Little Builders
Submitted by Joe Herr
As I reflect on the past year, I wonder how my wife and I managed to take care of our son Logan, 3, who has spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy. The answer is my employer, Tri-North Builders, Inc. Tri-North Builders is a general contractor in Madison, Wisconsin.
Four years ago, Tri-North Builders opened an on-site daycare called Little Builders Day School. Little Builders has 10 children ranging in age from 6 weeks to 5 years, with three full-time teachers, Kelly Patterson (director), Kelly Maire, and Molly Fauerbach. A part-time teacher, Liz Noak was hired to help out. All four teachers help Logan with his daily activities, including g-tube feedings when needed (Logan has begun eating on his own now) and helping him with his gait trainer, stander, and wheelchair.
Although Logan is nonverbal, the teaching staff communicate with him through pictures and having him point. Logan is included in all activities, such as art projects, plays, field trips, etc. Many things are centered around Logan (e.g., they play “Logan Says,” instead of Simon Says).
As Logan prepares for his transition to public school, the daycare staff are working with the school to ensure a smooth transition. Not only is Logan included, but the non-disabled children are familiar with Logan’s special needs, which makes Little Builders a perfect setting to help today’s children get accustomed to people with special needs.
I spend a lot of time in the daycare, helping out. Since Logan has begun to eat orally, he only eats for me or his mother. It is not uncommon for me to carry Logan around the office while feeding him. I know without a doubt that Logan would not be doing as well as he is if not for Tri-North Builders, Inc. In the world of profit at all cost, I thought you should know about a company making a difference.
