The Belle Center of St. Louis

"At The Belle Center, we champion the interests of children with developmental delays and disabilities, as well as their families. Our three programs have a common goal: to reach every facet of our children’s lives so that they may be fully included in their communities. We provide a bright start in the young lives of children with developmental delays and disabilities…and enable them to reach their full potential! The Belle Center promotes the rights and expectations of all children to be fully included in the community. The center provides a progressive, family-centered inclusive approach to education and community life that supports children with disabilities. A group of parents raising children with disabilities founded The Belle Center in 1984 in St. Louis. At the time, it was difficult for families to identify preschools that accepted young children with special needs—much less included them with their typical peers. The Belle Center is the first organization in the Midwest to provide a preschool in which children with and without disabilities could learn and play together.Today, in addition to our inclusive preschool, The Belle Center's teachers and therapists support over 200 children daily in our Outreach Therapy Program throughout the greater St. Louis metropolitan area. We also provide classes and activities for families of children with disabilities through our Families as Partners Program. The Belle Center provides parents and families with appropriate education and support as early as possible. From parent and child classes that help families learn about their babies’ and toddlers’ needs… to an inclusive preschool for toddlers to pre-kindergarteners… through therapy services for elementary to high school children… The Belle Center is here for our families as long as there is a need. The Belle Center empowers children and parents to meet the unique challenges presented by disabilities and developmental delays. We teach families how to use all the resources available to them to maximize their children’s potential. The Belle Center assists families in coping with the stresses of having a child with special needs through programs and referrals for parents, siblings, and members of their extended families. Everyone associated with The Belle Center believes that all children—with and without disabilities—benefit from inclusion. That’s why we work tirelessly to promote the rights, as well as the expectations, of all children to be fully included in their community. We also help parents learn to advocate for services and opportunities their children need throughout their lives.                                                                                                

 

Preschool Program:

6646 Vernon Avenue

University City, MO 63130

p: 314.862.7306

f: 314.721.0939.

Kate Hannon: kate@bellecenter.com.                                                                                                                                            Outreach

 

Therapy Program:

10916 Schuetz Road

St. Louis, MO 63146

p: 314.692.8499

f: 314.692.0715.

Theresa Strothkamp: theresa@bellecenter.com."