What Makes Brighton's Therapy Services Different?

Brighton is a non-profit organization committed to providing the educational and developmental foundation that children experiencing developmental delays or a disability in San Antonio and the surrounding area need. As an Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) provider through the State of Texas, Brighton’s team of highly skilled and licensed therapy and early childhood developmental professionals provides a holistic and family-centered approach on development. Through Brighton’s Therapy Service Program, you can rest assured that your child and your entire family will receive the resources, support and guidance that they need to reach their full potential!

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Family-Centered Approach

Brighton acknowledges parents are natural teachers and that they know their child best. That is why Brighton’s ECI staff involve the parents and/or caregivers in every aspect of intervention and therapy and teach them how to play an active and daily role in their child’s development.

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Early Intervention Specialists (EIS)

Every child enrolled in Brighton’s Therapy Program is assigned an Early Intervention Specialist (EIS) who will coordinate all therapy services, work with the child’s doctors and even connect the family with additional resources in the community based on their individual needs.

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Specialized Skills Training (SST)

SST is a unique service provided only by an Early Intervention Specialist. SST supports development across all domains with an emphasis on strengthening cognitive skills, positive behavior and social interactions. These skills are critical to building upon the developmental goals a child’s therapist might be working with them on.

ECI Services for Children and Caregiver Support

Brighton Center’s Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) program in San Antonio, Texas provides evaluations, at no cost to families, to determine eligibility and the need for services. Families and professionals work together as a team to plan appropriate services based on the unique strengths and needs of the child and family. Services are provided in the home and in community settings such as child care facilities, play groups and Mothers’ Day Out programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Every child is different and progresses and develops at their own pace, however there are some common things to look for in determining whether or not your child will benefit from pediatric therapy and early childhood intervention therapy services. Scroll down for a a Developmental Checklist and see if your child is developing on target.

ECI is a state and federally funded program through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA, P.L. 108-446), ECI provides evaluations and assessments, at no cost to families, to determine eligibility and need for services. Families and professionals work as a team to plan appropriate services based on the unique needs of the child and family. ECI asks families who can afford to do so, to share in the cost of services. The amount a family pays for ECI services is determined using a state regulated sliding fee scale and is based on family size and income after allowable deductions. No child and family will be turned away because of an inability to pay. Families with children enrolled in Medicaid, do not pay for any ECI services.

The following services are provided at no cost to the family regardless of income:​

  • Evaluation/assessment, Development of the Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP), Case Management, Translation and interpreter services

Eligibility for Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) is determined by a team of at least two Brighton Center professionals from different disciplines of pediatric therapy (speech, occupational, physical therapist). A comprehensive evaluation is used to find out the nature and extent of the child’s abilities, delays or difficulties, and to determine whether a child is eligible for ECI services. Brighton’s ECI staff determines eligibility for infants and toddlers who are birth to 36 months of age based on:

Medically Diagnosed Condition – A child who has a medically diagnosed condition that has a high probability of resulting in developmental delay qualifies for ECI. The diagnosis must be on the HHSC ECI list of qualifying medical diagnoses, and medical records must be provided to confirm the diagnosis.

Auditory or Visual Impairment – A child who has an auditory or visual impairment as defined by the Texas Education Agency rule at 19 TAC Section 89.1040 qualifies for ECI. This determination is made by a team led by certified staff from the local independent school district

Developmental Delay – A child who has a developmental delay of at least 25% which affects functioning in one or more areas of development, including cognition, communication, gross or fine motor, social-emotional and adaptive/self-help qualifies for ECI.

If found eligible, an individualized family service plan (IFSP) is is then conducted. The IFSP will identify a child’s unique strengths and needs as well as determine what types of pedatric therapy services are necessary to meet those needs. Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), evaluations and assessments are provided at no cost to parents. They are funded by state and federal monies.

If you are concerned that an infant or toddler may have a developmental delay or disability, contact ECI for an evaluation. Anyone can make a referral: a parent, family member, health care professional, social worker, caregiver, friend or neighbor). A referral may be based on a professional judgment or a family’s concern. Call ECI to make a referral: 210-826-4492 Or fill out this FORM for more information. 

If you are concerned that your child may have a developmental delay or disability, call ECI to make a referral: 210-826-4492, Or fill out this FORM for more information. Next, an Early Childhood Intervention professional will provide an evaluation to determine if your child is eligible and will discuss with you the need for ECI services.

ECI helps children from birth to 36 months.

First, call ECI to make a referral for your child: 210-826-4492 Or fill out this FORM for more information. Next, your child will be is assigned to a Service Coordinator, based upon where you live. Then, the Service Coordinator will contact you to schedule an appointment.

No, ECI will come to you. ECI professionals provide ECI services in places familiar to your child – where they live, learn, and play – like at your home, at their childcare, or in a community setting – where your child feels most comfortable.

Yes. You may call and speak with ECI referral staff about your child’s development: 210-826-4492 Or fill out this FORM for more information.  You may also want to track your child’s developmental milestones to see how they are doing. Not reaching these milestones, or reaching them much later than other children, could be a sign of a developmental delay.

No, anyone can make a referral (a parent, family member, health care professional, social worker, caregiver, friend or neighbor.) Simply, call ECI: 210-826-4492 Or fill out this FORM for more information.

A child who already has a medically diagnosed condition, which has a high probability of resulting in a developmental delay, automatically qualifies for Early Childhood Intervention (ECI). That diagnosis must be on HHSC/ECI’s list of qualifying medical diagnoses; medical records must be provided to confirm the diagnosis. To get started, call ECI and make a referral: 210-826-4492 Or fill out this FORM for more information.

Yes. Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) can help. If you are concerned that your child may have a developmental delay or disability, call ECI: 210-826-4492 Or fill out this FORM for more information. Early intervention is best.

To get started, simply call ECI to request a referral: 210-826-4492 Or fill out this FORM for more information. Your child will be assigned to an ECI Service Coordinator, who will contact you to schedule an appointment. At the first visit, your child will be evaluated to determine if your child has a delay and to determine what ECI services are needed to help your child develop. ECI professionals partner with families, listen to their concerns, and work on a plan for services and assistance. Each child will have his/her own individual plan, according to his or her needs.

If you are concerned that the foster child may have a developmental delay or disability, contact ECI for an evaluation. Anyone can request an evaluation (a parent, family member, health care professional, social worker, caregiver, friend or neighbor.) Call ECI to make a referral or for more information: 210-826-4492 Or fill out this FORM for more information.

Prior to the child’s 3rd birthday, ECI helps the family plan for services and supports elsewhere – after the child graduates from ECI (for example: the local school district, Head Start, private ECI services, or other resources in the community).

At age 3, Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) services may be provided by your local school district, Head Start, private pediatric therapy services, or other resources in the community. You may contact your local school district for more information. To determine the school district in which you live, visit the Texas Education Agency (TEA) website

Developmental Checklist for Children

3 – 6 Months
Checklist Feature
  • follow moving toys or faces with their eyes
  • startle at loud or new sounds
  • wiggle and kick with legs and arms
  • lift head and shoulders while on stomach
  • smile back at parents or other family members
  • make sounds, like gurgling, cooing or sucking sounds
6 – 9 Months
Checklist Feature
  • explore toys with hands and mouth
  • roll over front-to-back and back-to-front
  • squeal and babble different sounds
  • sit by leaning on their hands
  • turn their heads to voices and respond to their names
  • know family members and seek their attention
  • enjoy playing “peek-a-boo”
9 – 12 Months
Checklist Feature
  • copy hand movements like “patty cake,” or “bye-bye”
  • pick up crumbs or other small things with their thumb and a finger
  • move toys from one hand to the other hand
  • crawl on hands and knees
  • sit without help
  • repeat sounds like “baba,” “dada,” “mama”
  • cry when mother or father leaves
12 – 15 Months
Checklist Feature
  • pull themselves up to a standing position
  • walk by holding onto furniture
  • drink from a cup with your help
  • wave bye-bye
  • say “mama” and “dada” and one other word
  • point to objects they want
  • can find a toy hidden under a cloth
15 – 18 Months
Checklist Feature
  • use at least three words besides “mama” and “dada”
  • like to look at pictures in a book
  • hold a crayon in a fist
  • hand toys to you when asked
  • point to pictures or objects you name
  • walk without help
  • dump contents out of a box
18 – 21 Months
Checklist Feature
  • like to pull and push things while walking
  • use pointing and words together to tell what they want
  • pull off shoes and socks
  • feed themselves with their fingers
  • can point to one body part when asked
  • use at least 10 words and repeat words you say
21 – 24 Months
Checklist Feature
  • like to pull and push things while walking
  • use pointing and words together to tell what they want
  • pull off shoes and socks
  • feed themselves with their fingers
  • can point to one body part when asked
  • use at least 10 words and repeat words you say
24 – 30 Months
Checklist Feature
  • use 2 to 3 words together, like “No, Mommy” or “More cookies”
  • use and understand at least 50 words
  • feed themselves with a spoon
  • show affection to family members and pets
  • run short distances without falling
  • pretend play with more than one step (Feed a doll, then pat and hug it.)
  • show lots of feelings (joy, anger, sadness)
30 – 36 Months
Checklist Feature
  • throw a ball overhand
  • comfort another child who is crying
  • can walk on tiptoes
  • combine 2 ideas in a sentence (“I want an apple and a banana.”)
  • help to clean up
  • ask for help when needed
  • combine 2 toys in pretend play (Uses a stuffed bear as the driver of a toy car.)
  • use at least 100 words