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Caleb's Clubhouse: No. 1 of 7

Says Shannon Schmidt of starting Caleb's Clubhouse: “We have our lives, our families, our support systems in Minot . . . we took (out-of-state inclusive program concepts) and we said: ‘We need to make this happen in Minot.’ ”

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Caleb's Clubhouse: No. 2 of 7

Caleb's Clubhouse, an inclusive, non-profit facility, focuses on social communication, and is North Dakota's first day program center for kids of all abilities.

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Caleb's Clubhouse: No. 3 of 7

Caleb's Clubhouse offers kids with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Down syndrome and cerebral palsy, among other conditions, the chance to grow, learn, form social bonds and develop side by side.

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Caleb's Clubhouse: No. 4 of 7

Caleb's Clubhouse has a qualified staff of seven, a calendar that follows the Minot public school schedule, and a current capacity for about 120 students from day to day.

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Caleb's Clubhouse: No. 5 of 7

“Our view is that social interaction is where you see the most growth in a child, regardless of diagnosis. It’s absolutely the most important aspect to their development,” says Shannon.

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Caleb's Clubhouse: No. 6 of 7

“Teachers have told us that some of our students in the after-school program talk about Caleb’s Clubhouse at school all day,” says Shannon. “One of the moms told us: ‘Finally, a place, where my son can be himself.’ ”

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Caleb's Clubhouse: No. 7 of 7

The facility's after-school class keeps a focus on fostering social skills and building relationships, so that children can one day live independent lives.

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