August 8, 2011 - Proud families and friends filled the audience of graduation. The loved ones of Kindering graduates had a special reason to be proud. For Kindering families, graduation marked the last of many milestones they had shared together.

Kindering, a birth-to-three therapy center for special needs children, held a graduation ceremony for 356 children last Thursday, August 4, at the Bellevue Crossroads Pavilion Park. Of those graduating, nearly 150 of the graduate children were from families residing in Bellevue.

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, after regressing in language and motor skills, and received crucial early intervention services at Kindering.

Ms. Chan addressed graduates and families first. She told the audience, "(with the support of Kindering) he has flourished into a very happy healthy 3 year old boy." She pointed at her son, adding, "the little boy you see here today is a completely different child than the one who first walked through the Kindering doors some 18 months ago. We’re just so happy to have our son back. To see your child regress in language and motor skills when he is so young is a difficult process."

Mr. Lee Yuen stated, "We believe that early intervention was the key to our success. With immersive classes, therapies, strategies and support we worked to find the most effective way to manage Danger's Autism." He concluded, "our son represents the unparalleled success the programs and the people at Kindering can achieve and given the opportunity and support."

Mimi Siegel, Executive Director of Kindering for over 33 years, provided opening remarks, prior to introducing Mr. Lee Yuen and Ms. Kwan.

Ms. Siegel said to parents and relatives of the graduates, "We have been privileged to share these early years with your family. We too have treasured each and every new skill that the children have gained: first eye contact, reach, swallow of solid food, word or sign or picture exchange." After thanking the parents for putting their trust in Kindering staff and programs, Ms. Siegel invited the families to keep in touch with the Kindering family in the continuing journey ahead. She concluded, "as your family continues down your path and experiences new milestones, you will not be alone. We are a strong community ready to help."

March 23, 2010 - DR. KRISTIN RYTTER, the author of "People Who Raised Me Beyond" who was profiled on KING-5 News, will present a free parent workshop entitled "Helping Children with Motor and Speech Impairments Gain Pre-Literacy and Communication Skills: An Investment in their Futures." Kindering and co-host Pediatric Associates, are sponsoring the speaker series talk on Thursday, March 31, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at the Eastside neurodevelopmental center's facility, 16120 NE 8th Street, in Bellevue.

In the workshop, Dr. Rytter will discuss the ways to help children with speech and physical impairments gain pre-literacy and communication skills through play activities. Before writing her book, Dr. Rytter obtained a doctorate in Developmental Psychology with the goal of helping children enhance their learning to reach their full potential. She also started her own business, lecturing and facilitating developmentally appropriate learning experiences for children with speech and physical impairments.

Read about how people raised her beyond her significant disability. For information on purchasing Dr. Rytter's book, please visit the following web site: https://sites.google.com/site/sagewithinusproducts.

For more information on attending, please RSVP by calling (425) 289-7506 or by e-mail at Space is limited so pre-registration is required. Light refreshments and mingling from 6:00 - 6:30 p.m.

BELLEVUE, October 18, 2010 - Recognizing the need to raise awareness of critical early intervention programs for vulnerable children with special needs, the Seattle Sounders Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup champions Taylor Graham, Roger Levesque, Nate Jaqua, Brad Evans, Pat Ianni, Pan Noonan, Osvaldo Alonso and others will be at Kindering (to play games, take pictures and have a great time), the Eastside area birth-to-three-therapy center, scheduled for Monday, October 25th, from 3 to 4:30 p.m., at 16120 NE 8th Street, in the Crossroads area of Bellevue.

The Seattle Sounders players will make an appearance at Kindering with other celebrating teammates in the wake of the team's second MLS Open Cup championship on October 5th – when the Seattle Sounders defeated the Columbus Crew 2-1. The Sounders were the first MLS team (and first team in 27 years) to win back-to-back Open Cups. Before they head into the fierce competition of November, Seattle Sounders players wanted to host an afternoon of fun and excitement at Kindering!

"The children with special needs served by Kindering are heroes and are champions," Seattle Sounders defenseman Taylor Graham stated. He added, "we can all make a difference in their lives."

Responding to the news of the Seattle Sounders' appearance, Dr. Rosita Van Coevorden, a Kindering Board Trustee and honorary co-chair of Kindering's upcoming November 13th Annual Auction Gala stated, "As champion professional soccer athletes, Taylor and his teammates on the Sounders are lending their names and community stature to highlight Kindering's crucial early intervention services." She added, "they are helping us make sure that every child that needs special early help can get it at Kindering."

BELLEVUE - March 25 2009 - Kindering Center in Bellevue, a non-profit neurodevelopmental center that provides therapies and services for infants and children with special needs, has released Tres Familias, a powerful profile of three Hispanic families, who tell their stories about raising their special needs children. The project is sponsored by Washington State Fathers Network, a program of Kindering, with major support from the Foster Foundation and Washington State Dept. of Health, Children with Special Health Care Needs.

The film, an 11-minute documentary, filmed on location in Washington State, by White Noise Productions, has been previewed, and released to selected audiences. One audience member wrote, "the way these families are portrayed makes it easy to relate to them…even though I don't speak Spanish, was born in the U.S., and don't have a child with disabilities."

Another wrote, "As a dad of a child with special needs, Tres Familias tells three important stories, and inspires me on my own journey."

Washington State Fathers Network (WSFN) is the producer of the film, courtesy of major support from the Foster Foundation. WSFN, a program of Kindering Center, is the only statewide program of its kind in the United States. The network provides support and resources for men raising children with special health care needs and developmental disabilities. With sixteen statewide programs, the WSFN serves more than 2,000 fathers and family members . The program speaks with a powerful voice for dads, assisting them in addressing the myriad challenges their children face and lets them know that they are not alone in their efforts to be the best fathers possible.

Washington State Fathers Network Program Director, Greg Schell, notes, "Tres Familias follows the joys, and challenges of three Hispanic families as they raise children diagnosed with autism, epilepsy, and Downs Syndrome. A must see film powerfully told!"

Members of the public can contact Mr. Schell, at (425) 653-4286, or for details on viewing Tres Familias and ordering the DVD.