Press Releases (2011)

October 2011: Variety Celebrates 45 Years
On October 28, 2011 Variety Child Learning center hosted an evening of celebration to recognize 45 years of providing critical, quality education and support to young children with developmental disabilities, their families, and early education professionals.

Nassau County Legislator Judy Jacobs and Councilwoman Rebecca Alesia were on hand to present citations to the evening’s honorees: Andrew Corrado, Market President for Capital One Bank; and VCLC Trustees and alumni parents, Alan and Ruth Stearn for their commitment to children and community.

Since being founded in 1966, VCLC has enjoyed tremendous expansion and growth from its one classroom beginning in Garden City to its current full service Learning Center in Syosset. Today, the agency provides services to more than one thousand children, families and professionals each year. VCLC offers year-round special education and therapeutic services for young children with developmental disabilities, including autism, support services for their families, training programs for child development professionals, and child respite and recreational programs. All of Variety Child Learning Center’s programs and services have been guided by the concept that early intervention with parental involvement can make a lasting impact on a child’s development that is not possible if services are delayed.



March 2011: VCLC Receives Support from Garden City Community Fund
The Garden City Community Fund of United Way of Long Island recently awarded $1,000 to Variety Child Learning Center. Jacqueline Duodu, VCLC’s Development Director was on hand to accept the check from United Way President & CEO, Theresa Regnante and Ronnie Renken, Garden City Community Fund representative and former member of VCLC’s Board of Trustees.

The Garden City Community Fund and VCLC have enjoyed a long-term relationship that has remained strong for over 30 years. This most recent donation will go toward the continued enhancement of VCLC’s programs and services for children with developmental disabilities, including autism, and their families.


January 2011: VCLC Students Get State of the Art Computer Center
Students at Variety Child Learning Center will enjoy brand new, state of the art equipment in their computer room in the New Year as part of an overall project aimed at using the latest technologies to enhance the special education curriculum. Thanks to the fundraising efforts of the Parent Organization, children were treated to a whole new suite of HP TouchSmart All-In-One computers.

The new TouchSmart computers will supplement classroom curriculum, enabling the children to work on social, cognitive, language, literacy and fine motor skills. The children will be able to use the new computers to access specific children’s internet sites and web-based children’s software. These internet sites used at school will be shared with parents so that the children can generalize skills learned at school to the home setting. In addition, interactive software will require the children to work collaboratively to complete a task, hence helping them develop social skills.

The TouchSmart is a touch screen monitor with everything built into it. It includes a wireless internet connection, a DVD-RW slot load drive and speakers, and no separate desktop or speakers to create a wire-free work space for children. In addition, the TouchSmart includes a wireless keyboard and mouse; in fact the only wire that is needed is the power cord. The computers will work on the Windows 7 operating system, so students will be using, and learning on, the newest version of Windows. Children will also access Microsoft Office software, such as Word and HP’s TouchSmart Software for use with Photos, Video, Music, Calendar and Notes, all using the touch screen monitor