"We never give up on any child reaching their full potential."

The Happy Talkers Story As Founder and Director of Happy Talkers, Charlene Sigman has dedicated her life to helping children with mental, physical and developmental disabilities achieve their full potential. Charlene started Happy Talkers with Four Children out of Her Home. Happy Talkers began in 2001 as a licensed day care center that Charlene ran out of their family's rented, Pleasanton home. She started her unique program with just four children, but it grew quickly, as did word of her small miracles. Soon Charlene's husband, Mitch, and their two children were literally living out of their bedroom turning over the rest of their house to Happy Talkers. Within two years, 120 children with Autism and other special needs were coming to her home each week. Charlene and Mitch knew their lives would be forever dedicated to creating a solution for families in need. They had to leave their home in 2004. Crosswinds Church in Dublin opened their doors to Happy Talkers but, due to zoning restraints, they could stay only for the summer. Over the next two years, they had to move four more times to keep the program alive. Mitch left his career in sports medicine to help Charlene full-time with her mission. A New Temporary Home at Crosswinds Church In 2006, Crosswinds Church came to the rescue once more as Happy Talkers faced homelessness again. Crosswinds worked together with the City of Dublin to change their zoning for a school and allow a playground to be built for Happy Talkers. Though grateful for the location at Crosswinds, having their school in an industrial warehouse has presented some unique challenges. Charlene and Mitch are hard at work to find a permanent home of their own for these programs. Today, Happy Talkers serves more than 300 Bay Area children from ages 18 months to 12 years who have conditions including Autism, Down Syndrome and speech delays. The Founding of the Non-Profit School of Imagination In 2006, Charlene and Mitch founded the Non-Profit School of Imagination which features the award winning enrichment programs and terrific teachers from Happy Talkers. Charlene made the decision to donate her programs, making them Not-for-Profit, because she believes families deserve so much more than what's currently available. Since some children may receive therapy or other support, all providers will be encouraged to come to the School of Imagination to provide their care. Charlene believes parents shouldn't have to quit their careers to make sure their child gets the services they need. "They graduate when they can go to kindergarten or first grade with typical kids and be successful, when they can speak well and answer questions well and be interactive and comfortable in the classroom," Charlene said. "When that happens, we know we've done our job. We never give up on any child reaching their full potential."