Building a Place for Grace: Jenny Radler’s Mission to Help Special Needs Families

Total Michigan

Never underestimate the power of a mother's love. We sit down with Jenny Dumont Radler, the founder of A Place for Grace, Michigan's only fully inclusive childcare, preschool, afterschool program, and teen center for children with special needs. Jenny shares her deeply personal journey of raising her daughter, Emma, who was born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate. Through her struggles and triumphs, Jenny found her calling: creating a place where all children—regardless of ability—are welcomed, loved, and given the tools to thrive.

✅ How Jenny’s personal experience raising her daughter with special needs led to founding A Place for Grace.

✅ The challenges special needs children face in traditional daycare settings—and how inclusive childcare can make a difference.

✅ The incredible stories of resilience and transformation happening at A Place for Grace.

✅ The power of faith, forgiveness, and finding purpose through adversity.

✅ How you can support A Place for Grace and the children it serves.

Links:

🔗 Visit A Place for Grace: aplaceforgracechildcare.org

📍 Location: 4884 Gratiot Road, Suite 19, Saginaw, MI

📱 Follow A Place for Grace on Facebook

💖 Support the mission through the Saginaw Community Foundation

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Show Notes:

The Struggles Begin:

00:00 - Jenny’s Mission: Creating A Place for Grace for Emma & Others

02:15 - Emma’s Early Challenges: Surgeries, Strength & Survival

05:30 - Jenny Faces Every Mother’s Nightmare at Daycare

07:50 - The Moment That Changed Everything for Jenny & Emma

Against All Odds

09:45 - Jenny Searches for an Inclusive Childcare & Finds Nothing

12:30 - Emma Inspires Jenny to Build Michigan’s First Inclusive Childcare

15:10 - Building A Place for Grace: Passion vs. Real-World Obstacles

18:40 - Funding, Licensing & Community Skepticism—Can It Work?

22:15 - Betrayal: Jenny is Forced Out of Her Own Organization

25:50 - Starting Over: Jenny’s Relentless Fight for Inclusion

Hope, Triumph & A Brighter Future

27:30 - A Place for Grace Opens Its Doors: A Dream Becomes Reality

30:10 - A Foster Child’s Life is Transformed Through Jenny’s Mission

33:45 - Emma’s Growth & The Kids Who Found a Home at A Place for Grace

35:50 - The Future: Expanding A Place for Grace & How You Can Help