Because the need of working with aphasic children with language handicaps in a special way was great, the clinic - at that time called ‘The Lakewood Speech Clinic’ - grew rapidly. Many children came. Eventually, the children who were served had multiple challenges. Their mothers sat in the living room and visited with each other, exchanged ideas and drank coffee.

Another therapy room was built in Aleen's large backyard and the turtle, cats and dog moved over. More children came, more parents and additional staff.

In spite of the casual surroundings, important things happened in these early years. The parents formed a group of their own to hold informative meetings and support the Clinic. As they primarily represented a community service, they applied for and received nonprofit status. The Board of Directors was formed. Several of the early board members have continued through many years of volunteer service. The Clinic officially became Speech and Language DevelopmentCenter.

SLDC outgrew its early home setting and began to seek another site in North Orange County, the geographic center of SLDC's growing population. The next step was a suite of offices in a medical building on La Palma in Anaheim, with a church in Long Beach serving as an interim office. Many facets of therapy and diagnosis were undertaken. A formal training program for teachers and therapists was established.

A search for a more permanent home for the Center resulted in the acquisition of an old, well-built, friendly house constructed in 1911 and located at 241 South Loara Street in Anaheim. A new building was erected behind the Loara Street property, providing individual therapy rooms and one classroom for preschool-age children. The lot next door was purchased for parking and playground space. In the spring of 1975, five separate facilities were being used to meet the needs of a growing enrollment. The offices and three educational facilities were housed in separate locations in Anaheim, while a special behavior modification class was located on the campus of California State University in Fullerton.

Other groups formed which have been important to the Center. A special group of adults with challenges formed the Phillies (whose purpose was to raise money and assist in services), while a Professional Advisory Committee was formed to provide some of the finest professional advice in the area.

During the summer of 1975, trustees of the Centralia School District agreed to lease the Oro Grande Elementary School campus to SLDC. For the first time in 21 years, children from the preschool, elementary and secondary levels were all housed at one location. In 1979, the Center moved to another district school, Mira Linda - our present location.

Today the Buena Park program serves 340 students with multiple challenges in language, learning and behavior. Children range in age from 3 months to 21 years. Special services support the daily classroom program. SLDC serves as a vendor for public schools, Regional Center and other public agencies.

In 2000 the Center negotiated a 27-year lease with Centralia School District. This engendered an expansion plan and a capital fund drive. An important dream has been fulfilled with the addition of 11 new classrooms and office space.

Every year workshops are conducted for SLDC's own therapists, teachers and para-professionals. Graduate students in Speech/Language Pathology receive supervised clinical study at the Center, as do graduate occupational therapy and counseling students. Teachers and other professionals are always welcomed as observers.

Today a busy Center swarms with children, therapists and teachers. It is a hubbub of learning and activity. It is a setting of warmth and friendliness where children and parents are important - the early goal of helping three language-handicapped children reach their potential has expanded to many hundreds - without losing the importance of one individual.