Exceptional group! They truly care about making a difference for children, their families, and the community. I've had the absolute joy of partnering with them for the past three years and have first-hand knowledge of their commitment and excellence in their field.
SLDC is one of the only nonprofits that serves adults between the ages of 22-40 years. Typically there is a huge gap in care and/or programs for individuals with autism spectrum disorder or developmental disabilities once they reach age 18, but SLDC offers this to the community and is fulfilling a major need in doing so!
The program focuses on the development and enrichment of independent living skills, personal health, money management, and so many other concepts that are essential for these individuals. Plus, SLDC has a staff to participant ratio of 1:3 in this program, which means every individual gets a customized experience where they can learn at their own pace.
SLDC is a staple for the community and not just for families with kiddos needing their specialized care and education. In spending significant time at the school and with SLDC employees, it is evident that the organization truly cares about their work. The leadership of the school is always advocating and bringing innovative solutions for the kids while fostering a family style culture. Take a tour and see for yourself. SLDC has been an instrumental part of changing the lives of so many kids and families... when you get involved your life will be changed too.
I have worked closely with several nonprofits, and Speech and Language Development Center ranks among the best. It's a truly unique organization that serves kids and adults with special needs in a way not seen anywhere in the region. Through education, enrichment, therapy, life skills training and so much more, SLDC is changing lives for the better in Orange County and we are lucky to have them as a resource.
When I donate to a nonprofit, I am very careful to fully vet the quality of the operation and where my funds will be used. I have been impressed by Speech and Language Development Center in all areas -- from its facility and its innovative programs to its staff which all are so dedicated to the children and adults they serve. Their passion for the students is palpable and is, I believe, key to the successful outcomes they achieve in giving their clients the tools to live their best lives. I am proud to support SLDC.
Having dedicated my life to working with individuals with exceptional needs, I am so impressed by the dedication of SLDC's staff. This organization serves children and adults with significant developmental delays. When visiting the campus you will see children and staff smiling, you will hear conversations related to student's latest successes, innovative strategies to help those they serve reach new heights in their independence. It is a one of kind center full of heart.
I have been working at SLDC for just a short while. So far, I have been introduced to the amazing staff and educators who do all they can to promote an enriching and well rounded path of education for students. I feel so proud to work here.
All are dedicated to the students in coming up with ideas and events to enhance their education self esteem and life experiences
As a graduate student Speech Language Pathologist, I had the privilege of being supervised by amazing clinicians across an entire year at the Speech and Language Development Center. I was able to witness the care that was afforded to every student on the campus, the deeper understanding of what the students needed, and ultimately was able to learn from therapists evidence-based techniques as well. Since then, I have been able to witness the continued care for not only the students who they serve, but the budding clinicians who they supervise and mentor. As adjunct faculty for an associated university, I have had the pleasure of working with graduate students who have had the same positive experience in this time of growth as I had those many years ago. This school is an excellent environment for growth of students, clinicians, and paraprofessionals alike.
Since I was young, I knew about the work that SLDC did from my mother working here. I became an advocate for individuals with disabilities and am glad to be working here today.
The dedicated teachers and therapists at Speech and Language Development Center treat each and every special needs child and young adult that is enrolled with special care, respect and dignity. They are dedicated to ensuring that each client has an opportunity to reach his or her individual maximum potential. In an inclusive and interactive environment they design educational and therapeutic programs fashioned to allow each individual to discover their specific talents, then to blossom and thrive. All personnel are credentialed, licensed and experienced in their specific fields. The facilities are modern, safe, clean and well cared for. Offered programs range from traditional education to innovative special assistive technology, life skills, STEM, robotics, field trips, music, proms and more.
The parents of these special needs children often speak to the gratitude felt for the staff and the peace-of-mind for the safety of their kids as well as progress seen in their children's development.
Additionally, SLDC management is very aware of their responsibilities toward not only the children, but to the financial health of the organization.
Speech and Language Development has existed and grown for well over six decades servicing hundreds of kids and their families. No doubt it will be flourishing for decades to come. It's been my privilege to be associated with such a high-contributing and well-managed community based non-profit.
I have been associate general counsel for this group for seven years now. They are the most inspiring, rewarding and fascinating group of people I have ever worked with. The children are heartbreaking, inspiring and interesting all at once. The creativity of the staff in working with the students is fascinating. The patience of the staff astonishes me. Being a lawyer, I am such a word person. The world of people who cannot use words to express themselves seems so heartbreaking. I have seen the staff here do the most amazing things with the kids. The parents are really brave too. I love working with this organization. It has been such an eye-opener for me.
My affiliation with the Speech and Language Development Center began in 2001. I've seen students go from great to amazing. I had the priviledge of working closely with many of the faculty and administration while I was a board member. Their focus was first and foremost always on the kids..."It's all about the kids" and they mean it. No matter the economic climate, no matter the budget shortfall, no matter the tasks set by the "suits", they always found a way to make sure their program serviced the kids at an 11 on a 10 point scale! Keep up the good work! Southern California is so lucky to have SLDC in our midst.
I have had the pleasure of working with Speech and Language Development Center (SLDC) for thirty years. I involvement began with my service club (Sertoma) in the early eighties when my Club affiliated with SLDC. Through that affiliation we worked with SLDC to provide funds and service hours. In the mid-90s I was asked to become a Board Member. It was in this capacity that I truly began to understand just out outstanding this organization is. Over the past decades I have watched as the students we serve have become more and more challenged. Yet, the staff has continued to find ways into these kids to help them reach their full potential. It is truly wonderful to watch the teachers, clinicians and staff work with our kids and to see the many routes that they use to help our kids. Finally, in the past six years since I retired, I have volunteered at SLDC with the Finance Department and the Development Department. The many ways in which I am involved at SLDC have helped me transition from my working life to my retirement life. It has truly become a labor of love.
Being as I don't have any kids, well, other than the almost 300 kids @ SLDC, it gives me great pleasure to see how well thechildren & young adults are taught and handled by, teachers, staff and everybody that comes in contact with the facility. Being around for over 50 years gives creadence that they are doing the right things for the right reasons. If you ever get a chance to tour the school, it is worth the visit. It worked for me.
Words cannot describe how appreciative and thankful we are that Speech and Language Development Center was part of our son's life journey for learning the past seven years, besides being cherished, treasured as a precious individual, he was instilled with more language, more grip for his social and life skills....progressing from and an overwhelming, non-verb and "cloudy" adolescent to a more "clear," more responsive and well-mannered young man, our only regret is school funding only support our son school learning journey till his 21 st birthday... .
I give of my time and money to SLDC because both are well spent there. I am a former board member, who came from the community. I don't know any students personally, but I see the great work the staff does with students on a daily basis.
Since my son was visiting the SLDC for the first week, everything made sense. The teachers and staff understand what he needs in order to learn. there is not better place for my special child to learn. because the teachers not only use their knowledge, but also their heart. This is the very first year that he wants to go school and he is happy, confident and reaching his goals. I am also blessed with the parent group sharing experiences and learning from each other. Our life has change and I can not thank you enough SLDC for that!
My son has attended SLDC since he was 2 years old. He is now 12 and still loves to go to school there! We couldn't be happier with the quality and training of the staff at SLDC. The range of services offered is not to be found anywhere else and the quality is unsurpassed. My son has multiple handicapping conditions including autism, epilepsy, and cognitive delays. The support we have received both from individuals affiliated with the school and the staff as a whole has improved the quality of all of our lives.
SLDC has been an amazing organization for our son who has multiple disabilities from his early birth. Our son had been in multiple schools due to our frequent moving across the country for the military.
We have never felt like this about any public or private school. Our school district here has been wonderful also. Our son's Epilepsy, ADHD, OCD and PDD-NOS diagnosises cause him to have extreme behavior problems and this has been the only school with staff that actually worked hard to help him.
In the two and half years that we have had him here he is more able to function in a classroom setting. He has shown more growth at this school than anywhere else.
I can honestly say that everyday that I drop off my son I know he is in good hands with a caring staff that will see that he is in a safe learning environment. I'm so happy to have found SLDC.
I wish that other schools across the nation would work hard at accomplishing what SLDC has been doing for a long time.
SLDC is a pure slice of heaven on earth. And I don't say that lightly. Our 18 year old son has attended SLDC for the last 3 years. Prior to that he had been home schooled for 5 years after years of horrible experiences in many public school programs in our area.
Our primarily non-verbal son with moderate to severe autism and epilepsy among other diagnoses, has blossomed at SLDC and it carries over to his life in the community and at home.
He has progressed academically when most people believed he had plateaued years ago. He is a happy, happy young man. He enjoys going to school, taking the bus, learning new things, and working at his job.
None of this would be possible without the extraordinary faculty and staff at SLDC. They are more than a notch above the rest. Their singular dedication to bringing out the best in each student while preserving their dignity is a gift beyond measure.