Skip links

PDN Children’s

Our Vision

A world where all children thrive in an inclusive environment, recognized by their abilities and talents, rather than their differences.
Our Story

We desire a world where all children thrive in an inclusive environment, recognizing their abilities and talents

For centuries, communities have been marginalized or “hidden away” due to their disabilities, to include children with special needs (defined as any child who has been determined to require special attention and specific necessities that other children do not). 

 

In more recent times, these individuals were routinely institutionalized, denied education, and subject to discrimination in employment, housing, transportation, and other aspects of daily life. Our nation had seen a sweeping movement as early as the 60s, inspired by other initiatives such as civil rights for equity and fairness as we sought to realize a better future.

 

Throughout the next three decades, milestone legislation has worked to provide opportunities for youth such as the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EAHCA) to ensure all states had “free and appropriate” education to children with special needs. The new law emphasized   the inclusion of students with disabilities in mainstream classrooms by stipulating that they be taught in the “least restrictive environment” possible, a new concept. 

 

Before this law, 1.75 million children with special needs were excluded from public schools. Other laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and movements in self-advocacy and person­centered language made headway to ensure that stereotypes and stigmas were a thing of the past.

 

At PDN Children’s, we desire a world where all children thrive in an inclusive environment, recognizing their abilities and talents. Yet, we are still far from achieving a world of equality. That is why our organization was created-to help children with special needs achieve their fullest potential in the El Paso, Texas, community. We, alongside many community stakeholders, partnering non-profit organizations, and private sector champions, work to achieve our mission each day.

In the early 1940’s, El Paso was at the pinnacle of growth, with its population nearing 100,000 and new establishments opening (Hilton Hotel, El Paso Zoo, Bassett Tower) in the last ten years.

El Paso General Hospital (now known as the University Medical Center) was beginning its journey to become part of a hospital district.  Civic movements were underway to include one that would later be the result of PdN Children’s 70-year legacy. The spouses of concerned medical providers within the El Paso hospital community observed that there were no continuity of care for children with special needs once discharged from the hospital after birth, and so took action. PdN Children’s (then known as the El Paso County Chapter Texas Society for Crippled Children) opened its doors in 1948 as a result of a group of volunteers dedicated to helping children with special needs. 

 

PdN Children’s first home was a two-room space on the second floor of El Paso General Hospital. However, the space was quickly outgrown. In 1952, a one-story brick structure was built at 2112 Erie Street (now Murchison St.), which became the Center’s first real home. 

 

Responding to the needs of the community, PdN Children’s increased the variety of programs offered and for a period of time, from 1965- to 1975 supported the needs of adults. Services included a cleft palate clinic, stroke rehabilitation, and arthritis rehabilitation. 

 

In 1966, the R.E. McKee family donated their 8,000 square foot home at 2630 Richmond to PdN Children’s, where the organization remained until the increasing demand for service – an 800% increase in the first three years during the 1970s – limitations of space, and structural inaccessibility made a larger and more appropriate facility a necessity. 

 

In 1975, PdN Children’s Board of Directors chose to again concentrate its services on children because its programming roots were serving children with speech and hearing conditions, birth defects, genetic conditions, server burns, and disabilities. PdN Children’s began as a children’s facility with early programs carried out through educational settings. Many of the El Paso area preschool programs for children with special needs began at the organization and were sponsored by a local school district. 

 

In 1985, after years of fundraising and construction, PdN Children’s moved into its current location at 1101 E. Schuster Street, with 25,000 square feet designed especially for treating children with special needs. At that time, PdN Children’s employed nearly 50 staff members, increasing the number of children served from 600 to 1,000 annually. 

 

In the past 70 years, PdN Children’s’ has evolved to a year-round, high-quality early childhood education, specialized care and onsite therapeutic services center. Our identity has evolved from our title and branding as well, moving through various names to reflect the importance of person-centered language. Once also known as the El Paso Rehabilitation Center, PdN Children’s has gone through numerous transformations to adapt to the community’s changing needs in response to developments in the field of clinical, education and parent support services for the population served.

General Statement of Internet Privacy

The Paso del Norte Children’s Development Center respects the privacy of its members and those who visit www.pdnchildrens.org. Subject to the provisions of applicable laws, any information you submit to the Paso del Norte Children’s Development Center will not be used in any manner to which you have not consented.

 

Personally Identifiable Information

Personally identifiable information is not collected about users of the Paso del Norte Children’s Development Center web site without their knowledge or action. Personal information is collected through registration for PdNCDC, e-mail newsletters, and/or events. This information includes, but is not limited to, names and addresses of individuals, company name, company address, phone number, fax number, e-mail address, and credit card information.  Users should be aware that if any information is disclosed on a message board, chat room, or other open forum, others may collect that information in order to send unsolicited materials or for other purposes.

 

Use of Personally Identifiable Information

The PdNCDC does not share contact information with third parties.

 

Non-Personally Identifiable Information

Non-personally identifiable information includes, but is not limited to, data automatically collected through visitor use of and/or actions taken on the web site.  Examples might include user traffic patterns, pages viewed, “click-through” rates, and search terms entered into the site’s search utility. In addition, the IP address, operating system, and browser used are gathered from visitors to the site. The IP address can identify the user’s Internet service provider and can suggest the geographic location of the visitor.  The Paso del Norte Children’s Development Center recognizes key demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, national origin, income, etc.) may be of a sensitive nature to users. Generally, such information is not collected through the web site. However, in the event the PdNCDC should come into possession of such information, whether through a user’s voluntary submission or by receiving such information from any of our business partners, such information shall be treated as personally identifiable.

 

Use of Non-Personally Identifiable Information

As a general matter, non-personally identifiable information helps determine how the PdNCDC web site is being used by identifying popular areas of the site and determining the effectiveness of promotional activities.

 

Use of “Cookies”

The site uses “cookies” (i.e., a small data file that is written to a user’s hard drive) to help track how the site is being used. The cookies do not include personal information, but are unique to each user and include a randomly generated identification number that enables the PdNCDC’s server to identify the visitor. Users benefit from the cookies, because they do not have to provide usernames and passwords for each visit, and they may receive personalized services as requested at the time of registration.  The server does not read any data on the user’s hard drive except the cookie file. For popular Internet browsers, the user has the option of refusing to accept cookies. Refer to browser documentation for more information on how to select options concerning cookies. Cookies need not be accepted in order to use the web site. However, without cookies, certain of the automated functions and features of the site may not be available to you. Cookies are also used to measure the “click through” rate on e-mails delivered.

 

Third Party Use of Personal Information

The PdNCDC web site contains links to other Internet sites. Unless otherwise explicitly stated, the Paso del Norte Children’s Development Center is not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of such other web sites, including the use of any information gathered on those sites.

 

Security

The user understands and agrees that “perfect” security does not exist. If credit card information is gathered on the Paso del Norte Children’s Development Center site, it is encrypted for transmission between the user’s computer and the PdNCDC server. Other information you send to this site, including email messages, will not be encrypted unless you are notified otherwise. The web site is protected by a firewall and monitored for security.

 

Merchant Services

Users may be able to access certain information related to goods and services of third parties with the understanding and agreement that access to and use of those services is entirely between you and the third parties. The Paso del Norte Children’s Development Center shall have no liability associated with that access or use.

 

Legal Disclaimer

Nothing contained in this web site is to be considered the rendering of legal, financial, professional or other advice for specific cases. Materials are intended for educational, background, and/or informational purposes only.

 

Correcting, Updating or Deleting Information

To make changes in contact information, or to opt out of receiving PdNCDC communications, contact the PdNCDC by any of the following means:

  • admin@pdnchildrens.org
  • Send a written request to: Office Manager, Paso del Norte Children’s Development Center, 1101 E. Schuster Ave., El Paso, TX 79902
  • Telephone 915-544-8484

 

Changes to This Privacy Policy

This privacy policy is available at all times to users of the Paso del Norte Children’s Development Center web site at www.pdnchildrens.org. Any material changes to this privacy policy will be communicated to users through this web page. Users are responsible for making use of this resource to stay current on the Paso del Norte Children’s Development Center privacy policy.