[img]1|left|Ari Noonan||no_popup[/img]“Founded in 1975, The Help Group is the largest, most innovative and comprehensive nonprofit of its kind in the United States serving children with special needs related to autism spectrum disorders, learning disabilities, ADHD, developmental delays, abuse and emotional problems. The Help Group's seven specialized day schools, on six campuses, including Culver City, offer pre-K through high school programs for more than 1,400 students.”
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The most tender moment at yesterday’s spectacular groundbreaking for The Help Group on Washington Boulevard probably occurred at the outset when three of their youngest special needs students led a couple hundred adults in the Pledge of Allegiance. Their red, white and blue stentorian voices – giving directions to their elders and reciting the Pledge – rang boldly across the room.
If an eyewitness had a thimble-sized space in his heart to appreciate the enormous mountain the three children had just scaled, it translated into dampness around both eyes.
Or maybe the best memory was when the actor Gary Cole, undramatically but still wrenchingly, described the latest successful mile his special college-age daughter has journeyed, living away from home for the first time, at an East Coast university, but never vacating the emptier hearts of her father and her mother.
It also could have been the mood-establishing moment when Louis Price, former lead singer of The Temptations, incredibly movingly, sang “America the Beautiful,” virtually a cappella, with just the lightest dusting of piano misting in the background.
The occasion for gathering QSPs (Quite Significant Persons) was to declare officially under way the rehabilitation of The Help Group’s newest acquired property, the two-story building next door, a former pharmacy, also adjacent to Kaiser Permanente.
Nine months distant, in the warmth of July, The Help Group hopes to unveil a 20,000-square foot learning structure that will offer a unique 10,000-square foot playground on the roof as the school intends to ultimately expand from 400 students to 600.
With the five members of the City Council at a ringside circular table, the lady who lit the seminal spark for The Help Group 37 years ago, President/CEO Dr. Barbara Firestone, framed a portrait of the historic event.
She interlaced the joy with the pain that every parent of a special child both enjoys and endures.
“When we cut the ribbon on this campus in 2001, and watched as the buses arrived on the first day of school, we saw these buildings take on a life of their own as they began to be filled with children, each child taking steps every day toward realizing his or her fullest potential.
“We met parent after parent who was so grateful to have this school home for their children. For parents, it is an arduous journey, finding the programs and services that can make the important difference in their child’s lives.
“In 2001, 1 in every 250 children was estimated to be affected by autism. We could not have anticipated the recent estimates from the Centers for Disease Control, that 1 in every 88 children is affected by autism, 1 in every 54 boys.
“It is very likely that most of you know or love a child with autism, and you know what a difficult path it is for families confronting the challenge of autism.
“The need for programs and services never has been greater than it is today. Together we must do all that we can to ensure that children are given every opportunity to succeed.
“We are here today to break ground on our endeavor to serve more children. It starts with a wonderful new school building – 20,000 square feet with a 10,000-square foot rooftop playground that will enable us to increase our enrollment by up to 200 students.
“But the real story will begin, as it did in 2001, when the school buses pull up to the door on the first day of school.
“And this story of hope begins with the leadership of the City Council and its tremendous support of our efforts, When we came to you with our request to expand our campus for additional students, we were most grateful for your thoughtful consideration and for the time that each of you made in your over-the-top schedules to give us the opportunity to personally acquaint with our request.
“We shall never forget the evening of the City Council meeting when each of you expressed your support that resulted in your unanimous approval.
“It was abundantly clear that each of you has a special place in your heart for children – in particular, children with special needs.
“Because you care, because children are clearly a top priority on Culver City’s agenda, we are here today to break ground on a state-of-the-art education facility.
“Through your commitment, each one of you will touch the lives of many children in direct and meaningful ways throughout the years ahead.
“Our board of directors thanks you, our administration, faculty and staff thank you, but most of all, the children and families whom we serve, and whom we will serve, thank you.”
What Script
Not that everyone followed or even read the day’s script.
When the choral group in the photo accompanying this account, reached the performing area, a teacher asked, instinctively, “Are you ready?”
“No,” loudly replied one young man, who doubtless will grow up to be an assertive success.
