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Tried & True Tips from a Therapist
by Suzanne Roewe, EIS, SC
The Power Of Play!
What is “play”? When defined as a noun, the word play means an activity engaged in for enjoyment and recreation, especially by children. When it is defined as a verb, it means to engage in an activity for enjoyment and recreation, rather than serious or practical purposes. The ECI model uses play strategies to help children learn and grow in all areas of development. Why is play so important? Play enhances language development, creativity, imagination, critical thinking, fine and gross motor skills, and teaches children to persevere and control emotions. Play is a child’s “work”. It is how children test their ideas and new skills. Play assists children in learning to communicate and fosters social skills. Children are a work in progress as they grow into functional adults and play is big part of this process. Encouraging your child’s play is one of the most important ways to nurture their development and it begins on day one. Did you know that there is nothing in the world that your child would rather do than play with YOU? As your child is learning to play, they are also playing to learn. Different types of play include:
*ACTIVE – physical, outdoors, sports
*MAKE BELIEVE – dolls, roll play, scenes
*MANIPULATIVE – construction, puzzles, patterns
*CREATIVE – music, art, audio/visual
*LEARNING – books, games, skills
| | Easy holiday sensory bottles focus on fine motor skills. | | Puzzle Books blend reading and play. | | Larger sensory bins encourage parallel and cooperative play. | | Coloring/scribbling is a fun way for children and adults to play together. It allows for the expression of creativity, teaches how to grip and apply pressure, and is a child's progression to writing. This fun activity also improves cognitive skills, focus, fine motor strength, and coordination. Reading is another great way to bond with your child. It helps form basic speech and communication skills. Reading develops logical thinking and enhances attention and concentration. An important key in developing successful reading skills in a child is to know that reading can not be rushed – it can only be fostered, not forced. High interest, open ended activities such as sensory bins offer endless opportunities for exploring. This activity has no “right or wrong” way to play which allows the child to be in control of the “how to”. This fosters a sense of independence which sets a child up for success. Sensory bins can be modified for any age and can be played with by multiple people if the bin is large enough. These bins encourage imaginative play using the senses of sight, sound, touch and often taste! YOU are your child’s favorite toy – go play together! | | If you are looking for toys geared towards a certain diagnosis, check out this resource on Fat Brain Toys. | | |
We were thrilled to host 145 registered families at this year’s Sensory-Friendly Santa Experience—and what a beautiful day it was. From festive outfits to cozy pajamas, every family showed up in the way that felt right for them, creating a warm and welcoming holiday atmosphere where every child could feel happy, safe, and comfortable.
A huge thank-you to our incredible photographers from Aria Productions and Little Lemon Shots for capturing such meaningful moments, and to Ryan Chavez and Jeff Huston, our perfect Santas who brought calm, patience, and holiday magic to every visit.
This event simply wouldn’t be possible without our wonderful volunteers and dedicated staff, whose care and enthusiasm created a smooth, welcoming experience for every family. We are also deeply grateful for funding support from H-E-B and Theresa De La Garza with DCD Renovation & Construction, and for the generous door prize donation from Lights Alive!
Families enjoyed fun activities while they waited, along with access to All is Calm, our sensory break room staffed by therapists for anyone needing a quiet space during their time with us.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for helping create holiday moments that truly include everyone.
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Door Prize Winners
Lights Alive! Ticket
Kimberly Barboza
Holiday Plushies
Darrah Marshall
Celia Perez
Naley Angel
Yaremi Rosales
Jen Specia
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Lights Alive is a mesmerizing
1-mile drive-thru musically synchronized light show followed by a Winter Wonderland Park-n-Play festival.
All the fun is located at 5931 Roft Road, San Antonio, TX 78253
Open now through
January 3, 2026.
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Spotlight Story - Skyler Mireles
by Natalie Mireles
A baby is a wonderful gift and when you have a baby as a parent you're constantly wondering if you're doing the right thing and how can you help them reach milestones before other kids their age. No parent is the exception of this and there is nothing wrong with wanting your child to advance. However, sometimes there are children who need a little extra help, and that's okay.
Skyler is two years old and will be three this month so unfortunately she will be aging out of the program. However, the last year and a half that we have been with ECI has, without imaginable doubt, changed our lives. Before ECI, Skyler could NOT be touched unless it was dad and only if she allowed it. Bath times where terrible because she was afraid of the water and us touching her. Her comfort/safe spots where corners of walls and tight, cramped spaces. As for nutrition ONLY dry, stale, crunchy foods where allowed. No cups with straws. No open cups. One very specific sippy cup and ONE small table is all we could give to her.
Her whole world revolved around that table. No highchair. No booster. Nothing that could touch her and cause her to panic. So of course when you notice these sorts of behaviors you talk to someone. That's what we did. We let our pediatrician know our concerns and she sent in a referral for an evaluation.
In all honesty I knew that we where going to have the evaluation, but I didn't know what the evaluation would do for us until these random women came to our home spent time with us and explained in detail what they do how they help. They spent time with us asking many questions about Skyler and evaluating her all while making everything so natural-she wasn't even triggered.
It was determined that same day during the evaluation that she did in fact meet the criteria for the ECI program. Again, although we didn't fully understand yet, but because we didn't understand we knew we had to go with the flow, and thankfully we did. Through our sessions we learned so many things about Skyler that were always there, but we didn't know what it meant.
During all this time it took only a few weeks/months for some suggestions about concerns to share with our pediatrician and these concerns where spot on. Persistence is key when it come to your children and thankfully we had people with us who were just as persistent in wanting evaluations and getting results. It took some time but after a few months, we where able to have appointments and evaluations done with a developmental pediatrician. It was determined that Skyler is autistic and developmentally delayed. They of course referred us to ABA therapy and suggested we stay on course with ECI recommendations since everyone was on the same page of what is best for Skyler.
The next appointment was an ENT evaluation. Thanks to ECI, speech and concerns regarding her speech came to light. Skyler was non-verbal and still barely making any form of sound that wasn't screaming. It was determined that Sklyer was NOT able to hear due to excessive fluid in her ears and much scar tissue from many ear infections. With more persistence we where able to have her set up for surgery to have ear tubes put in and have a tongue tie cut.
A few weeks after her surgery if was very obvious that Skyler was more than able to hear. We still don't know how well just yet, but she can definitely hear. With help from everyone on our team, Skyler has learned a few words here and there. It's not a big vocabulary, but to actually hear your child's voice after two years was absolutely amazing.
There's so much more that will be done with Skyler and unfortunately we won't have our ECI team with us after we age out. They will always be part of us. though. They changed our lives and made Skyler's a much brighter one. Skyler loves Christi's infectious singing. Lori's overall personality and caring self has nurtured Skyler to help her voice become stronger. Mira was the first person to make me cry on our first session has helped Skyler grow so much in the little time we've had with her. Noralba is the best person to have pushing you to do more for your child because she knows what you are capable of doing. Deep down as parents we always know there's more we can do, but sometimes even need a push. ECI gave us that push to do better for our child.
It's the day after Thanksgiving. Skyler has now been in ABA for a week and although we won't have our ECI family with us after Skyler's birthday in December, we are forever grateful for the encouragement that we needed in helping our child more than we thought was possible in such a short time. Sometimes all we need is some encouragement. ECI did exactly that for us. Thank you.
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Is Your Child the Next ECI Spotlight Story? | | | | |
Your Story Matters
We’d love to hear your journey. Whether it’s a small milestone or a life-changing moment, your story can inspire others and help us show the power of possibility.
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Introducing The Heart of ECI
At Easterseals ECI, our work is driven by people with big hearts—those who go above and beyond to support children, families, and one another every single day. To celebrate that spirit, we’re introducing a new monthly feature called “The Heart of ECI.” Each month, we’ll spotlight one of our incredible team members who embodies the compassion, dedication, and teamwork that make our mission come alive. These individuals are nominated by their peers—the people who see their kindness, commitment, and impact in action every day.
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Rose Dominguez, Medical Records
Serving Easterseals since 2014
This month, we’re proud to recognize Rose as our Heart of ECI!
When you talk with anyone who has crossed paths with Rose, and everyone here has, the message is always the same—she is the kind of teammate who makes everything brighter, stronger, and better. Rose exemplifies what it means to lead with heart, purpose, and a deep commitment to the families and children we serve.
Rose excels at building positive relationships. She communicates with clarity and respect, taking time to truly listen, understand concerns, share ideas, and foster strong collaboration. Her approach creates an environment where everyone feels valued and supported.
As a team member, Rose is the definition of dependable and dedicated. She actively shares responsibilities, celebrates the contributions of others, and always goes the extra mile to make sure the work we do is meaningful and done well. Her coworkers describe her as someone who believes deeply in the Easterseals ECI mission—someone who wants every child to thrive and every family to feel uplifted. “She truly has a heart of gold,” her team says, “and we are blessed to have her here at Easterseals.”
Rose also demonstrates a strong understanding of program priorities, consistently working to ensure children and families receive the support they need. Her organizational skills and reliability make her a trusted, steady presence within the team.
Beyond her daily responsibilities, Rose brings the mission to life through her enthusiastic involvement in family engagement events. She decorates, participates, volunteers, and jumps in wherever help is needed—often behind the scenes, where the most meaningful impact is made. She is also always willing to donate to events and causes, seeking unique ways to make things better and support the program in any way she can. Sometimes that means surprising everyone with fresh pan dulce for the Fiesta event; other times it’s bringing a new raffle idea to raise funds that directly support our programs. No matter the need, Rose finds a way to make things better—and her impact is felt by all.
Rose’s dedication, creativity, and unwavering kindness embody the true Heart of ECI. We are grateful for every moment, every effort, and every bit of love she pours into her work.
Thank you, Rose, for making a difference every single day.
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Heart & Voice: Advocating for Tomorrow, is a monthly segment in our newsletter dedicated to highlighting advocacy opportunities for young children with special healthcare needs. This feature will educate and inform parents about current issues, policies, and initiatives that directly impact their children’s care and well-being. Whether you're new to advocacy or looking to stay engaged, Heart & Voice will empower you with the knowledge and tools to make your voice heard and help shape a better future for your child.
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CAM was founded back in 1977 by nine downtown churches and today, CAM is supported by over 100 churches of all different denominations. CAM works much like an emergency room of social services, all are welcome and you don’t have to make an appointment.
By providing for immediate safety net needs, we can ensure that further crisis can be avoided or that the client is stabilized in order to get further help with a specialized nonprofit. Our services begin with a personal interview, referrals, and specific resources (food, clothing and financial help).
CAM is dedicated to helping those with great need facing long-term or short-term crisis. CAM is now supported by local churches, corporations and foundations, individuals, “in-kind” donations and a volunteer force of 250. Services are administered at two donated locations on church properties and serves 70,000 people annually with 10 full time and three part time staff. CAM provides food, clothing, utility assistance, prescription assistance, ID recovery (vital for help with housing, insurance and employment), a free place to receive mail, and transportation to medical appointments or bus passes for the newly employed.
CAM provides “safety net” services for vulnerable and at risk populations. CAM serves the working poor that may only make ends meet on a monthly basis and may not qualify for government programs, but have a short-term need. CAM also works with populations who are chronically vulnerable due to disabilities, poverty, abuse, substance abuse issues, age, illness, etc. These individuals need an organization like CAM to provide for many resources and to connect them to social service programs working on the systemic issue. Learn more here.
Annually, CAM Serves in the Following Ways
- 72,000 individuals are provided food – 20,000 of these individuals are provided sustainable groceries and 52,000 are provided with daily sack lunches
- 20,000 individuals are provided with clothing
- 6,000 individuals receive financial assistance (prescriptions, utilities, IDs, birth certificates, etc.)
- 325 children receive new backpacks, school supplies and school uniforms via our Annual Back-to-School Program
- 1,500 children receive brand new toys and gifts from our Emergency Christmas Store
- 267 individuals receive haircuts for employment
- 300 individuals who were homeless are helped off the streets
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Easter Seals will be closed on the following days in observance of the upcoming winter and New Year's holidays:
Thursday, December 25, 2025
Friday, December 26, 2025
Thursday, January 1, 2026
We wish you all a joyous and safe holiday season with your loved ones.
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At this time, we are UNABLE to receive used clothing donations. We are undergoing some much needed building renovations and there is no space to store clothing at this time.
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Our New Website is Live! Take a Look!
Don't forget to visit our new website. It's updated, user-friendly. and ready for you to explore!
Go Now
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When to Cancel Therapy
Covid and many other contagious illnesses are going around in the San Antonio Community.
We want every child to get the most out of therapy. Sometimes the best way to help them (and keep everyone else healthy) is to take a rest day. Please inform your team and cancel if:
- They have a fever of 100.4°F or higher.
- They’ve had vomiting or diarrhea in the last 24 hours.
- They’re coughing a lot, have a very sore throat, or a runny nose that makes it hard to participate.
- They’ve been diagnosed with something contagious (like the flu, strep throat, pink eye, or COVID-19).
- They have a rash and you’re not sure what’s causing it.
- They’re just not feeling well enough to join in and benefit from therapy.
Telehealth is available at your discretion if your child is well enough for therapy, but experiencing symptoms where it's best to keep therapists from entering the home.
If your child is not well enough for any type of therapy, please cancel with your therapist. Remember, when we leave your home, we go to see other children and families.
Let's all work together to keep everyone as healthy as possible.
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December Awareness Observations | | | | | |
Month-Long
- Constipation
- Universal Human Rights Month
Days
- December 3 - International Day of Persons with Disabilities
- December 10 - Human Rights Day
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2203 Babcock Road
San Antonio, TX 78229
phone: 210.614.3911
fax: 210.625.3162
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Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center
is a subrecipient of
Texas Early Childhood Intervention Services and partially funded by
Texas Health and Human Services.
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