1969
Brighton began its longtime legacy in 1969 as a part of the Up With Downs organization as a school for children with Down Syndrome. At this time, parents who had children with Down Syndrome were told that their children would never walk or talk and that it might be best if they were placed in institutions. There were a group of parents who believed in their children and sent them to Brighton and thus, children with Down Syndrome from all over the region came to Brighton to be educated. Brighton School was one of the few schools in the country educating children with Down Syndrome.
1975
The federal government passed Public Law 94-142, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) which gave children with disabilities the right to be educated in the public school system. From this law, Special Education Departments in School Districts were created and children who attended Brighton moved into the public school system.
1979
Up with Downs and Brighton School, Inc. parted ways and Brighton shifted its focus to early intervention services.
1983
Brighton School entered into its first contract with the Interagency Council on Early Childhood Intervention to provide services to 28 children.
1984
Brighton School was officially incorporated and gained its 501(c)(3) status.
1995
Brighton School Inc.'s Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) program shifted its focus from center-based therapy services and supports to providing services in the child's natural environment.
1996
Brighton School, Inc. opened Bright Beginnings, an inclusive child development center that served 12 children.
1999
Two local ECI programs closed and Brighton School, Inc. increased enrollment by more than 100 children overnight.
2002
With the support of the Kronkosky Foundation and under their Precious Minds, New Connections initiative, Brighton began its Parent Alliance for Learning and Support (PALS) program to provide parents who have children with disabilities information about development and provide them the tools to advocate for their child. In its first year, PALS served over 100 families.
Brighton School, Inc. began its Fundamental Foundations program. Fundamental Foundations is a collaboration between The Lynd Company and Brighton to provide stable environments that allow children with disabilities to reach their maximum potential.
Brighton School, Inc's Board of Directors refocused the mission and vision to ensure that inclusion was a primary focus and changed the organization's DBA to Brighton, The Center for Inclusive Communities.
2003
Brighton, The Center for Inclusive Communities moved its main offices to 14207 Higgins Road. This move brought about an expansion to Brighton's inclusive child development center, Bright Beginnings from a capacity of 70 children to a capacity of over 120.
2004
Brighton, The Center for Inclusive Communities expanded its Bright Beginnings program to offer inclusive school-age summer and after-school programs.
2005
Brighton, The Center for Inclusive Communities with the support of the Kronkosky Foundation, divided the PALS program into to separate but equally important components. The parent education related to IDEA, special education laws and advocacy retained the PALS name. Brighton move the general developmental parenting education into a new initiative under Krokosky's Precious Minds, New Connections initiative and shifted from the Born to Learn curriculum to the Nurturing Program curriculum.
2006
Brighton, The Center for Inclusive Communities is serving more than 1,700 children with disabilities and their families each year through its four key initiatives.
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