So far, more than 600 families have benefited from the program. Here, for the first time, they look forward to coming - they discover their capabilities and become more confident. When they leave, they take that confidence with them. A few decades ago, a full-time program specifically dedicated to children with ADD was unheard of. In 1982, Jim Swanson, professor of pediatrics at UCI, Steve Simpson of the Orange County Department of Education and Kotkin collaborated to start the UCI Child Development Center, which now operates in conjunction with the Irvine Unified School District.
Children usually remain at the center for one year.
The center's program involves behavior modification and positive reinforcement. A high number of points equals access to special activities such as art projects or computer games. A behavior specialist meets with each child throughout the day to discuss behavior patterns and solutions. The program works, says recent UCI graduate Seema Gaur, who has worked as a behavior specialist at the center for the past eighteen months. In a year's time, I've seen kids go from throwing tantrums and screaming to being the most well-behaved in their class.