A History of Help for Brain Injured Children

1967…

Cleta Harder -- mother, wife, activist, school board member, PTA officer and concerned citizen.  And friend…one of Cleta’s dear friends was at her wit’s end when it seemed that all doors were closed for her daughter with special needs.  “There had to be somewhere children and their families can turn to for Hope”…

After months of research, several parents in the North Orange County area found a developmental center in San Diego that set up home rehabilitation programs for special needs children.  In cooperation with the Brea Jr. Women’s Club, Cleta and a group of caring volunteers opened a location in Brea – Pioneer Hall – to assist parents with program set-up for their children.  Cleta consulted with the developmental center in San Diego for guidance and training to work with the children.  The need continued and by word of mouth more local families started to surface that were in similar situations.

With strong urging from local supporters and advisors, Cleta turned to her networking circle and was able to gather a group of individuals that consisted of parents and professionals in the field.  After applying for non-profit status, Help For Brain Injured Children, Inc. (HBIC) was born.  And so began the mission of “Giving Hope” to brain-injured children and their families. 

Eventually, HBIC settled in a La Habra facility on city owned property.  In 1981, The Cleta Harder Developmental School (CHDS) was established and became a certified California Private Special Education School.  HBIC/CHDS has helped many children in the Southern California region and has consulted with many families throughout the world.  HBIC/CHDS continually works with surrounding school districts to provide an additional resource so that all children have an opportunity for an appropriate education.

In 2001, a new facility was built on the same site in La Habra that now services over 30 day school children and approximately 25 children in the Kids Unlimited After-School program.

Additional funding is necessary to help compensate costs for specialized equipment and materials, up-to-date computer programs, on-going facility improvements and a loving, caring staff qualified to provide a caring atmosphere for our special children. 

Thank you for your interest in HBIC and the story of “Giving Hope” to our children and their families.  Please contact the office at 562.694.5655, if you’d like to stop by and tour the facility.