The Child Development Center (CDC) is a campus child care center, started in 1984. CDC serves toddlers beginning at age 19 months and preschool children and their families who work and study at Gallaudet University, alumni parents, the deaf community and the general metropolitan area community. The Child Development Center is a 12-month program which has a special 8-week summer program that serves children up to age 9.

This early child care program, based in the Kendall Demonstration Elementary School building, employs deaf and hearing teachers and staff and provides programming for children on a part-time or full-time basis depending upon the individual needs of the child and family. Since 1988, CDC has been serving deaf, hard of hearing and hearing toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergartners in an integrated child care program. American Sign Language and English are used in communicating with the children in the program. The program is based on developmentally appropriate practices in play environment in order for the staff to stay "tune-in" to each child's unique need and style of learning.

CDC works closely with Gallaudet undergraduate and graduate students as a practicum and internship site. The students come from various instructional departments on campus: Education, Family and Consumer Studies, Social Work, Drama, Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, as well as from the Gallaudet Career Center. CDC is also a volunteer and practicum site for high school students from MSSD and other local high schools.

The Child Development Center (CDC) is licensed by the District of Columbia Department of Health, Child and Residential Care Facilities Division.