DDI is thrilled we are in our 60th Anniversary year! We are proud of our historic start in 1961 by a small group of parents determined to find a better way to address the special education and therapeutic needs of their children. They came together to form The Suffolk Center for Emotionally Disturbed Children. These original parents chipped in for the teachers’ payroll, they offered classes in their own basements, they held board meetings in their living rooms! It was an exciting time!
Over the years, the program evolved and enrollment grew. Six decades later, DDI has emerged as a leader in our field but is immensely still connected to our roots.
We have embarked on a project to collect as many memories as we can from the past six decades, and we are excited to share them with you.
Please enjoy the memory sent in by:
Angela Sanginario
“Mom brought me to the Starting Early Program (now the Early Childhood Services Program) when I was 3-5 years old (1995-1997) for help with speech and cognitive delays. She was very pleased with the program and loved all of my teachers.
Because of all the services I received, mom felt that I was ready for kindergarten, and now, 25 years later, I’m a Teaching Assistant in the Children’s Day Program! Thank you, DDI!”
If you have a memory you would like to share, we are compiling memories digitally here: https://forms.gle/5hxbhH1NYUoL54Lz6
If you are not the digital type, you can mail any memories to: 99 Hollywood Drive, Smithtown, NY, 11787. Attn: Communications Department.