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Every parent wants the world and then some for their child. The Bell Center, a Birmingham-based early intervention center, provides important therapy services for infants and toddlers with special needs.

To find out more about these services, we talked to a mom about her experience since enrolling her son in The Bell Center last year—here’s what we learned.

Rhett came to The Bell Center after a doctor’s recommendation

When Ashley’s son Rhett was born two years ago, he was diagnosed with Apert syndrome. For the first 8-10 months of Rhett’s life, there was no time for therapy because of his numerous doctor’s appointments and surgeries.

In September of 2022, one of Rhett’s doctors at Children’s of Alabama recommended The Bell Center’s unique transdisciplinary therapy program. Since then, Ashley can’t help but sing their praises.

“The Bell Center completely changed our outlook on Rhett’s quality of life.

When you get a diagnosis, it’s part blessing and part fear. After coming to The Bell Center, we realized the sky really is the limit for him.”

All babies develop at different rates—see these checklists to decide if your child needs The Bell Center.

The Bell Center offers an individualized approach to early intervention

As the only transdisciplinary, center-based early intervention provider in the state of Alabama, The Bell Center is dedicated to maximizing the potential of children from birth to three years of age who are at risk for developmental delay.

Children who attend The Bell Center have a wide range of diagnoses including Down syndrome, autism and rare genetic disorders, to babies born prematurely or are sets of multiples. However, children are not required to have a diagnosis or qualifying delay to enroll.

Programs are designed to promote growth in the following skills:

Gross + fine motor
Language
Cognition
Self-help
Social

Each time a child attends therapy, every area of development is addressed by the therapy team—a physical therapist, occupational therapist, speech language pathologist and early childhood educator. Goals are tailored specifically to that child’s needs.

Ashley spoke on how this individualized approach has been crucial towards Rhett’s growth.

“I really want people to see my child as an individual, not as a statistic or a standard. The Bell Center has a very individualized plan for Rhett, with goals that are easy to tackle and things that he’s overcome that have absolutely blown my mind.”

Ashley continued to tell us how the therapists let her know what they are working on with Rhett. They share what he accomplished in therapy and instruct the family on how to work on these goals at home.

Check out the different programs The Bell Center offers, from one-on-one services for infants to classroom routines.

It takes a village—The Bell Center has provided a community for Ashley

Parents are able to watch their children during class from an observation room. Ashley found much encouragement through Rhett’s journey from talking with other moms she has met at The Bell Center.

“It truly is a community that we’ve built with the other moms. Being able to say ‘I’m not alone in this’ changes everything.”

There are only a handful of children in Alabama with Rhett’s diagnosis, so this journey can get lonely for those who don’t have a support system of families going through similar walks.

With a special emphasis on maximizing potential, the therapy team is dedicated to providing holistic services to children, no matter the reason they are enrolled.

“No one in the therapy setting can duplicate what The Bell Center does. Rhett is very peer-driven, he’s in there with a class and he loves it. He’s social, engaged and I don’t even think he realizes he’s receiving therapy.”

Get involved in The Bell Center for early intervention services, individualized programs and an exceptional community. Support their mission and upcoming events when you follow their Facebook + Instagram.

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