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Down Syndrome Research Foundation 1409 Sperling Avenue, Burnaby
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 Conference on Developmental Disabilities
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| Grand Opening of the Early Foundation Preschool
The Down Syndrome Research Foundation and Special Guest Honorable Linda Reid, Minister of State for Childcare celebrated the Grand Opening of the Early Foundations Preschool on November 17, 2008. The Early Foundations Preschool is an inclusive educational environment that focuses on social and emotional development and language for early literacy
“The Province is committed to working with community organizations and families to provide meaningful early learning opportunities for children with special needs,” said Linda Reid, Minister of State for Child Care. “The new Early Foundations Preschool is offering young children with Down syndrome an inclusive environment where they get special support to learn at their own pace and achieve their best.”
A $33,600 contribution from the Ministry of Children and Family Development helped launch the preschool, which can serve up to 32 children – eight children in each of four classes.
“The Down Syndrome Research Foundation is so excited by this initiative and we recognize it could not have been possible without the support of the Ministry of Children and Family Development,” said Dawn McKenna, foundation executive director. “We know the preschool will not only make a difference in the development of our students. The knowledge we gain from this program will make a difference for the future of all preschool students.”
One of the parents, Dorothy Gazzola, spoke of the experience her daughter has had in the program. "... for the past two months, I have seen Robin and Jill working with Faith – giving her the freedom to be herself and yet providing her with the direction she needs to function in the classroom setting. They both understand that our children have good days and some not so good days (disability or not). They get it! We see Faith starting to develop more words to verbally express herself. We believe she is doing this because she is in a safe and caring environment. Her confidence has increased which has in turn made her comfortable to be more verbal".
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