Harris, Nancy R.Dec. 12, 1934 - Jan. 10, 2008Nancy R. Harris, 73, Sarasota, formerly of Rochester, N.Y., died Jan. 10, 2008, after a long illness.A memorial service will be in conjunction with the dedication of the Nancy R. Harris Early Childhood Development Center at Summit Educational Resources in Buffalo, N.Y., at a date to be determined. Wiegand Brothers Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Survivors include sons Paul, Brian and Stefan; brothers Robert and Richard Rush; and grandchildren Matthew, Jackson and Abby.She was born and raised in Rochester, N.Y., and graduated from Buffalo State Teachers College in 1956. She worked as a teacher in the Kenmore, N.Y., School District before starting a family. When one of her sons was born with a severe hearing impairment, Nancy developed teaching methods to help him with his communication skills. She implemented a program based on her strong belief that children with communication disorders could best develop meaningful speech and language through everyday experiences. She worked with her son and three other children at her home. Her success with these children quickly made her a pioneer in Western New York special education. She started the "Language Development Program" (LDP) in 1973. As the school grew and became well known in the community, parents requested "Nancy's School" for their children with special needs.Through Nancy's determined efforts, the school continued to receive recognition and in 1977 LDP was approved by the New York State Education Department. As a result, children with communication disorders were able to attend LDP with no cost to the families for tuition or transportation.Nancy and LDP received numerous awards on both the local and national level. The prestigious Alexander Graham Bell Foundation "award for excellence" was given to Nancy at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.LDP was renamed Summit Educational Resources. A new state-of-the-art facility for Summit was built in Amherst, N.Y., in 2005. In Nancy's honor, the preschool wing of this new building will be named the Nancy R. Harris Early Childhood Center. Today, Summit serves more than 1,400 children each year with a staff of 500.Nancy retired in 1995 and moved to Sarasota, Fla., in 1996.For those wishing to honor Nancy, donations may be made to Summit Educational Resources, 150 Stahl Road, Getzville, N.Y. 14068.