ABOUT BEGINNING STEPS TO INDEPENDENCE, INC.
Beginning Steps to Independence, Inc. (BSTII) is a not-for-profit educational organization. We are dedicated to serving children with motor disorders such as cerebral palsy and those with no diagnosis but significant developmental delays. BSTII also provides support services to the families of the children we serve. We seek to be an active member of the community serving children with special needs, always promoting awareness of Conductive Education (CE).

ORGANIZATION
BSTII is governed by a Board of Directors and led by an Executive Director. The day-to-day program is run by a senior conductor with many years of both classroom and administrative experience. All classes are taught by Conductor/Teachers who have received their training and degrees at the Peto Institute in Hungary. Our newest conductor just graduated from Aquinas College in Michigan.

PROGRAM
Because CE is an education-based model, we use age-appropriate curriculum approved by the State of California. Our goal is not only to help the children learn skills that will assist them in their day-to-day life, but also to provide the pre-academic and academic requirements that will prepare the children for inclusion in the mainstream school system, whenever possible.

HISTORY
CE in San Jose is the result of one family's search for a way to help their child, diagnosed with brain damage due to a premature birth. In their search to help their daughter, they found CE, a unique educational system that covers all aspects of development: physical, educational, social, emotional, communication and language. The founding family's vision was not just to help their child but also to make CE available to other children who could benefit.

This dream came true when Beginning Steps to Independence, Inc. - Conductive Education Center (BSTII) opened in 1997 with one Conductor (teacher) and four preschool children in a single classroom. It has been an awesome journey since that day. Just to mention a few of the milestones along the way:

NUMBER ONE
First and always foremost - the children's progress! Each child, at their own pace, has or is realizing that they can achieve. This is the beginning.

ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS
Within the first few months, besides the preschool program we added an infant/toddler (Mommy & Me) program to cover the early childhood intervention aspect. Soon we had several Mommy & Me programs, the preschool program, home-based programs and an after school program.

VENDORIZATION
In 1999 BSTII became a center-based vendor to San Andreas Regional Center (SARC). This is one of the regional center agencies in California that is responsible for children with disabilities' (from birth to 3 years of age). They refer children to the center and cover the cost of the services. With this vendorization we became an official center-based Early Start Program for the California Department of Developmental Services. We also have a contract with SARC to provide home-based services to children with disabilities The vendorization has positioned us to promote CE awareness within the professional community serving children with disabilities. We do not take this responsibility lightly.

GRADUATIONS
In September 2000 we had our first graduation. Four children from our preschool program graduated into the mainstream educational system. It was a very emotional time for us. After investing so much time, love and energy into each child we hated to see them go. However, along with the sadness was joy and pride. You see, these were the first of our children to graduate into the mainstream education system! These children joined their new classes as active and participating students, each armed with the knowledge that they can achieve. They are proof that CE works! Every year since then we have celebrated with the families of the children who are graduated and moving on to the next phase of their journey.

TODAY
BSTII is a vital and growing part of the community serving children with special needs. We offer a unique program for children with motor disorders. IN 2007 WE CELEBRATED OUR 10TH ANNIVERSARY!!! With three conductors and multiple classes, we continually look for ways to make affordable CE available to more children. We look forward to continued opportunities to affect the lives of the children and the families we serve.