Exceptional Children's Foundation

In 1946, a small group of parents in Los Angeles pooled their resources to create a daycare program for their children with developmental disabilities.

The Exceptional Children’s Foundation (ECF) has become a recognized innovator of services for young children, students, and adults with developmental, learning, and emotional disabilities; and ECF serves more than 3,500 young children, students, adults, and their families each year. ECF is the only organization of its kind in California, offering a full continuum of lifespan services for children and adults with developmental disabilities and other special needs.

Toddlers with complex diagnoses have developed language and social skills. Students in grades K-12 with learning, emotional, and behavioral challenges have learned how to study and learn and are now successfully attending two and four year colleges. Some of ECF’s adult clients live independently in their own apartments. Others hold jobs at local grocery stores, restaurants, and aerospace manufacturing plants. Many have produced artwork that graces the walls of business and national galleries.

ECF is dedicated to providing a lifetime of services for clients so that they can live as independently as possible, and with the right support, all of ECF’s clients are examples that anyone can grow and succeed.