CHILD DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE
Our grant for $30,000 provides play structures to complete the 2 outdoor occupational gymnasiums at their Early Learning Center in Reseda. Approximately 540 children per year, ages 2-8, who are on the autism spectrum, have Down’s syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, or a variety of genetic disorders that affect development will use the equipment each year. Many of the children CDI serves do not have access to playgrounds in their neighborhoods, so this will provide a safe and controlled space for them to work with therapists to strengthen gross and fine motor skills, improve cognitive and social-emotional skills, modulate sensory systems, self-regulate, and increase confidence and socialization. With these new OT spaces, therapists will be able to serve more children. Critical early intervention changes a child’s trajectory and puts them on a path of success.