool by being role

models and classmates to

the handicapped children

who relish their participation.

Several of our early interven-

tion preschoolers also use

our child care.

Open from 7 a.m. to 6

p.m., the Children’s Center is

licensed by the state Depart-

ment of Public Welfare and

serves children 6 weeks to 5

years of age. Before and af-

ter school care is available

for older students. We are a

participating

Keystone

STARS member and are cur-

rently at level two. One staff

member has a degree in ear-

ly childhood education and

five staff members are child

development associates.

Child care is staffed by six

full-time and six part-time

employees who provide gen-

tle care as well as a planned

curriculum at age-appropriate

levels. The hallways and

rooms are full of art, singing,

fine and gross motor, as well

as literacy activities to keep

children involved while away

from parents. When school

is out, we offer a Summer

STARS program for students

6 to 12 years of age.

Activities and separate

staffing are provided that

would interest older children

in need of day care supervi-

sion. In keeping with our

purpose of serving the chil-

dren of Mercer County, we

also house three early child-

hood education classrooms

for Hermitage School Dis-

trict: two Head Start class-

rooms and one PreK Counts

classroom.

Our building has a thera-

peutic pool. Preschool stu-

dents participate in classes

specializing in aquatic thera-

py for children. The pool is

also used by the community

with therapy from Specialty

Orthopaedics,

arthritic

groups and the Senior Cen-

ter as well as special events