About Us
who we are
Little Leaf Learning Center Down Syndrome Education
Little Leaf is a non-profit organization dedicated to the success of individuals with Down syndrome. This commitment begins at birth, and the partnership builds throughout the educational journey. Mommy And Me Initially, new parents are offered consultation services for infants with Down syndrome and given invaluable information in Mommy and Me classes. These classes introduce research-based methods of teaching children with Down syndrome, discuss proper feeding techniques, and provide networking opportunities.
Early Intervention Classes Beginning at 18 months, children with Down syndrome benefit significantly from early learning classes where research-based activities are implemented within a small-group setting. Classes are designed to simultaneously build language, cognitive abilities, motor skills, sensory experiences, and self-help skills. Many children from the program are reading at grade level before beginning Kindergarten. This strong reading foundation prepares students with Down syndrome to be successful throughout their lives. Therapy Occupational and speech therapies are available for both students and non-students. All individuals with Down syndrome can take advantage of specialized therapy at Little Leaf.
Our Mission
To improve the lives of individuals with Down syndrome through education and advocacy.
Meet Our Staff
Inga Reischl
Little Leaf has an amazing speech therapist who deeply understands the needs of children with Down syndrome. She is focused on developing oral-facial muscles and movements for safe feeding and speech production. She also incorporates receptive and expressive language concepts into therapy.
Kimberly Brown
Little Leaf also has an outstanding occupational therapist who has worked solely with children with Down syndrome for the past four years. This gives her insight into the best practices for babies and toddlers with Down syndrome.
Logan Snell
Every small non-profit needs someone who can do it all! Logan is our jack of all-trades superhero! We operate out of a house, so he does the upkeep and maintenance for our Little Leaf home. He is assistant to our executive director and co-teacher to our lead teacher in the classroom. Logan does all this and more with a fantastic attitude and attention to detail.
Kimberly Yaeger
Head Teacher, Founder, and President of
Little Leaf Learning Center Inc.
I began my journey with Down syndrome as an educational assistant for a young student with Down syndrome. Students with Down syndrome have unique learning styles. I wanted to understand his learning profile to guide his success in learning. At this time, I was introduced to Down Syndrome Education International (D.S.E.). I read every research overview they had. The research fascinated and inspired me. After extensively researching Down syndrome education, I developed a strong passion for implementing research into children’s lives. It became clear that I was called to execute the studies in a program that children with Down syndrome could access. Little Leaf’s early intervention program was the answer to that need. Little Leaf started with two students in a small spare bedroom of my home. I have continued to read every research overview from D.S.E. and have attended numerous training and accreditations that have given me expertise in Down syndrome education and early development.
Dawson Yaeger
Working together for the common good, co-workers can feel like family. In the case of Dawson and our founder, they indeed are family. Dawson has grown up with his mom running Little Leaf. He has spent much of his time in the classroom over the years. This experience has made him a natural at working with our little ones. Little Leaf is lucky to have him as assent teacher.
Founded 12 Years Ago
Welcome to Little Leaf Learning Center Down Syndrome Education. We were founded 12 years ago with one goal: create a safe educational space for children with Down Syndrome in Nebraska. Our passion and experience with Down Syndrome allow us to implement research-based techniques and programs to help children develop their cognitive abilities, language skills, motor skills, and sensory experiences. We believe every family with Down Syndrome children should have access to superior education and therapy to improve their child’s quality of life.
Our Experienced and Empathetic Staff
Our experienced and empathetic staff provide early intervention programs specializing in speech therapy, occupational therapy, small group classes, and parent consultation. We offer the most appropriate resources for families. We believe in a world where everyone has access to a happy, healthy life. To do that, we educate people and offer reliable resources to help children with Down Syndrome develop fulfilled lives. Every child can have tremendous growth opportunities with excellent resources, parental assistance, and professional guidance. We work hard to ensure the success of individuals with Down Syndrome since birth and throughout their educational journey.