Early diagnosis and intervention can make all the difference for a young child struggling with developmental disabilities or delays. For one child, specialized therapy made communication possible for the first time in his young life.

The 2008 Preschool Class of the Ned Behnke Speech Language Preschool

Caden, age 5, has severe apraxia, a motor speech disorder that makes speech, auditory processing and motor function irregular and difficult. Diagnosed with the disorder at 2 years old, Caden struggled to communicate with his family and make friends. While he received therapy, his family’s limited budget meant that he did not have access to specialists. For years he made little progress.

Then space became available at The Hearing Speech & Deafness Center (HSDC), a United Way of King County grantee. Caden enrolled in HSDC’s Ned Behnke Speech Language Preschool, a free program, and in just a few months’ time he showed dramatic improvement. The agency’s highly trained professional staff used the latest techniques to help Caden build a foundation of language.

In King County, approximately 1,500 children aged birth to 3 experience developmental disabilities or delays. That’s why United Way of King County invests in programs that provide therapeutic services for young children with developmental disabilities and delays, so that they reach their highest potential.

Click here to learn more about the services and supports available to individuals and families through the King County Developmental Disabilities Division.