THE EASTER SEALS CHILDHOOD CENTER MAKES LEARNING A FAMILY EXPERIENCE

Kadijuh Hines of Charleston sang with teacher Sandy Lyke in the 4- and 5-year-old classroom.

Alexis Burnett, 2, enjoyed beans and franks for lunch. Her class is learning to recognize their names.

The past year for the Easter Seals' Early Childhood Center in Cape Girardeau has displayed monumental progress.

In January 1998, the unveiling occurred for this, "Inclusive Learning Center," whose ingenious, early academics program provides for the physically able as well as the challenged.

The center's administrative director, Cheryl Beahan, said, "Easter Seals has been especially rewarding to me. I am grateful for the gift they have given my family."

Cheryl's daughter, Hadley, 5, is enrolled in the preschool. When asked of the differences between herself, and her companion, Katie VandeVen, 4, who was born with Down's syndrome, Hadley replies, "Katie wears glasses."

The secret to this project's success is its exclusive, four-step, special services program. It's a process of occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech and language instruction, and early childhood special education.

The program is further enhanced with the joys of arts and crafts, singing songs, and the learning of sign language.

As the children take part in these activities they gain mutual respect in one another and learn to share.

Beahan states, "There must be structure to ensure that their morals are intact by age five. If they don't have that, we're lost."

The National Association for the Education of Young Children is the overseer of all daycare programs, nationwide. They are in charge of all investigations concerning preschool programs.

"Their inspections are strenuous," Beahan said. "Only ten to twenty percent of the nation's childcare centers acquire accreditation through the NAEYC. There has to be structure."

This facility features two additional attractions: a library and a computer lab. The library contains scores of volumes for the junior academicians, each of which can be checked out for enjoyment at home. The second feature is a no-nonsense, high-tech computer lab. This is a total, hands-on experience, even for the "all thumbs" 9-month-old toddlers. This room consists of 12 computers and a wall-to-wall collection of various programs.

Easter Seals is a non-profit organization whose funding is provided largely by local entities, such as the Drury Corp., the Bank of Missouri, Jim and Teresa Maurer, Norma Blattner, and Tim and Nancy Blattner. All donations ensure the facility of updated office equipment, chairs, desks, and, most importantly, the employment of qualified teachers and staff members.

Teachers must have bachelor degrees in child development, or an associate degrees in child development with experience in the field. All applicants must have the ability to communicate well. Also included among the staff are students of the child development at Southeast Missouri State University. The are employed as teacher assistants.

Clara Leonard, the early childhood center's full-time cook, is looking forward to adopting a child with disabilities. It's associates like this that make the center a close-knit operation.

Mother of three, Mitzi Seger is a student, herself, of social sciences. She speaks with great enthusiasm of the project. She explains that her children, Haley, 4, Eli, 3, and Chandler, 7 months, who are each without disabilities, share their welcomed knowledge of sign language at home with mom and dad. Proving, once again, that the Easter Seals, Early Childhood Center makes the learning experience a family experience.