Kindering, a not-for-profit neurodevelopmental center, has provided comprehensive services for children with special needs and their families since 1962. Each year nearly 3,000 infants and children receive crucial therapies, special education, and counseling. Indeed our name, Kindering, was chosen to reflect the kindness, kinship and nurturing care we provide to children and families each day.

Description:
Kindering Center provides physical and occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, special education, and family counseling. Kindering Center also has a nutrition/feeding team that addresses the nutritional and feeding difficulties of children ages birth to 10 years. Families are offered an array of services through the Parenting Plus program, Fathers Network, Mothers' Circle, Sibshops and the Parent Library.

History:
Kindering was founded in 1962 by five Bellevue-area mothers of children with disabilities. It was initially called the Eastside Preschool for the Special Child. Within a few years the preschool was incorporated, gained public funding, gradually replaced volunteers with paid professionals, and changed the agency name to Merrywood School. Innovative programming, including support for fathers, foster care, child care and parent education, and new funding sources, including membership in the United Way of King County and status as a neurodevelopmental center, were added in following years. In 1993, Merrywood School became Kindering Center. To reflect the kindness, kinship, and superior child development services families would receive, we coined the word "Kindering" - the best of early intervention.

Contact person: Jennifer Schumacher, Volunteer Coordinator, (phone), (email)
Office fax number: (425) 747-1069

Address:

16120 N.E. 8th St. Bellevue, WA 98008 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.kindering.org

Directions:

Driving east from SR 520, take the exit for 148th Ave. NE. Head south on 148th until you reach N.E. 8th. Take a left and continue east past the south end of Crossroads Mall. Kindering Center is. . . (more)   Nearest Bus Stop: Metro route 230, 2-5 minutes minute walk

Miscellaneous Information

Liability
	Yes
Does your organization welcome court-ordered community service volunteers?
	No
Does your organization have volunteer positions for youth 12-18?
	No