With more than 50 years of experience, The Early Learning Institute (TELI) is the Allegheny County’s leading provider of early intervention and early childhood education programs. Serving more than 1,600 infants, toddlers and children across Allegheny County, we provide a powerful range of early intervention services that go above and beyond to help children realize their fullest potential. This is the story of one of our most treasured families.
We all know it’s hard enough to raise one child. So, imagine the surprise of Jesse and Dawn when they learned that they were having quadruplets! Quadruple the diapers, food, clothing and just about everything else. And, imagine their concern as sons Bryar, Triston, Jacob and Clayton were born prematurely at 26 weeks on May 14, 2006. The boys spent the next few months in the Magee-Women’s Hospital NICU and were sent home over time beginning in August with Jacob first, then Triston and Bryar and lastly, Clayton.
While the boys were in the Magee NICU, Jesse and Dawn learned about TELI’s programs and were set up with the appropriate services before the boys even returned home. Bryar, Triston, Jacob and Clayton all began receiving services such as physical, occupational, and speech and language therapies shortly after they came home from the hospital. Dawn recalls seeing improvements in her sons’ development on a regular basis and credits TELI therapists for helping her four sons to reach their fullest potential.
In fact, by the time the boys turned three, therapists were coming to the home five days a week. “Our TELI therapists always gave us feedback and would let us know if they felt that one of the children should see a specialist for something,” said Dawn. She also commented that the boys’ therapists were always open to questions and were a great resource for connecting to doctors and specialists.
“Everyone that came into our home was very friendly and professional. They shortly became part of our family.” And, though there is tendency to treat multiples as one individual, this was absolutely not the case with TELI staff. “The therapists looked at our children as individuals and not as a whole. The therapists worked with our children as to what their needs were and would adjust their goals as necessary.” Clayton is very social, happy, flirty and loves playing with trucks. Jacob is loveable and likes to cuddle, enjoys building puzzles and likes to write his name. Triston is happy, likes having books read to him, always has an innocent look on his face and will try to get away with everything! Bryar is always causing trouble and laughs while he does it, will give up a toy to his brothers if they want it, loves playing rough, and, likes cuddling up and relaxing with someone.
And, though the boys all have different personalities, they are also alike in many ways. In fact, Dawn has even noticed that the boys have their own ways of communicating with each other, a sort of language only understood amongst brothers.
The boys have come a long way and are still progressing. They will attend a DART preschool in the fall. “We would definitely recommend TELI to other families.”
If you would like to learn more about The Early Learning Institute (TELI), please visit our website at http://www.telipa.org/
