Emerson Resource Center

Overseen by Variety’s Program Director, the Emerson Resource Center provides valuable information and community connections to resolve the legal, social, therapeutic, education, medical and counseling issues often encountered by families of children with disabilities.

Variety Community Connections  

Debuting in February 2011, Variety Community Connections – with the support of Emerson and Boeing – provides an unmatched opportunity to learn from experts in the field of special needs, while also networking and socializing with families facing similar challenges.

As with all other services provided by Variety St. Louis, Community Connections is a free event for the community.

Variety Library  

Variety’s Resource Center has an extensive library of books to help not just parents – but also siblings, grandparents, friends and others – navigate the world of having a child with a physical or mental disability. In addition to loaning the books to families free-of-charge, Variety St. Louis collects first-hand reviews to determine the value of each book and share with other readers. It’s kind of like Oprah’s Book Club…minus Oprah.

  • Some Kids Use Wheelchairs
  • Grandparenting a Child with Special Needs
  • Living with a Brother or Sister with Special Needs
  • I Sit in a Wheelchair ... But I will be Okay!
  • Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew
  • Special Needs Advocacy Resource Book: What You Can Do Now
Staircase to Learning  

Early intervention to ensure that children with disabilities are successful in the classroom and beyond.

Variety’s Staircase to Learning program provides intensive testing and educational assessments to children with physical and/or mental disabilities, ensuring long-term success in the classroom – and beyond. Because the dropout rate of children with disabilities is twice that of general education students, early intervention is key to accurately identifying each child’s disability, accommodating his or her needs, and providing the educational support required to make learning possible regardless of disability. Through Staircase to Learning, Variety facilitates communication between parents and special education experts to implement relevant testing and then monitor the student’s success in school.

For information on enrolling your child in Staircase to Learning, please contact Variety.