Blair Early Childhood Center
Karen A. Bryar - Principal
Elizabeth N. Hendry - Assistant Principal
Blair Early Childhood Center opened on October 1, 1984 and is maintained by the Chicago Public Schools to provide educational, health and therapeutic services for physically and multiply disabled children ages three to seven years. Blair plays a privileged and unique role in educating Chicago's children by:1. Providing a protective environment in which the disabled child can participate in a standard education program.2. Providing specialized programs and services based on the child's needs as determined by parents, staff, medical consultants and other professionals. All of the classroom teachers at Blair are certified Chicago Public School teachers who have completed courses for teaching the physically disabled child. In addition, most of the teachers hold multiple teaching certificates in a wide range of areas. As of November 2003, six Blair teachers have achieved National Board Certification and have earned an Early Childhood through Young Adult Exceptional Needs Specialist certificate. National Board Certification, offered by NBPTS, is a demonstration of a candidate's teaching practice as measured against high and rigorous standards. It is a symbol of commitment to excellence in teaching. When a teacher achieves National Board Certification, it's a credential attesting to the fact a teacher has been assessed by his or her peers as one who is accomplished, makes sound professional judgments about student learning, and acts effectively on those judgments. Besides classroom teachers, our staff members include a gym teacher, case manager, social worker, psychologist, learning disabilities teacher, music teacher, art teacher, certified school nurses, licensed practical nurses, physical therapists and physical therapy assistants, occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants, hearing impaired teacher, visually impaired teacher, assistive technology teacher, speech therapists and speech assistant, child welfare attendants, school assistants, office clerks, lunchroom manager and the building engineer.
One of our speech/language therapists is a Pyramid Certified PECS Implementer:, trained to implement all Phases of PECS according to the PECS protocol. The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) was developed in 1985 as a unique augmentative/ alternative training package that allows children and adults with autism and other communication deficits to initiate communication.
The educational program provided at Blair is in accordance with the citywide curriculum of the Chicago Public Schools designed to meet the needs of Chicago's children. Because of the physical involvement of our pupils close cooperation is encouraged between parents and school to provide the most effective educational and therapeutic programs possible. Home therapy programs are provided to all parents when appropriate. As with any child, educational success and goal achievement can only be accomplished through a continuity of school and home programs. Long term goals and short term objectives stated on the Individual Education Program (IEP) are implemented so that a total educational program tailored to the needs of the individual child is provided. Success and goal achievement can only be accomplished through a continuity of school and home programs. 
The school program at Blair spans Early Childhood through Grade 1. We also have an extensive program for children with profound cognitive disabilities. These children are ages three to seven years chronologically, but they are functioning between birth and eight months cognitively. Our program is unique to the Chicago Public schools. We also have a Snoezelen Program that provides multifaceted sensory stimulation for all of the Blair children. Classroom teachers are responsible for all areas of the curriculum. There are age groupings for gym, music and art. Long term goals and short term objectives stated on the Individual Educational Program (IEP) are implemented so that a total educational program tailored to the needs of the individual child is provided. . An integral part of our program at Blair is the Horticulture Therapy Program. We have been partners with the staff from the Chicago Botanic Gardens for a number of years. Each week throughout the year staff from the "Gardens" visit Blair and work with the first grade students. Many weeks are spent planting and getting things ready for our outdoor gardens and many other weeks are spent learning about plants, nature and responsibility. Although the first graders are the students working with the Horticulture Therapy Program, all of the Blair children take advantage of the beautiful gardens at Blair. Throughout the school year the children are provided with many opportunities to participate in fun and unusual prgrams. Among these are the Pumpkin Patch Festival, the Halloween Multi-Sensory Fun House & Parade, the Blair Family Thanksgiving Luncheon, The Christmas Program, Cultural Awareness Month, Winter Festival, The Easter, Parade, Blair Field Day, the Blair Art Fair and Kindergarten Graduation. During our Summer Program we go swimming one a week at Hale Park in the zero-depth gravity pool and have lots of outdoor activities. 
We also have guest artists and performers come to Blair two or three times a month. We have had the Mid-Illinois Ballet Company, the Ballroom City Dancers, Young Lions Brass Band, Red Hot Mojo, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Ensemble, the Rope Warrior (and the list goes on) visit and perform for our children. These activities provide our children with a chance to enjoy things that they might never get a chance to experience. 
Our talented teachers have won a number of grants and awards that directly benefit our children. Some of these grants have been funded by the Chicago Foundation for Excellence, the Chicago Public School Trust and the Illinois Arts Council. We are very proud of the program and team we have built at Blair. If you are ever in our neighborhood, stop by for a visit. We would love to show you around. 
