LETTERS: EASTER SEALS CENTER DID WONDERFUL JOB

To the editor:

I am writing in response to the articles regarding the closing of the Easter Seals Child Development Center in Cape Girardeau. As this story continues to unfold, I anticipate more interviews will be done, and more stories will run in the newspaper and on the air.

I was very disappointed to learn about the closing of the Cape Girardeau center. My daughter, Emily, was part of this program since its inception in 1998 until going to kindergarten last August. She was enrolled in the program originally at the age of 2 when it was the Early Childhood Center. This transition from the Early Childhood Center to the Child Development Center was difficult for families that were happy with the care their children received from the staff and management of the Early Childhood Center. I too was nervous about this transition but quickly learned of the positive changes that would take place. I watched as an already outstanding child-care program blossomed, not in terms of numbers but the quality of service.

I began seeing more developmentally appropriate activities that enhanced the children's growth and development. I also witnessed the change of attitudes in children and families about the inclusion of special-needs children in this area. It seemed they were becoming not only more accepting but more compassionate as well.

In the Feb. 26 article, Jerry Ehnes, Easter Seals Missouri vice president, said, "If we had just been able to maintain a stable enrollment, that would have been a positive sign." There may be several factors that help explain this problem. First, kindergarten in the Cape Girardeau School District is now a full day. I suspect many local centers felt some financial impact and decrease in enrollment as a result of this change. Another factor to consider is transportation. Although Easter Seals is currently providing transportation for school-age children, this option was not available until recently. Therefore, many families that needed transportation found other alternatives. Given more time, I believe this program could overcome these obstacles and could have thrived.

This center is set to close on March 10. This will be a sad day not only for the families currently enrolled in this center, but for the community as well. Cape Girardeau is blessed to have many good child-care programs, but to date there have been no other inclusive preschool programs in this area.

In closing, I want to thank the staff of Easter Seals for providing my daughter with a quality preschool education and for sharing its friendship over the years.

ANDREA WEST STROP

Cape Girardeau