Capital District Beginnings | services for young children with special needs and their families
Administrative Office | 673 Columbia Turnpike | P.O. Box 630 | East Greenbush, NY 12061 | (518) 233-0544
 
Supporting children where they live and learn
Capital District Beginnings | Services for Young Children with Special Needs

About Capital District Beginnings

 

673 Columbia Turnpike | P.O. Box 630 | East Greenbush, NY 12061 
Phone (518) 233-0544 | Fax (518) 233-0703  
Office Hours: 8 AM - 4 PM | Monday - Friday

History

Capital District Beginnings was founded in 1984 by Dr. Mary Garrett and Dr. Edward Welch. Dr. Garrett was a professor of special education at Russell Sage and Dr. Welch was a professor of special education and the Director of the SUNY Pre-K Program at SUNY Albany. Together, they opened the first Beginnings preschool special education program at the Troy YMCA. In 1991 Beginnings doubled its enrollment by incorporating the former SUNY Pre-K Program and expanding services to a seven county region. Today, Beginnings employs over 200 staff and serves over 800 children and families in a 12 county region. We operate over 40 community-based integrated preschool collaborative classrooms.

 

Read more about our Service Model

 

 

Cornerstone Beliefs

The philosophy that drives Beginnings is based on four cornerstone beliefs:

 

Early Intervention

Early education and/ or therapeutic intervention can have a dramatic positive impact on each child's later school and life performance. To improve the performance of children in educational, personal, and social domains, a transdisciplinary model is employed. Initial diagnostic and ongoing assessment information is shared assertively among all team members in order to develop and maintain the most effective individual intervention plans.

Parents as Partners

Parents are partners with our staff in the development and execution of their children's plans. The parent/staff
relationship focuses on building trust and mutual understanding.

 

Collaboration

Collaborating agencies are partners with Beginnings in the development and execution of intervention plans. The inter-agency relationship focuses on building trust and mutual understanding.

Best Practices

Beginnings' role as a model training ground for professionals. Commitment to best practice in early intervention is demonstrated to and emulated by staff therefore resulting in the multiplier effect that favorably affects children and professionals far beyond the immediate enrollment in Beginnings.