ECI Monthly news & updates
| | Early Communicator Calendar | | | Expanding Language Calendar | | |
Tried & True Tips from a Therapist
To Sleep is to Grow
by Marcy Roca, MSOT, OTR, cNDT, CNT, SC
| | Sleep! There is so much emphasis put on baby sleep. There are countless products marketed towards sleep, many schools of thought and old wives’ tales. Before baby comes home, people tell you things like, “sleep while you can,” “happiness is a sleeping baby,” and “always sleep while baby is sleeping.” Once the child comes home, how do you manage sleep for those crucial first years of development? How much should baby be sleeping and how do we achieve those sleep goals? What’s safe, what’s not, and why is sleep so important? | | |
Sleep is vital for the physical, cognitive and emotional growth of babies and young children. Children really do grow while they sleep! Growth hormones are released during REM sleep. From birth to age two, children spend more time asleep than they do awake. This is when their brains are busiest growing and developing skills such as language, attention, impulse control, and emotional regulation.
It’s important to understand the importance of sleep for your child and recognize the signs of sleepiness. This allows you to put the child down to rest before they are overtired and over stimulated. Putting a child to bed drowsy as opposed to soundly sleeping helps the child learn good sleep habits and self-soothing techniques. Taking full advantage of wake windows by playing, reading, and interacting with your child provide the stimulation needed to ensure they are tired when it comes time to sleep.
| | Sleep safety is also a topic of concern. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) updated their safe sleep recommendations in June of 2022. The AAP maintains that Back is Best without anything in the crib except the mattress and a tight-fitting, fitted crib sheet. The AAP promotes human milk, pacifier usage, and room (not bed) sharing. Supervised, awake tummy time is also encouraged to facilitate development and decrease the risk of positional plagiocephaly (flat head). You can read the entire statement from the AAP regarding Safe Sleep here. The Safe Sleep 360 checklist can help ensure you have a safe sleep space for your baby. | | Sleep safety is also a topic of concern. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) updated their safe sleep recommendations in June of 2022. The AAP maintains that Back is Best without anything in the crib except the mattress and a tight-fitting, fitted crib sheet. The AAP promotes human milk, pacifier usage, and room (not bed) sharing. Supervised, awake tummy time is also encouraged to facilitate development and decrease the risk of positional plagiocephaly (flat head). You can read the entire statement from the AAP regarding Safe Sleep here. The Safe Sleep 360 checklist can help ensure you have a safe sleep space for your baby. | | |
It's Fundraising Season
As a reminder, our fundraising season runs from October to April for our Champions fore Charity campaign. We have achieved more than 50% of our goal. The grant we receive from the State only covers 45% of the operating expenses for the ECI program. Everything else is made up through billing insurance, Family Cost Share payments, donations, and fundraising. Champions fore Charity gives us back 107% of what we put into the program from October through April. There are several ways to get involved and support our mission.
Our fundraising season for Champions fore Charity runs from October through April — and thanks to your support, we’ve already reached over 50% of our goal!
Did you know the State grant only covers 45% of the operating costs for our Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) program? The remaining funding must be secured through insurance billing, Family Cost Share payments, donations, and community fundraising efforts like Champions fore Charity.
The good news? Through Champions fore Charity, we receive 107% back on everything raised from October through April — meaning your support stretches even further to serve the children and families who rely on us.
There are many ways to get involved, make an impact, and help us close the gap before April. Together, we can ensure every child receives the services they need to thrive.
Let’s finish strong!
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Wear the Medal, Share the Mission!
Easterseals ECI fiesta medals are now available! All proceeds directly benefit the ECI program. Quantities are limited.
Easterseals ECI is thrilled to host our second annual Fiesta de Easterseals Family Engagement Event on April 18th! 🎉
This special event is created exclusively for our enrolled families and will feature a fun, welcoming, and sensory-friendly celebration filled with connection, community, and joy. It’s a wonderful opportunity to spend time together outside of sessions, meet other families, and celebrate the amazing children we serve.
Enrolled families should be on the lookout for registration information coming soon to your email. We can’t wait to FIESTA with you!
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Get ready for thrills, splashes, and sunshine! Our Dreaming of Summer Raffle is your chance to win an unforgettable adventure at SeaWorld San Antonio — all while supporting Easterseals.
For just $25, you could score an epic summer prize package valued at $1,060 — but hurry, there are only 60 spots available!
Make waves. Make memories. Make a difference.
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31 Days.
31 Prizes.
1 Incredible Cause.
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Tickets for the 9th Annual Calendar Raffle are on Sale NOW!
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Prizes are being raffled DAILY.
All proceeds from raffle ticket sales benefit our Champions fore Charity campaign.
Click below to buy tickets now or set up your own free digital fundraising link to share on socials. Let your circle of family and friends know why Easterseals is important to YOU!
Get Involved!
| | Become the Next Spotlight Family | | | | |
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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Vivian Paz White, SLP
Serving Easterseals since 2022
This month, we are proud to spotlight Vivian White, SLP, whose dedication, collaboration, and unwavering commitment to families truly embody the Heart of ECI.
Vivian is known for building strong, positive relationships with families and colleagues alike. She communicates with clarity and respect, always taking time to listen, collaborate, and ensure everyone feels supported. Whether coordinating with team members or working around busy family schedules, Vivian goes out of her way to meet deadlines and keep services moving forward smoothly. Her teammates consistently share that they can count on her for guidance, procedural support, and thoughtful collaboration.
Vivian demonstrates a deep understanding of program priorities and works diligently to ensure children receive the services and tools they need to thrive. She has actively supported families in obtaining communication devices for their children and continues advocating for them even after they have aged out of the program—assisting with insurance resubmissions or amendments when needed. Her commitment does not end when services do.
Her organizational skills and strong time management are evident in her persistence to reschedule sessions when cancellations occur, working hard each week to ensure children do not miss out on valuable intervention time.
Vivian also exemplifies outstanding customer service and family support. She shares helpful websites and resources with families and reaches out to colleagues to collaborate when problem-solving complex needs. She models professionalism and compassion in every interaction, setting a standard of excellence for both families and teammates.
Vivian’s advocacy, reliability, and heart for communication make a lasting difference in the lives of the children and families we serve. We are grateful for the expertise, compassion, and teamwork she brings to Easterseals ECI 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.
Autism Community Network (ACN)
The Autism Community Network (ACN) in San Antonio, founded in 2008, is a nonprofit that provides early, high-quality, and affordable autism diagnosis and therapy for children (up to age 9, expanding to 18). Operating from the Harvey E. Najim Campus, they serve over 1,000 children annually, offering bilingual, neurodiversity-affirming care and Medicaid support.
Key Services and Features:
Diagnostics & Screening: The Earliest Connections Clinic (ECC) serves children 6–36 months, with full assessments available for children up to age 7.
Therapies & Support: ACN provides speech/occupational therapies and is the first in the US to use Pediatric Autism Communication Therapy (PACT).
Community Resources: Programs include caregiver training, "Fam Jams," and "Camp Ausome!" for families.
Training Opportunities: Offerings include everything from "Coffee & Connections" for caregivers to professional trainings and conferences.
Accessibility: As one of only two nonprofits in San Antonio accepting Medicaid for diagnostic evaluations, they provide 81% of these services to the community, never turning families away based on financial status.
Philosophy: ACN is a neurodiversity-affirming organization, focused on strengthening connections and empowering families. Autism Community Network
The organization moved to a new, expanded campus in 2023 to increase capacity for services in South Texas. Autism Community Network
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March Awareness Observations | | | | | |
Month-Long
- American Red Cross Month
- Cerebral Palsy
- Developmental Disabilities Month
-
Epilepsy
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
- Nutrition Month
- Self-Injury
- Social Workers Month
- Suddenly Sleepy Saturday - Narcolepsy Awareness
- Trisomy
- Women's History Month
Days
- March 1 - International Wheelchair Day
- March 1 - Self-Injury
- March 6 - World Lymphedema Day
- March 8 - International Women's Day
- March 16 - Brain Injury
- March 18 - National Trisomy 18 Awareness Day
- March 21 - World Down Syndrome Day
- March 25 - U.S. National Cerebral Palsy
- March 26 - Purple Day for Epilepsy
- March 27 - AFE - An international day uniting those affected by Amniotic Fluid Embolism
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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 contracted provider of
Texas Early Childhood Intervention Services and partially funded by
Texas Health and Human Services.
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