Key Personnel
Jan Bedell
A Desperate Mom Becomes
A Life-Changing Professional
Jan Bedell, B.S, M.ND, M.Ed (2008), Certified Teacher, and Certified Master Neurodevelopmentalist, began her professional life with a love for children and a deep desire to give them the best academic start possible. She focused on early development in her course of study and looked forward to teaching kindergarten. She recalls having children in her classroom who were very bright, yet would know facts one day and the next (as she says) “they were like a cow at a new gate!” She still remembers how diligently she worked and how frustrating some of those days were. If only she had known then what she now knows. Today, Jan's mantra is: “What the future holds is not predetermined or preset ~ what the future holds is based on specific opportunities presented to the child or individual. When something different is done for the child's brain development, the results can be entirely different - irrespective of their IQ.”
Little did Jan know in those early years, how life would test her personally, spiritually, and professionally. Never would she have guessed that her firstborn daughter, Jenee' would arrive as a mentally challenged little girl. She struggled through fifteen disappointing years trying various programs, techniques, and homework through public and private schools, as well as home school. Their lives changed when they were introduced to The Neurodevelopmental (ND) Approach. Jan learned that the brain had great plasticity. By using specific brain stimulation frequently, with intensity and short duration, a life could forever be changed. She discovered that a child who was struggling with academic work could experience success when the neuro-pathways were strengthened and information processing became efficient. The life lessons of a desperate mom became a professional calling.
Jan’s mission is best described in her own words, “I’m especially drawn to to anyone (children, teens, and adults) who are ‘falling through the cracks’. Children or adults with learning inefficiencies struggle unduly, acquire low self-esteem, rebel, drop out of school and populate our prisons, leaving families anguished and torn apart. My deepest heartaches have been the struggles of thousands of my clients dealing with special needs issues while my greatest joys emanate from the answers the ND Approach can bring.” It was this empathy that has led Jan into working with Corrections Concepts, Inc., who is establishing a Christian Prison that is based on full restoration of the mind, body and spirit. “It doesn’t matter who you are or where you are, if there are neuro-inefficiencies (and estimates are that 85% of the prison population has learning disabilities) then one’s life has been affected. It is our job to minister to all and help them reclaim their lives, and their God-given abilities.”
“The ND Approach is very eclectic and takes into consideration the whole person, assessing nine levels of six developmental areas: auditory, visual, tactility, mobility, language, and manual function. Far from static in its methodologies, the ND Approach trains professionals, laymen, and parents in ways to use the brain’s plasticity to further the child’s functional abilities. Can you imagine my excitement when my clients, after being medicated for years for ADD, complete a year of ND activities and then no longer need the drugs in order to function? What a thrill to see children with a diagnosis of dyslexia from a well-known institution, being free of all symptoms in 12-18 months! These same children who usually require remediation for life are advancing academically one year every 4 months in math and reading. It has been my privilege to see that their first report didn’t have to be their final report. In 2007 we increased our work with adults. We’ve seen professional educators take advantage of our services. See how they progressed in the first 4 months on our Adult Individualized Program .”
Ruth Young
Her Healing Energy and Love is God Given
Ruth Young B.A., ND is first
and foremost a Christian sister who is constantly reaching out to become
the best she can be. She consistently praises and serves God. It is known
by her fellow Dream Team Members that she refreshes each and every environment
she enters and always, in her humble way, gives more than expected.
As a Certified Neurodevelopmentalist, Ruth provides consulting services and developmental assessments for children, teens or adults with learning difficulties. Her enthusiastic assessment, consultations, and instructions for clients and parents refreshes their soul, as well as educates them. She trains clients in brain-stimulating activities which will help the child, teen, or adult become more neurologically effective and efficient. She has seen the miracle of treating root causes of developmental delays become non-issues in her own children’s lives. Ruth, a pastor’s wife to her husband Richard, travels extensively throughout Texas to help meet the needs of those with learning disabilities, and in general service to God.
In 2007 Ruth completed her National Certification which is sanctioned under the ICAN(International Christian Association of Neurodevelopmentalists) organization. Ruth has a a B.A. in Elementary Education from Asbury College in Tennessee. She has taught for 18 years in two public schools, one private school and currently is homeschooling in addition to her responsibilities with LGS Services, Inc. In 2007 Ruth founded LGS’s second Strides Academy school (a college preparatory school that incorporates The Neurodevelopmental Approach) in Del Rio Texas (classes to begin in 2008).
Angela Young did program for 3 and a half years and graduated from Little Giant Steps. Many activities on the web training were demonstrated with her happy smile. When she expressed an interest in becoming a neurodevelopmentalist some day, Jan Bedell invited Angela to travel with her mom, Ruth Young and apprentice in the field. It was a big decision Angela made to leave the private school where she was a star student so she could travel to Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Austin a week or so every month. Angela enrolled in Strides Academy so she could do her school work anywhere. In her spare time Angela enjoys singing in the church choir, listening to audio books, gardening and doing mission trips to Mexico.
Michelle Thompson
Supporting Parents is Her Gift of Knowledge and
Love
Michelle Thompson is our Regional Director. She is the
kind of Christian sister we all wish we had in our lives on a daily basis.
As the longest-standing servant of Little Giant Steps, Michelle’s daily
bread is ministering to the clients of LGS and carrying out the job of
supporting families, answering questions, counseling and encouraging parents
as they pass through the gauntlet of prioritizing their child’s developmental
needs over many other requirements of family, work and daily demands.clients
of LGS. She supports families by answering questions, providing counseling,
and encouraging parents as they work to prioritize their child’s developmental
needs over the many other daily demands of work and family. She is the
one we all “can count on!” She is wise beyond her years and has great
clarity when it comes to communicating about the requirements of the Neurodevelopmental
Program.
Michelle’s past experience includes working with children as a teacher’s aide at Notre Dame of Dallas School (a private school for children with Special Needs) for two years. This talented mother is another one who has learned The Neurodevelopmental Approach from personal experience with her two boys and has much to offer. Michelle’s children went through the Neurodevelopmental program for two years and it changed their lives.
Allen Bedell
Allen Bedell, a devoted Christian and long-time associate of
Little Giant Steps (LGS). He is the husband, co-worker, and life partner
of Jan Bedell. His daughters will attest to his love and devotion as a
father.
Over the years Allen's role in LGS has continued to grow from one of side support, to that of our Accounting and Records Manager. Allen's God-given talents from his “real life vocation ” have impacted every staff member, whether it be in the office, at book fairs, or support in special design. This man, with the sensibilities of an architect, can design and build anything!
Allen serves his church faithfully, and participates in community charitable activities activities such as fundraising for the Dallas Life Foundation, a homeless shelter. He serves on the Board of Directors of Steps of Hope, a non-profit agency set up to establish a Neurodevelopmental Center and scholarships for impoverished children with learning disabilities.
Alysa Bedell
Her Gifts Of Talent & Skill Are A Blessing
To LGS
Alysa Bedell, as a member of the Bedell
Family, grew up with a working knowledge of The Neurodevelopmental Approach.
She watched her mother work with her sister,
Jenee, and then witnessed a desperate teaching parent develop into a profoundly
effective professional as a Neurodevelopmentalist ~ her mother, Jan Bedell.
Alysa is a bright, efficient, and energetic young woman who joined LGS with the assignment of Manager of Operations. Alysa oversees production of all our products, shipping, ordering, and many more tasks that get thrown her way, which are too numerous to mention. She is a dynamo!
C.J. Rezac
Her Passion Seeks to Extend Children's Opportunities
CJ Rezac is our Director of Marketing, Development and Research. She joined LGS in 2003 and has worn many hats as our organization has grown. If history repeats itself~ she will continue to evolve with Little Giant Steps. Her love of learning and equipping herself with new skills is second nature. Besides her marketing responsibilities, she writes grants, successfully wrote the non-profit application for our new sister organization: Steps of Hope. She has been a liaison to the Prison Ministries within the DFW area and presenter to the Texas Prison Commission regarding the ND Approach and what it could mean to inmates. She authors the Little Giant Steps Ezine and Blog, which keeps more challenges ahead of her each day; something she dearly loves.
C.J. graduated from St. Anthony’s Hospital School of Nursing in Denver, Colorado. She has a B. A. in Psychology from the University of Nebraska, graduating Summa Cum Laude. She worked as a Mental Health Nurse in Children Family Services for the State of Nebraska for 14 years. She was certified as a Drug and Alcohol Counselor. C.J received a thorough indoctrination in technology as a result of working for IBM and Cisco Systems prior to returning to human services at LGS. Her first association with the Neurodevelopmental field occurred in the 1970’s. After searching desperately to get help for her gifted son with dyslexia and developmental delays, she considers finding the neurodevelopmental approach methodology one of the best blessings of her life. She knows intimately how profoundly this program can enhance a child’s life.
In the past C.J. served as an officer in the Nebraska and National Association for Children with Learning Disabilities for two years. As a part of her job with the State of Nebraska, she provided community education courses on child development and worked closely with the Educational Service Units with special needs children. She is heavily involved with her church and its music program. She has two sons who have contributed 9 grandchildren to her life.
Laurie Hansen
A Member of the “God” Squad And An Administrative Blessing To All
Laurie Hansen, is one of our devoted Dream Team members
who quietly keeps the lines of communication open and allows the rest of
her co-workers at LGS to stay focused on the demands of their position.
Her wonderful skills come from having been trained as a Court Reporter and
having experience in working with attorneys. She meets many demands because
she’s quick and thorough!
A native Texan and veteran homeschooler, she cares for and teaches her two precious daughters in addition to her responsibilities at LGS. Laurie has extensively served in prison ministries and has much to offer LGS as we take our ND knowledge and skill into prisons as a part of rehabilitation efforts to inmates.
In late 2007 she put together a single mom’s bible study group as a way of ministering to other mothers’ needs. Laurie is involved with her church and has operated a community food pantry there. She is a soldier of service whereever she lands. Her energy and enthusiasm for God’s calling is evident in her life. Laurie says “I love working with Little Giant Steps. For me, it’s more like a ministry than work.”
Brandy Sanderson
Brandy Sanderson, another super talent, serves God and Little Giant Step's Dream Team. Her ability and talent in the area of video editing and production has impacted LGS greatly. Brandy creative talents have enabled us to deliver all of our training via the web. For this, we are gratefully blessed.
Morgan Burnett
Graphic Designer