Easter Seals Disability Services

Get Involved and Support Easter Seals South Carolina!

Helping people with disabilities is what we do at Easter Seals... but we can't do it alone. One way to get involved is participating in an Easter Seals event. Walk, run, golf, jump in the lake, bid in a silent auction -- there's something for everyone. Visit this site often for updated information on events in your area!

Laura McCraw, Assistant Director, Children's Programs, hands out Easter Seals South Carolina information at EdVenture Children's Museum's Disability Fair in Columbia.

Ryan Faulhaber is a 3 year old boy who lives in Indian Land with his parents and older sister. Ryan was referred to Easter Seals South Carolina in January of 2006. Ryan’s parents and pediatrician were mainly concerned with Ryan’s communication skills. Less than year later, Ryan was diagnosed with Autism. In addition to receiving Early Intervention services from Easter Seals, Ryan was set up with Speech Therapy and Occupational Therapy by his Early Intervention Specialist. Ryan now attends a developmental preschool in Lancaster, SC. There he receives speech therapy, occupational therapy, and ABA. Ryan continues to receive Early Intervention Services with Easter Seals.

Ryan is now identifying letters, colors, and shapes. Ryan can spell Mommy and Daddy. Ryan loves playing with trains as well as riding his tricycle and scooter outside. Ryan, his family, and his early intervention specialist are currently working on using sentences consistently, following directions, and fine motor skills. They are also preparing him for kindergarten including spelling his name and attending to activities while sitting.

For this summer, Ryan’s family obtained CaroWinds Passes through Easter Seals Respite and Recreation funded through money raised by the Food Lion Annual Fundraiser.

Mary Ryan Howard and Kate Howard are two 14 month precious little girls that Easter Seals of South Carolina has served since August 2008. Kate and Mary Ryan live with their Mom and Dad in Clinton, South Carolina. The girls were born at 24 weeks gestation both weighing less than 2 lbs. and being 12 inches long a piece. The girls spent 103 days in the NICU and during this time the doctors and nurses became a second family to the Howard’s. Both girls underwent different surgeries to help them overcome complications from being born premature

After their release from the NICU the girls were referred to Easter Seals of South Carolina Early Intervention Program by Dr. Ohning to monitor their development. Stephanie Duncan, Early Intervention Specialist, with Easter Seals of SC visits the girls weekly to provide Service Coordination and Family Training which consist of developmental activities. Stephanie has also coordinated services for Kate and Mary Ryan in the home, such as, physical therapy that they both receive weekly. Stephanie will continue to assist with implementing other resources as needed for Mary Ryan, Kate and their family.

This past March 2009 for the March of Dimes annual walk in Laurens, South Carolina Easter Seals paired up with team Howard and walked to raise money for other premature babies. The Howard family raised the most money for a family team of $12,800.

Stephanie will continue to monitor Kate and Mary Ryan development which truly gives the family reassurance that they are not in it alone.