Kids With Developmental Disabilities to Get New Playground

March 31, 2009 - PRLog -- The Arc of Alameda County announced today that it has received a grant from the Alameda County Child Care Facilities Fund to upgrade its First Step Children’s Center in Hayward. The grant totals $50,000 and will be used to create a play yard and an environment that is appropriate for the children with developmental disabilities that First Step serves.

“We have already met with a contractor to select the playground equipment,” said Mary Foster, the Director of the First Step program.  “I’m not sure who is more excited – the kids or the teachers!”  The play area includes slides, activity panels and multiple decks.  

The First Step Children’s Center currently serves 36 children ages 2 – 5.  First Step is operated by The Arc of Alameda County which also provides a number of programs for adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

First Step moved into the Walpert Center for the Developmentally Disabled, 1101 Walpert Street in Hayward in June of 2008.  The Center is also home to The Arc’s SCOPE program, the Vocational Development Center and the Alternative Ventures Program. (Detailed program descriptions are available at http://www.arcalameda.org.)

The First Step program addresses language, cognitive motor skills, gross motor skills, social-emotional needs and self-help skills. The goal is to improve quality of life and to enable each child to learn and develop to his or her maximum potential.

First Step is open to children with or without a developmental disability.  At this time, however, the program has a full complement of children and cannot enroll non-disabled kids.  Applications for future enrollment are gladly accepted.

The playground upgrade is expected to be completed by June 15, 2009.

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About The Arc of Alameda County: The Arc of Alameda County is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that provides life skills education, vocational training and job supports to adults with developmental disabilities. The Arc serves some 600 people fivedays a week with a goal of helping clients reach their chosen potential. The Arc also operates a day care facility for children with or without special needs. With five distinct programs and facilities in San Leandro, Hayward, Union City and Livermore, The Arc provides meaningful opportunities for clients to grow and learn. We are CARF certified and a member of The Arc of California and The Arc of The United States.