History
and Mission of the Early Learning Institute
The Early Learning Institute, founded as
St. Peter’s Child Development Centers in 1958, is a
private nonprofit organization that offers comprehensive early
childhood services to children and their families in Allegheny
County.
Begun as a pilot project in St. Peter’s
Episcopal Church in Brentwood, it served eight children, was
staffed by volunteers, and provided treatment to children
with disabilities in place of the custodial care traditionally
available to them. It was the first program for children with
disabilities in the area to provide individualized programs
geared to children’s needs.
The mission of The Early Learning Institute
(TELI) is to help developmentally delayed children, birth
to five, realize their full potential through comprehensive
programs of therapy and education in an all-inclusive environment;
to assist families through counseling; and to aid professionals
in the field of early intervention by providing services in
training, evaluation, and technical assistance.
Birth differences that are evident at birth
(e.g., cleft palate and spina bifida) represent only part
of a spectrum of developmental difficulties that appear during
childhood. Other conditions (e.g., mental retardation, autism,
hearing loss, vision impairment, and cerebral palsy) usually
are manifested after infancy and may be sufficiently severe
to require specialized medical and education services for
many years. Such conditions, in addition to other more minor
idiopathic concerns, are referred to as developmental disabilities.
Over 600 infants and toddlers are currently
being served in the itinerant program (professional services
provided in the home environment). Another 300 children are
attending day programs in one of TELI’s three preschools
and child care. 10% of those enrolled in the preschools are
typically developing children.
The agency has remained an innovator in setting
up and adapting programs to provide the best approach to early
childhood programming as defined by experts in the fields
of early childhood development, special education, and social
work. Our three centers, equipped with specialized materials
and professional staff members, comprised of physical and
occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, developmental
specialists, and social services, afford a diverse and stimulating
environment in which to grow and learn.
When our children can be integrated into
the mainstream of school and community life along with their
peers, the child, the parents, and the local community all
benefit! |
