about-us

About Linden Oaks

Linden Oaks has a rich history of serving individuals with diverse needs, evolving over nearly seven decades to meet the challenges and opportunities of a changing world. Originally founded as Speech and Language Development Center (SLDC) in 1955 by two visionary speech therapists, Dr. Aleen Agranowitz and Gladys Gleason, our story began with a heartfelt mission: to address the lack of services for children with unique needs. With unwavering dedication, our founders opened their homes to provide care and support to children in their community.

In 2024, we adopted the name Linden Oaks to better reflect who we are today and where we are headed. While the name “Speech and Language Development Center” emphasized a specific aspect of our organization, Linden Oaks allows us to represent the breadth of services we now offer and our commitment to holistic care. Today, our programs include special education, therapy, adult day programming, an intensive outpatient program (IOP), and ABA services.

The symbolism behind our name is deeply meaningful. The linden tree, associated with healing, protection, and community, embodies our values of care and support. Its calming and welcoming presence mirrors the nurturing environment we strive to create. Similarly, the oak tree—a symbol of strength and stability—reflects our steadfast commitment to helping individuals grow, thrive, and achieve their full potential. Together, these symbols encapsulate our mission to provide comprehensive care, education, and therapy for all who walk through our doors.

Programs for Every Stage of Life

Linden Oaks is a non-profit organization serving children and young adults across Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties. With over 150 dedicated staff members, we provide individualized programs and services to around 300 people aged 5 to 40. While the majority of those we support are individuals on the Autism Spectrum, we also serve those with a wide range of intellectual and developmental differences and mental health challenges, addressing each person’s unique needs through specialized education and therapies.

Our comprehensive offerings include:

Early Intervention Therapy: Helping young children build foundational skills and address developmental gaps.
Specialized K-12+ Non-Public School: Delivering tailored education programs for students through age 22.
Adult Day Services: Providing structured programs that promote independence, vocational readiness, and community integration.
Clinical Services: Offering speech, occupational, and behavioral therapies, along with AAC and AT.
Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP): Structured, therapeutic mental health support through counseling and skill-building sessions for ages 12-18.
ABA Services: Clinic-based and in-home therapy that involves personalized techniques for understanding and changing behavior.

Our goal is to empower individuals to reach their full potential by fostering self-confidence, independence, and essential life skills. Through vocational training, physical activity, and healthy lifestyle habits integrated into our programs, we promote both physical and mental well-being. Linden Oaks is dedicated to expanding access to these services, ensuring that more individuals and families can benefit from the support they need to succeed.

Mission

Empowering minds, transforming lives: We provide accessible therapy and education to foster growth, resilience, and well-being in children and adults. Through compassionate support and evidence-based practices, we ignite hope and empower individuals to thrive.

Vision

We envision thriving communities where every individual has the opportunity to reach their full potential through transformative therapy and education.

Values

The individuality and potential of our students and clients.
The integrity, skill and commitment of our employees.
The provision of optimal services to our students, clients, families, agencies, employees, and volunteers.
We are responsive and accountable to our customers.