Archives West Finding Aid

The Experimental Education Unit began in 1960 as a privately funded pilot school for children with neurological injuries, with one class for preschoolers and two classes for older children. The next year, the EEU moved to its present location, first as a part of the Child Development and Mental Retardation Center (CDMRC), and more recently, as part of the Center on Human Development and Disability (CHDD) complex on the Lake Washington Ship Canal. Currently, the EEU provides comprehensive early childhood services to children and their families from the greater Seattle area. The EEU is part of both the University of Washington's College of Education and the CHDD. This special school is a major training site for university students enrolled in special education within the College of Education and for students in related disciplines. It is also one of the units of the CHDD, an interdisciplinary research and training facility.

The Experimental Education Unit is a comprehensive early childhood center providing inclusive educational services for children with and without disabilities. The EEU offers educational programs and services to support children with disabilities and their families. All EEU programs encourage the development of children's cognitive, motor, communications, and social interactive skills by emphasizing educational and therapeutic interventions that are geared to each child's individual needs. From the outset, the EEU has offered a threefold program of professional training, research, and services to children and families. Over the years, EEU has provided comprehensive services to children with disabilities in model demonstration programs; developed numerous instructional and assessment materials; promoted research to improve classroom instructional methods; and trained professionals who have become leaders in their fields.