About Children's TLC
Our Philosophy | Children's TLC History
Facts About Children's TLC
OUR MISSION
The mission of Children's TLC (Therapeutic Learning Center) is to provide therapeutic and educational intervention through a team approach for children with disabilities from birth through eight years of age. Family centered services are utilized to increase each child's functional abilities and prepare the child for a successful transition into the school environment.
OUR PHILOSOPHY
We believe that learning begins at birth and that all children deserve to be taught with kindness, respect, and compassion. Children with and without disabilities are more alike than different and all learn best in an integrated setting; however, each child should be considered as a total child, developing in the physical, social, communicative, emotional, and cognitive domains. We believe that the needs of the child's family are equal to the child's needs. The family must be treated with respect. Their need for information for purposes of advocacy and educational/therapeutic assistance for their child is of primary importance and contributes to the well being of the family and the child. The most powerful services are provided when a collaborative relationship is established between the team and the caretaker.
We believe that children learn trust and respect for others, positive self-image, and initial independence during early childhood through experiences addressing their individual needs. The preschool environment should be natural; physically and emotionally safe; physically accessible; and, services should be offered on a non-discriminatory basis. The strengths of the child, as well as the weaknesses, and the cultural and linguistic differences of the child and family should be considered in programming.
Transdisciplinary intervention for children with disabilities should begin as early as possible. Early intervention that is based on developmental levels, as well as chronological age, promotes maximal potential in the child. Further, parental and professional accountability are critical.
*This statement was developed by the staff at Children's TLC and included input from teachers, therapists, paraprofessionals, support staff, and administrative staff.
CHILDREN'S TLC HISTORY
Children's TLC began in 1947 as the Cerebral Palsy Nursery School. Its purpose was to prepare children of pre-school age for formal schooling. The Center was founded in response to teachers who started working with the children at age six or seven and realized that was too late to begin basic skills training. The importance of early intervention with children has since been well documented and accepted.
In 1956, the organization's name was changed to Crippled Children's Nursery School (CCNS) to reflect the acceptance of children with other major physical disabilities. CCNS became affiliated with Children Mercy Hospital in 1964 as a division of its department of pediatrics. Children's TLC has a long history of affiliation with Children's Mercy Hospital, but has always been a separate corporation. Responding to community needs, the program was expanded in 1975 to include children with hearing impairments. CCNS changed its name to Children's TLC (therapeutic learning center) and expanded services to include early intervention with infants, toddlers and their families in 1991. In January of 1993, Children's TLC and Children's Mercy Hospital agreed that Children's TLC would assume independent programmatic and fiscal responsibility. Today, the two entities continue a friendly association that is beneficial to the children and families both serve.
In January 1999, following four years of planning, fund raising, building design and construction, Children's TLC, Children's Center for the Visually Impaired and the YWCA (providing child care) moved into the Children's Center Campus. The partnership enables the agencies to share resources, promote interaction among children with and without disabilities, and provide a continuum of services to their families. In April 2000, the YMCA assumed the responsibility for the child care operation.
For over five decades the Kansas City community has supported Children's TLC through the guidance of a volunteer Board of Directors, a faithful corps of community volunteers, and the generosity of private contributors and public funds.
FACTS ABOUT CHILDREN'S TLC
Staff
| Program | Administrative | |
| 5 pediatric physical therapists | 6 administrative | |
| 8 pediatric speech-language pathologists | 1 support | |
| 5 pediatric occupational therapists | ||
| 2 early childhood special education teachers | ||
| 1 teacher of deaf education | ||
| 1 social worker | ||
| 4 paraprofessionals (therapy/classroom assistants) |
Early Childhood Special Education Classrooms
Children are in class either in the morning or afternoon session, two to four days a week.
| 5 Children's TLC rooms | 1 collaborative classroom on site | |
| 2 non-categorical | Kansas City Missouri Public Schools | |
| 1 deaf education | ||
| 1 emerging language and literacy |
Years of Experience
Established in 1947: 60 years in Kansas City community
425+ collective years of teacher/therapists experience