Inclusion! What's In It For Everyone?

Little Pinto’s Playhouse & Preschool is nestled in a residential neighborhood in California, Missouri. Downstairs in the infant-toddler room the staff is busy with the daily routine of feeding, playing and reading to the children. Eighteen-month old Cooper Hibdon soundly sleeps while a visiting nurse tends to his medical needs. Early Head Start (EHS) Partner Advocate Liaison, Kim Wells, is here as well as she visits with the staff concerning EHS performance standards.

Cooper

Little Pinto’s, owned by Tabby Oswald, partnered with the Center six years ago as an EHS Childcare Partner. “By partnering with the Center, it has given us an opportunity to provide Cooper with the stimulation from other children that love him and high quality care. Words can not explain what this has meant to us and to Cooper,” adds Tabby.

Kim works very closely with the staff to make sure performance standards are met. Some on the standards include maintaining staff/child ratios, assuring individualization of goals for each child, ensuring the health and safety of the facility, & making sure the environment and care is developmentally appropriate, and all a part of attaining quality childcare.

According to Miss Laurie, “one of Cooper’s favorite teachers,” “Cooper doesn’t require much more care than the other children, just different care.” Cooper requires numerous medical treatments beginning at home as early as 4:00 a.m. and throughout the day until 10:00 p.m. Due to complications at birth Cooper experienced asphyxia which resulted in Cerebral Palsy and seizures disorders.

The staff has learned to give breathing treatments and how to feed Cooper through a feeding tube, all taught by his mother, Leslie. “We’ve learned a lot and it took several days of transition to understand all the treatments,” adds Laurie. Leslie is very organized and has compiled a three ring notebook of schedules when procedures and medications are due along with a list of Cooper’s doctors and a health plan to respond to any emergency.

Leslie grew up in Tipton, Missouri and had heard a little about the Center for Human Services/Children’s Therapy Center but not until she had a child with special needs did she fully understand the services and programs the Center offers. “I don’t even know how to explain Cooper’s accomplishments due to the therapies and his interactions with other children; it makes me emotional,” shares Leslie. Cooper receives occupational, physical, speech and aquatic therapy through the Center’s Systems Point of Entry Program/Missouri First Steps service coordination.

Cooper began aquatic therapy in May and once a week they drive to Sedalia to meet physical therapist (PT) Paul Chang. Paul also visits Little Pinto’s for PT on a regular basis. “I have seen the biggest improvements from aquatic therapy,” adds Leslie.

“The support the Center can offer through service coordination allows Leslie to continue to work to support her family; she knows he is getting the proper care and she doesn’t have to worry as much,” adds Kim.

Several pieces of adaptive equipment fill the corner where Cooper sleeps; most of the equipment goes home with him on Friday with help from Leslie’s sister.

“Since Cooper’s birth, it’s been an amazing journey; I never thought I could deal with all of this but we do it everyday,” adds Leslie.