Many infants placed in foster care begin their fetal development influenced by prenatal drug and alcohol exposure, which often results in neurological damage. When it comes to addressing potential neurological damage in infants, early intervention is critical because adequate intervention may assuage the damage and place the babies back on track developmentally.

Read more: Cherishing Children:Early intervention helps brain development in traumatized babies

It was 4 in the afternoon when the driver of an SUV - talking on her cellphone and wearing an ankle cast that got stuck in the accelerator - plowed through a wall of a Redmond day care.

Three toddlers were hurt in the Aug. 3, 2009 crash with injuries ranging from a rug burn to those suffered by Sterling Metz, who was all of 3 ½ months. He was pulled out from under the Toyota Rav 4's front bumper.

At 2 ½, Sterling is making progress and recently had taken his 1st steps without his walker.

Read more: Bellevue's Kindering is oasis for special-needs kids

Redmond residents Mitchell Lee Yuen and Anna Kwan first brought their son Danger, who has autism spectrum disorder (ASD), to Kindering when he was about 19 months old.

Now 3 years old, Danger has made "amazing progress," according to Kwan as he and his family continue to deal with the behavioral disorder.

Read more: Eastside therapy center Kindering helps children with special needs reach their potential.

Families and friends filled the audience as Kindering held a graduation for 356 children Aug. 4 at the Bellevue Crossroads Park.

Kindering is a birth-to-three therapy center for special needs children.

The event featured Mitch Lee Yuen and Anna Kwan, parents of Danger, a Kindering graduate at the ceremony. Their son was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder before the age of two.

Read more: Parents, friends celebrate Kindering graduates.

Last week Kindering, a birth-to-three therapy center for special needs children, held a graduation ceremony for 356 children at the Bellevue Crossroads Pavilion Park. Of those graduating, nearly 150 of the graduate children were from families residing in Bellevue. Many other children hailed from the Eastside communities of Redmond, Mercer Island, Issaquah, Newcastle, Woodinville and Kirkland.

Read more: Kindering Graduates Special Needs Children

The Alliance of Eastside Agencies (AEA), a professional membership organization of human service providers, honored five individuals and two organizations at its seventh annual awards luncheon held June 15 at Bear Creek Country Club in Woodinville.

Award recipients in six categories were chosen from several nominated by Eastside human service providers. Each has made outstanding contributions to health and human services in East King County. The keynote speaker was Adrienne Quinn, executive director of the Medina Foundation, which focuses on improving lives by funding human service organizations.

Read more: "Bellevue Councilman Chelminiak, Other Volunteers Honored by Local Nonprofit Alliance"

On a recent tour of the Kindering Center near Crossroads Shopping Center, we learned lots about early childhood intervention. We learned how the infants to three-year-olds served here are disabled, medically fragile or are vulnerable due to abuse and neglect.

Some of these tots have disabilities with big, scary names such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, Spina Bifida, chromosomal abnormalities and congenital heart failure.

Read more: "Kindering Nurtures Young Ones and Families"

Ever year in mid June we celebrate the unconditional love of our fathers. For Chris Cady of Bremerton, a single dad who balances his time on the Naval Base Kitsap with caring for his 11-year-old son Josh who was born with Cytomegalovirus and needs extensive attention, unconditional love is a way of life.

Cady's son is legally blind, deaf, epileptic and has cerebral palsy. While Josh is often in his wheel chair, hooked up to a feeding tube, or being carried by his dad from one place to the next, he has the charisma of any other child. He has a love for rough-housing and an even deeper love for his father.

Read more: "Fathers Network Celebrates the Little Steps"

Snohomish High School varsity football player Ike Ditzenberger and his head coach, Mark Perry, attended the Kindering's sixth annual Salute to Courage Luncheon Benefit on May 6 in Bellevue and helped the organization raise more than $218,000, event organizers said.

Ditzenberger, who has Down syndrome, drew national attention last fall when he scored on a 51-yard touchdown run in Snohomish's 35-6 loss to Lake Stevens. The play -- known as the "Ike Special' -- has been viewed by millions on YouTube.

Read more: "Ike Helps Foundation Raise $218,000"