The Early Learning Institute

Our mission as an established nonprofit is to develop partnerships with families and communities through therapeutic programs, community education, advocacy and support so that children may flourish.

With more than 60 years of experience, teli (The Early Learning Institute) is a leading provider of early intervention therapy services in Allegheny and Washington Counties.
Serving over 1,200 infants, toddlers and children across Allegheny and Washington Counties annually, we provide a powerful range of child development services that go above and beyond to help children realize their fullest potential. teli's continuum of care includes: early intervention services provided in the home at no cost to families for infants and toddlers aged birth to three; and teletherapy sessions for all early intervention services.

Testimonials

The Feeney household is a busy place. Their three sons, Mason, age 6, Nolan, age 4, and Bryson, not quite 2, have enough energy to keep their parents, Kara and Matt, moving all day long. "Parenthood is a world that no one can prepare you for," Kara describes. "You jump in with both feet, and quickly you start to envision a future for your child - one where anything is possible. But with our first two sons, those plans initially faded with the diagnoses we received. I felt like I was failing as a mom. Then we connected with teli, and the hope I had lost was restored."

Early learning is the foundation for future development. The Early Learning Institute - teli - has been a trusted provider of early intervention services in Western Pennsylvania for more than 60 years. In November 2020, teli became an affiliate of The Children's Institute of Pittsburgh to serve even more children across Western Pennsylvania. The experts at teli partner with families to help children from birth to age 3 who have developmental delays and disabilities to learn and master skills. Utilizing their clinical expertise and creativity, teli's therapists and developmental specialists identify and maximize each child's strengths and abilities. Mason and Nolan Feeney are two of those children.

Mason, the Feeneys' firstborn son, was diagnosed with plagiocephaly (flattened head) at six months. He was fitted for a helmet and began receiving physical therapy services from teli to strengthen his neck muscles. Kara remembers being in a "dark place" for a time, blaming herself for her son's condition, and worrying about the impacts it could have on Mason long term. "Fortunately, Mason responded quickly to therapy," says Kara. "He met all of his goals, graduated from teli at 20 months, and is thriving. He's quite the social butterfly in his kindergarten class."

Through Mason's teli therapists, Kara gained confidence as a mother and learned effective ways to advocate for her boys. When Nolan began showing symptoms of plagiocephaly, Kara asked for help right away. She again chose teli as their early intervention provider and requested Mason's therapists for Nolan. The teli experts identified that Nolan was experiencing a number of developmental delays.

"I'll never forget the meeting when Nolan's developmental therapist advised us that he needed additional testing and services," Kara describes. "That was a difficult conversation, one that she approached with honesty and compassion. teli supported us before, during, and after Nolan's diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder."
Nolan received weekly visits from his teli developmental, occupational, and speech therapists at home and in daycare. With reinforcement from his parents and teachers, Nolan began to make strides in feeding, eye contact, communication, socialization, and adjusting to transitions. Today he speaks in full sentences, describes his feelings, uses his imagination, and shares close connections with his family.

Nolan is a silly, intelligent, and thoughtful child. At his third birthday, teli directed his transition out of early intervention and into a new set of services for older children at The Children's Institute, where he continues to make significant progress. Kara has learned to lean into and embrace Nolan's uniqueness.
"The therapists at teli came into our lives at a pivotal time in Nolan's development," explains Kara. "They unlocked Nolan's hidden world and began the process of integrating it with the rest of our family's neurotypical world. Early intervention and teli gave us the tools we needed to ensure that Nolan will grow up to be the best version of himself."

"I share our family's story whenever I can because I don't want another mother to sit in a dark place worrying about all the things her child won't be able to accomplish because of an autism diagnosis," stresses Kara. "Nolan is amazing. I'm so grateful to teli for all they invested to ensure a future for him that has no limits."