Testimonials

“…His neurodevelopmental pediatrician told us that his transformation was a miracle and that she has never seen anything like it before. It was a miracle. It was Celebrate the Children.”

“…thank you all for truly thinking outside the box and being creative enough to work around some major learning roadblocks.”

“…the kids did such a great job so much love in that room!! The entire night was so uplifting. The Staff at CTC are amazing people.”

"...The staff at this school is incomparable. Their creativity is boundless. Their determination to find a way to reach each student goes so far beyond anything I have ever seen in my lifetime."

Dear Celebrate the Children,

I don't remember a lot from our first appointment with our son's Neurodevelopmental Pediatrician. I remember she said the words Autism and institutionalization.   I remember looking at my husband and feeling powerless and small. Everything else was like a Peanuts episode where words were muffled and indistinguishable. I just wanted to wake up and have it all be a dream. My beautiful baby boy, who could not speak but who was so amazingly smart and sweet and wonderful seemed to be gone in an instant and in his place we had the word, "Autism".

I remember being in the car after our first appointment and my husband said, "he is still the same child he was yesterday, he just needs help and we are going to give it to him."

The first time I walked into Celebrate the Children, I was frustrated and scared that I couldn't find what my son needed. I remember walking into classroom after classroom and seeing children. Not disabled children, not children with special needs, just children who were loved and believed in. I remember the way these children beamed with pride, I remember talking to teachers who raved about how smart and amazing the children were and I wanted that for my child.

When our son was accepted at Celebrate the Children, my husband and I felt like a weight had been taken off our shoulders. We knew he would be loved, believed in, and given what he needed.

Words cannot describe the amazing miracle that Celebrate the Children was in our lives. Our son was literally transformed during the two years he was at the school. He has become a confident, social, and articulate child, a child who thinks about the world and people around him. The love our son received from his teachers and the staff at Celebrate the Children makes me cry. There was not a single person in the entire school who did not believe that he was the smartest, sweetest boy in the world. The crazy thing is, they felt this way about every single one of their students. I truly believe that his teacher became his other mother. The love and attention she showered upon him changed his life. But, it was more than that. I started doing Floortime™ with one of the staff members and she became someone so special in my own life. With the outside world I felt like I had to be strong and steadfast in my belief that my son was going to get everything he needed, but with the staff I was able to share my fears, my insecurities, my hopelessness. I was able to breakdown and have doubts and cry. She was my son’s Floortime™ therapist, and my friend. We felt that we were part of a family, a family that was giving Jake exactly what he needed.

Two years after starting at Celebrate the Children, my son has graduated and attends a private school for children with auditory processing disorders and dyslexia. The school is not an autistic school. He is articulate, social, smart, funny, and sweet.   He is ahead academically and just acted as the "prince" in the school's production of "Snow White."   The Neurodevelopmental Pediatrician and all of his teachers say he will go to college and have a "normal" life.   His Neurodevelopmental Pediatrician told us that his transformation was a miracle and that she has never seen anything like it before. It was a miracle.

It was Celebrate the Children.

Celebrate the Children literally changed my son’s life and it changed our family’s lives.   We have been so blessed and will always be so very, very thankful to the school and to his teachers.

"This school is that needle in the haystack that every parent dreams of, but doesn't believe can exist."

"...I count my blessings every day to have been fortunate enough to have been a part of this wonderful school and to have learned from the founders of CTC and the incredible staff who are forever aspiring to learn even more that they can apply and do everything they can for our children."

Celebrate the Children has changed the lives of my two children and our family in dramatic, positive ways. This school is that needle in the haystack that every parent dreams of, but doesn't believe can exist.

The DIR/ Floortime approach is at the heart of this program. It focuses on encouraging children to think and have their own ideas, to be independent and to develop relationships. Simultaneously, the staff builds upon each child's unique developmental and academic needs. The staff at this school is incomparable. Their creativity is boundless. Their determination to find a way to reach each student goes so far beyond anything I have ever seen in my lifetime. They do not just reach the student’s, they teach academics, perspective development, empathic thinking and so much more in ways that are uniquely impactful and often exciting. The students become a part of what they are learning. They are either having so much fun, they don't even realize how rich their learning experience is...or they are so drawn into the learning experience, that the learning aspect is all encompassing, often in profound ways.

The program as a whole has so much to offer. In addition to the outstanding teaching aspects, recreational learning such as horseback riding, swimming, cooking, baking, boys and girl's clubs, and more are built into the program. An exceptional afterschool program offering a wide array of choices is also available.

Families have moved to New Jersey from all of the country and from other countries, to attend this unique and amazing school. We live here in New Jersey, and I count my blessings every day to have been fortunate enough to have been a part of this wonderful school and to have learned from the founders of CTC and the incredible staff who are forever aspiring to learn even more that they can apply and do everything they can for our children. I highly recommend this school.

"This is the Harvard, Princeton, Yale and MIT of Special Ed Schools wrapped into one and then some."

"...You all deserve gold medals of leadership, insight, creativity, dedication and outstanding performance. If only the world were balanced."

"... I saw tremendous innovation to wriggle through all the obstacles to reach out to the kids and the equal effort from the kids to reach to them in turn."

The conference was amazing!! I really can't find a way to express how incredible it was and how incredibly fortunate I was left feeling.... and I felt incredibly fortunate before the conference - so that should tell you a lot.

As you know, I didn't attend the DIR conferences that you used to go to and were part of. Being away for 4 days never seemed to not work out for me. I came to the March 2012 conference in Rockaway and that was great. This one was mind blowing to me. It just showcased all that CTC is doing and how deeply rooted and intertwined the work is. I saw work being done and things I guess I really didn't truly understand before.

Karen, I saw my Mom on Sunday and was telling her about the Kristallnacht separated parties, and "walking in each other's shoes" exercises and clips. These were riveting...for some, perhaps pushing the envelope Kristallnacht but I cannot think of a better way to have given our kids a glimpse into even a small sense of what was experienced by those who lived it. I think this was incredibly brilliant, brave and outstanding teaching. For me, it was ground breaking. My Mom (who is 85 but totally with it and smart as whip) was so impressed.

As I have said before, there really aren't words to express the appreciation, admiration and wonder I experienced at this conference. I learned a lot. We, as parents, have a good sense of what our children are doing at CTC - this is why most of us have chosen this school...but, I so intensely wish that all the parents of children at CTC could see what I saw at this conference at EVERY presentation.

This is the Harvard, Princeton, Yale and MIT of Special Ed Schools wrapped into one and then some. Every time I say something or write something, my words sound hollow in my own head.... I just wish I could find a way to tell you all how impressed I am, how amazing CTC, Monica, Lauren, Karen and so many others are and how deeply grateful I am to have and had my children there - experiencing all of this. You all deserve gold medals of leadership, insight, creativity, dedication and outstanding performance. If only the world were balanced.

“…I salute all the kids and professionals of CTC and to you as someone who has given such a wonderful gift to the society.”

“…Gallons of Glitter and Paint along with miles of colored paper coupled with the loving dedication of those we refer to as our Angels the Aides Support Staff Teachers Principal Director culminated into an amazing production of Celebrate the Journey - CTC's Spring Concert! A million thanks with love.”

Dear Celebrate the Children,

Often it is not a good idea to let go certain thoughts driven out of moment of realization. Not sure why this thought passed through my mind only yesterday while I have visited quite a few classroom settings in last four years or so. Was it because of the kids were older, was it because some of the sensory issues they are facing become more vivid as the kids grow older? I am not sure. What happened as an ultimate result in my mind was sort of dramatic. I felt the work I do as a living in my day-to-day life is quite trivial to what is being done in a small school called CTC. And to that argument, probably many like me who think they do quite a complex and challenging job in their daily life may have a second thought if they see what I saw yesterday.

It was a classic example of how an almost impossible job can be undertaken as part of a profession and then carried out with absolute ease and proficiency day over day. What I saw is a few bright kids having their own set of ideas, unique needs, unique sensory challenges and communication bottlenecks fighting like brave teenagers to overcome so called “own world” to touch and feel all others. A true set of beautiful minds at work. And then there were a brave set of professionals working with them, helping them to achieve their true potential. I saw tremendous innovation to wriggle through all the obstacles to reach out to the kids and the equal effort from the kids to reach to them in turn. As Sir Isaac Newton said, “for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction”. I saw innovation, dynamicity, professionalism and dedication at its best. No state of art facilities, no overwhelming uses of technology rather an audacious effort with modest infrastructure to achieve best of results. I salute all the kids and professionals of CTC and to you as someone who has given such a wonderful gift to the society.

Best Regards,

----’s Dad

"Thank you so much for opening them up to possibilities and for being such amazing advocates for kids!"

I know this comes a bit late, but I am reading my students' assignments from their visit and realized that I never thanked you for our amazing visit! I love to go to CTC first because it "sets the bar" for what my students should expect when they visit these special schools.

The spirit, enthusiasm and belief in the possibilities for children is the hopeful message that I want them to get. Thank you so much for opening them up to possibilities and for being such amazing advocates for kids!

Gail Hilliard-Nelson, Drew University

"We remember days when we wondered if things would ever change, if she would ever feel happy again. Now, we treasure her smiles and the sparkle that is back in her eye as she goes to the bus."

"...There are so many to thank, but we know that you are all a team, so we would like to extend our appreciation to everyone at CTC for their energy, enthusiasm, kindness, compassion, knowledge and skill."

To the Celebrate the Children Family,

This Wednesday will mark a year, since we came to visit Celebrate the Children with our daughter. Lauren and Demond may recall that the day did not start well. Thanks to their compassion and encouragement, we stayed for the intake and then held our breath to see if Celebrate the Children could see our daughter’s potential and whether she would be given a chance.

We are so grateful that you did.

We remember years past that our daughter refused to go to school. She now wakes up and asks to go. We remember days when we wondered if things would ever change, if she would ever feel happy again. Now, we treasure her smiles and the sparkle that is back in her eye as she goes to the bus.

We know that some days are still not easy, yet you always respond with kindness and wanting to know ‘why’. You truly believed that behavior was communication, and rather than squelch it, tried to understand it, and help her through it. Most significantly, she is treated like the teenage girl she is and especially loves CBI Fridays. She is learning to trust again. She is finally in a place that matches the rest of her life, which we have always tried to fill with meaningful and memorable experiences. Her academics are presented in engaging, creative and relevant activities. She has also had many emotional firsts this year; she has expressed “I am anxious”, “I am frustrated” and just last week, spontaneously said “I am sorry”. With these milestones crossed, we eagerly look forward to her continued learning and progress.

There are so many to thank, but we know that you are all a team, so we would like to extend our appreciation to everyone at CTC for their energy, enthusiasm, kindness, compassion, knowledge and skill.

With Best Regards,

Proud parents of CTC

"There was so much of that day that was life changing for me and I wish I could put it into words here."

"Thank you for having me last Friday. I do hope to come back soon. There was so much of that day that was life changing for me and I wish I could put it into words here. Truly you guys are doing a wonderful job and I'm so happy to be a part of it."

Anie Knipping, Author: Eccentricity A Journey Through a Mind

"With understanding that she still has a long journey in front of her, we know she is on the right path."

Dear Lauren,

This past September, our family vacationed for a week at DisneyWorld in Florida. This is a trip many families might take when their children are around 5 or 6, but we waited until this year when we both felt our daughter would be better able to experience and understand the magic of Disney.

From the car trip to the airport, walking through the crowded terminal, waiting on the long security lines, and then the actual boarding of the plane, we were very surprised at our daughter’s ability and composure through these transitions.

In the past as you know, our daughter was unable to remain calm and seated for any long period of time. We were delighted to find that this wasn't the case this time and she was able to actually enjoy her first flight. She was able to visually identify and verbalize her experience by offering to show us clouds outside her window. My husband, whom does not enjoy flying, told her “just tell me when we are landing”. Sure enough about 30 minutes later she stated “Daddy we are landing now” and indeed we were!

Our daughter maintained the same comfortable level of transition throughout the Orlando airport, onto the monorail, and then onto the Disney shuttle bus. Upon arriving at our Disney hotel we were please to find she was still very much in control. And this continued through lunch and into the Magic Kingdom park. Although we were a bit tired, our daughter was very excited and verbally processed her surroundings.

We saw a significant increase in our daughter's speech throughout our vacation. She was able to verbalize many of her own demands and needs, such as choosing particular rides which were her favorite (Buzz Lightyear, and Little Mermaid). Previously in this type of setting (crowded, noisy, busy) we would have seen a significant rise in her anxiety, but to our own pleasure there was none.

This past year there have been such profound differences in our daughter's abilities that we were able to truly experience our first vacation together as a family. We used to just take our daughter places, however, this trip our daughter experienced the place she was in.

With understanding that she still has a long journey in front of her, we know she is on the right path.

We want to thank you and all the staff working with our daughter at CTC for all you have done so far and your commitment to help her grow and learn.

Sincerely,
Proud Parents of CTC

"Finding words to give thanks to people who changed your life in unparalleled ways is a daunting task - and for me, one that cannot be expressed well enough."

"...CTC has played a critical role in the development and success of our children. I believe that we were somehow divinely guided to have been passengers on this incredible journey and for that, we are so grateful."

In my twenties, I was full of dreams as most young people are. I sailed through college, began a career in fashion, had friends, relationships, and lots of fun. I met the man of my dreams, Chris DeNicola. We got married and soon had a beautiful baby boy. We named him Michael. Life was good.

I was blessed with a wonderful partner in life who I loved and love so much, but until I had that baby boy, I didn’t really understand the meaning of life or that a mother’s love is so deep, it can’t really be put into words. As those of you with children know, when you have children…they become your heart. You want everything for them and you would lay down your life for them.

Michael was and always will be our pride and joy. He is 21 years old now. He is here in this room tonight…our intelligent, funny, outgoing, handsome son. He has led us on a journey that could rival an epic adventure in many ways….and there are some days that we are still on that wild ride with him – but I wouldn’t trade any of it… or at least most of it!

Michael was the cutest, most mischievous, charming baby and toddler. Between the ages of 2 and 3, we became concerned about certain aspects of his development. The anxiety that comes with a parent’s worry can be all consuming. At age 3, we found out that Michael was on the autism spectrum. Aside from the roller coaster of emotions we rode, my own lack of knowledge and primal instincts threw me into immediate action. I joined groups, called famous doctors, scoured libraries and any resource I could for information.

We soon assembled a team of reputable professionals to work with Michael. As eager as we were to have these people working with our son, I can also attest to a sense of helplessness and confusion…and a desperate hope that we were on the right track.

Michael was learning and progressing in areas, but it felt like only one half of the puzzle was being put together. As time wore on, I was in constant search of what I thought of as social skills. This proved to be very difficult to find in 1995. Michael needed more than the academic side of things and certainly more than just compliance. One November morning I attended a conference. Dr. Barry Prizant was discussing how to promote socio-communicative speech in children on the spectrum. Little did I know that attending that conference would change our lives.

At the conference a woman in front of me raised her hand to ask a question, she introduced herself as the Social Skills Coordinator at a local special education school. SOCIAL SKILLS!! I nearly tackled her to the ground. At the next break, I cornered her before she could even get to the lady’s room. That young woman was Monica Osgood and that was the day the curtain of despair and confusion began to lift and the blurry path we were following began to come into focus. It was the beginning of things starting to make sense again.

Monica invited me to come observe one of her social groups. I did and I was so impressed with her. She was working on really great things like social reciprocity amongst peers, creative thinking and problem solving skills - all in a fun and motivating way. I was blown away. With all my searching, I had not seen work like this being done anywhere else. To my great joy, Monica agreed to work with Michael….and then, suddenly we were laughing again….Michael was laughing….we were playing, being silly, having fun, getting giggles and bright eyes asking for more. We were making games out of things and out of nothing….making social stories….desensitizing difficult “behaviors” by working through them and learning to understand where they were coming from….and that was just the beginning. That was 18 years ago. We met Lauren a few years later. When forces brought Monica and Lauren together, I imagine lightening striking and angels singing. A team with incredible vision, passion and purpose, was born when they met.

Back in 1995 when I first observed Monica’s Social Skills Group, I recognized her gift right away. As I was leaving, Monica handed me a newly minted business card with a charming, silhouette of children dancing around a tree on it. Above the tree were the words “Celebrate the Children”. “I hope to one day start a center or a school that really does celebrate all children”, she said “…and I hope to be able to use this approach that I believe in so much, to foster and nurture a child’s potential for growth.” Little did I know that my children would metaphorically dance around that tree for years to come.

We were there for Celebrate the Children’s beginnings and watched as Monica and Lauren worked tirelessly to achieve their dream of opening a school. Monica joined our home program and soon after became involved in Michael’s school program. She went on to begin a Celebrate the Children program in our home district. She met Lauren during that time and the two of them took the world by storm. They opened a small center in Netcong and then they decided to start a school. I remember how hard they worked… the red tape, regulations and laws they had to deal with…and the stress… I was on the outside looking in on a small part of what they endured, but one thing was always certain…their determination never wavered. They persevered and after much hard work, they started their school in Netcong and the rest is history. CTC kept growing and growing.

The hard work and determination of many incredibly dedicated people brought us to our new home in Denville…and what a beautiful home it is... but as we all know – it is far more than brick and mortar. CTC has never really been about a physical location, it has always been about a philosophy of reaching, teaching, love, conviction and passion. That being said, the nice digs don’t hurt – and this beautiful new campus has been hard earned and well deserved. In these 10 years, and 6 locations, it is ultimately the efforts of two women with a dream and a vision, an incredibly dedicated board and administration, and a tireless, exceptional group of teachers, related service personnel and aides that truly makes Celebrate the Children what it is.

Today, our son, Michael, is a graduate of CTC. He attends college, works part time, drives a car, drives us a little crazy at times, is a wicked, cool drummer and an overall great person. His younger sister Mia has travelled this road with us as well. She is a precious, beautiful, smart girl who is everything to us. She has been attending CTC for the last two years, but we have been working with CTC since she was about a year old. The difference with Mia was that we already knew the path to follow. The relief in that has been immeasurable. CTC has played a critical role in the development and success of our children. I believe that we were somehow divinely guided to have been passengers on this incredible journey and for that, we are so grateful.

Finding words to give thanks to people who changed your life in unparalleled ways is a daunting task - and for me, one that cannot be expressed well enough. Today, Celebrate the Children celebrates 10 years. It has been a privilege and an honor to have been part of this amazing journey with all of you. Congratulations Monica. Congratulations Lauren… and to all of CTC, employees and parents alike. Here is to the next 10 years and beyond!