The Bell Center for Early Intervention Programs

"Loving a child with special needs is the easy part.  The hard part is knowing where to go and what to do next to help my child, and that's where The Bell Center came in."

These words from a former Bell Center parent speak straight to the heart of our mission.  Each year, hundreds of babies in the central Alabama area are born prematurely, or with spina bifida, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome or a variety of genetic disorders.  For more than 27 years, The Bell Center has provided therapy and early childhood special education services for children with special needs or who are at risk for developmental delay.

The Bell Center offers treatment as soon as a child is diagnosed, often within a few days or weeks after birth.  Parents can feel a sense of helplessness when they discover their child has special needs; however, The Bell Center staff and volunteers are able to provide them with specific information and encouragement allowing parents to move from a sense of confusion to a deep pride in their children's accomplishments and optimism for the future. 

The Bell Center staff includes physical, occupational and speech/language therapists as well as early childhood special educators.  Therapy is provided at The Bell Center in a pre-school type environment through a variety of programs.  Almost 100 children each year from throughout the central Alabama area receive services at The Bell Center with some families traveling up to two hours each way to receive services at The Bell Center.  While families are asked to pay a monthly tuition for services received, financial assistance is available for families in need. 

Child development experts and health care professionals have praised the work of The Bell Center and the commitment to individual care that is the cornerstone of The Bell Center philosophy. 

 Key words: children, infants, toddlers, special needs, therapy, Birmingham, central Alabama, prematurity, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, families