Developmental Disabilities Institute School-Based Program

Students in school
Photo by NeONBRAND on Unsplash

Cosmetic dentist Dr. Joseph Ayoub has provided oral care to patients at his practice Dentistry By Design for more than 20 years. Alongside his work as a dentist, Dr. Joseph Ayoub and his wife are actively involved with the long-running nonprofit Developmental Disabilities Institute (DDI), which caters to young people with special needs. 

For more than half a century, the DDI has addressed the educational and vocational needs of children, adolescents, and young adults who are on the autistic spectrum or have other developmental disabilities. The program accepts juveniles between the ages of three and five. 

The DDI’s school-based program operates three early-childhood learning centers that provide youth with the support to excel in Kindergarten. Using effective early-intervention approaches, DDI program staff provide onsite or in-home services, including counseling, physical and speech therapy, and parenting classes. 

As a result of the high-quality learning environment and professional support, 88 percent of school-based program participants are placed in a mainstream school by the time they enter kindergarten.