Helpful Beginnings

What are parents to do when they suspect their child may have a developmental disability?

The struggle began from the time I was born.  It was a difficult birth for my mom.  Both of my parents told me that I had a hard time entering this world.   The doctor was concerned at the time and told them it was very likely I would have a developmental delay.  You see, I had a lack of oxygen to my brain.   So my parents watched me closely as I was growing up and noticed some of the tasks for a nine month old seemed difficult for me.  You might think that luck was not on my side, but on the contrary, I was a very lucky baby.  Why?  Because my parents had me screened at a very young age; I was only nine months old.  If my parents did not have me screened, I probably wouldn’t be doing as well as I am today.

Childhood screening can be a vital turning point in a child’s life. When screened, parents can then begin to find out about services and programs in-order to give their child the best chance at a quality of life.

Goodwill Easter Seals Miami Valley offers child screening at no cost. With parent’s permission, a trained outreach coordinator will come to your residents or center-based program and conduct an on-site prestigious screening.

I’ve had great life successes and opportunities that have carved me into the happy, successful woman I am today. If I hadn’t been screened when I was young, I’d probably be sitting on the sidelines watching life go by. But, because of being screened, I’m a starter!

Thank you to my parents who have been with me through my journey and whom continue to support me as a person first!  Without you and the early screening, life would just not be the same!

September is National Child Screening Month. If you detect something is the least bit wrong with your child, have him or her screened. Take it from me, the earlier, the better. Early childhood screening is detrimental to a child’s growth.

Pass the word, early childhood screening is the way to go so no child will be left behind.

To learn more about Goodwill Easter Seals Miami Valley’s child screening services, click the link below

https://gesmv.org/community-programs/children-youth/.