Happy Talkers finds a home Happy Talkers finds a home (January 28, 2005)

Specialized speech therapy program is growing
by Kathy Cordova

After several months of uncertainty, temporary moves, and much searching, Happy Talkers has finally found a home.

The successful speech therapy program, specializing in children with developmental delays and learning disabilities, will move Feb. 1 into the Dubney Building, a historic-style structure in Dublin that is distinguished for its beauty and handcrafted details.

"This building is really special," said Charlene Sigman, Happy Talkers program director. "From the moment we peeked in the window, we knew it would be perfect."

Thus ends the saga of "homelessness" that began last spring when an expiring lease and zoning problems forced the program out of Sigman's Pleasanton home where it had originated.

In the ensuing months, Happy Talkers moved first to a church, then into a building in back of the Little Kids Learning Center in Dublin where it currently operates. Because the space there is extremely limited, Happy Talkers had to curtail its program offerings and place several children on a waiting list for therapy.

"I felt terrible that we couldn't provide services to these children who needed them because at this age every week counts," said Sigman. "Ours is the only group program of its kind in this area, so parents would keep calling and calling and trying to get in and it was so frustrating for them and for us."

Happy Talkers was looking for a setting that was more "homey" than the average space for lease, which made looking for a new location especially challenging.

"We needed something that was friendly and inviting," said Sigman, who attributes part of their success to creating a comfortable, familiar atmosphere for the children. "We looked at a lot of office buildings, but they felt cold, and I needed to find just the right place for these little guys."

Their new location looks more like a grand old estate than a typical office building. The owner, Oleg Dubney, took six years to complete the structure, which his wife designed and he built together with his sons. The interior is full of custom details, like black walnut staircases, exposed red cedar beams, mahogany doors and skylights.

Happy Talkers will have 1,900 square feet in its new home, which includes a spacious office, a large room for group sessions, and three separate rooms for individual therapy. It will continue to lease its current 800-square-foot space, and together the facilities will provide plenty of room for existing as well as new programs.

In March, Happy Talkers opens the doors to its School of Imagination - an inclusion preschool for both children with mild difficulties and typically developing children. The child to teacher ratio is 4 to 1, and class sizes are from eight to 12, so it will provide students with more individualized attention than the average preschool class.

Sigman also has plans for Happy Babblers, a playgroup for babies and their mothers that will focus on early communication skills and baby signing. A new infant development group for special needs toddlers between the ages of 18 months and 3 years will be added, too.

The new location and programs are welcome news for the many loyal parents who have been amazed by the results that Sigman and Happy Talkers have achieved with their children.

Jared Pugh began Happy Talkers last June at the age of 2-1/2. At the time, despite six months of traditional speech therapy, Jared only had a vocabulary of 10 words and couldn't say "Mama" or "Dada."

After four months in the Happy Talker program, Jared had made tremendous progress. When his parents had him tested, they discovered that he tested two months above his age level in language and expressive skills, and a year above his age level in a test of basic school skills.

"Everyday we marvel at our son's progress and we know that without Charlene, we would not be achieving so many miraculous milestones," said Anne Fox, Jared's mother. "They are a vital part in getting families past a diagnosis, and into practical solutions to enable their children to reach their highest potential."

For more information about Happy Talkers, the School of Imagination preschool, or other programs, call 829-9555 or e-mail Charlene@happytalkers.com.

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