Donna Davidson began her professional career as a Speech Pathologist working with young children and their families in public schools in Massachusetts. Donna’s area of expertise was working with preschool children and she was part of the team that started the first preschool Special Needs Classes in the state.
Today, as Chief Executive Officer of Easter Seals North Georgia, Davidson continues to provide programs and services to children under five. Under Davidson’s leadership, Easter Seals North Georgia operates 11 inclusive child care programs serving nearly 2,000 children and their families annually—90 percent of whom live below the poverty level. Davidson’s inclusive child care settings offer families of all children a place where early diagnosis and essential early intervention services are a part of each day in the centers, not additional appointments.
“Children learn best in their natural environments through play and everyday routines,” Davidson explains. “In addition, families don’t have to go to 10 different places to get the services they need. The therapists are part of each center’s team. In addition, all the children and families enrolled have a Family Service Advocates who help them locate and coordinate resources within the communities in which they live.”
Davidson also administers the Part C Early Intervention Program for children with disabilities, ages zero through 3 in one of the largest health districts in Georgia. Nearly 800 infants and toddlers with disabilities receive services in their natural environments through this program.
As an experienced pediatric specialist and an advocate of early education, Davidson knows first -hand that early intervention is the key to success for all children, and in particular children with disabilities. Annually, more than 94 percent of the children enrolled in Davidson’s programs start kindergarten prepared and ready to meet with success.
Davidson earned her Master of Education in speech pathology at Northeastern University in Boston and her Bachelor of Science in psychology and speech pathology at Boston College. Professionally, she has served as the Vice President of Government Relations for the Georgia Speech and Hearing Association, she is a member of the American Speech and Hearing Association and she considers working with the Georgia legislature to fund disability and early childhood services a critical part of her work.
Connect with us: