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Sixth in a series on "Advancing the Common Good Through Transformed Lives," highlighting a United Way of Greater Greensboro supported partner. This week: The Greensboro Cerebral Palsy Association's Infant Toddler Program.

Imagine never hearing your child's voice except when she cries, never seeing her smile or interact with anyone.

That was Kim Anderson's reality until she found the Greensboro Cerebral Palsy Association's Infant Toddler Program at Gateway Education Center, 3205 E. Wendover Ave., Greensboro. Anderson was referred to Gateway by another nonprofit in Charlotte that told her they could not help her child.

"I was afraid that no one could help my little girl," said Anderson. "At Gateway we found a place that met Jordan's every need and, unlike other organizations, the staff did not panic when she had a seizure."

Jordan is just one of many success stories in the Infant Toddler Program at Gateway, funded in part by United Way of Greater Greensboro. The program is one of only a few in the state which provide an early intervention school setting for developmentally delayed children from birth to 3 years of age. It is the only school of its kind in Guilford County.

The Infant Toddler Program offers occupational, physical and speech therapy for students who are the lowest 2 percent of children surviving and coming from the neo-natal intensive care units at Brenner's Hospital, Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem and neo-natal unit at Moses Cone Health System. Cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and Spina Bifida are some of the challenges that the infants, toddlers and families face each day.

"When we get these children, we are just beginning the journey that their parents will live for a lifetime," said Taylor Swink, program coordinator of the Infant Toddler Program. "We train parents to embrace a heartbreaking reality and empower them to understand a new definition of normal. We teach them to find joy in their child."

The Infant Toddler Program, like the entire Gateway school, is fully staffed with trained, licensed professionals. Staff comprises administrators, teachers, teacher assistants, therapists, nurses and counselors. A feeding specialist works solely with parents to assist in a task that is a normal function for most children, but one of monumental effort for a developmentally delayed child.

Children are evaluated throughout the year with the ultimate goal of enabling a child to transition to day care or public school. "People from other counties move here to get their children into Gateway," said Principal Linda Lyon. She remembers the day she met Kim Anderson and how emotional it was for the overwhelmed mother. "This population needs a voice and it is a privilege to speak for them," Lyon said. "We are thankful for funding from United Way and partner agencies, without which the (Greensboro Cerebral Palsy Association's) Infant Toddler Program would close its doors."

Smiling faces and returning a sense of normalcy to families are reward enough for Lyon and her staff. "Because of (the association), I am finally able to be a mother," said Anderson. "Jordan is now smiling and we are connecting with each other in a way that was not possible before. Gateway has allowed us to have a life."

For the 2007-08 United Way of Greater Greensboro funding cycle, Greensboro Cerebral Palsy Association provided 940.5 hours of classroom instruction and 3,168 hours of home visitation. The association seeks to increase access to health care, support and prevention education services for infants and families with, or at risk of, specialized health needs.

As of Nov. 14, United Way of Greater Greensboro was at 56 percent of its $13 million goal.

For information about United Way supported programs or how to contribute to United Way of Greater Greensboro, visit www.unitedwaygso.org.