Commitments to Easter Seals

Look closely at what makes Easter Seals unique from other health and human services providers, and it becomes clear: Easter Seals' greatest strength comes from the people who are Easter Seals. Relationships between therapists and clients, between teachers and preschoolers, between staff and parents, and between volunteers and staff. Helping children and adults with disabilities gain greater independence involves whole individuals, whole families and support systems.

Corporate sponsors, volunteers, staff, and national representatives share their commitments to Easter Seals and creating solutions that change the lives of people with disabilities.

Visit Your Local Participating Friendly's Restaurant to Support Easter Seals!

This October, the Friendly Ice Cream Corporation is proudly supporting Easter Seals through a special campaign before Halloween!  Make a $1 donation at your participating Friendly's and get Trick-or-Treat coupons redeemable for five free Kids Cones and $5 off any $25 purchase.

Friendly's Ice Cream Cones for Camp

It's hard to believe we just finished Jessica's fourth week of conductive education camp here at the Grace Center!  The last couple of weeks have been great.  Jessie has adapted well to the schedule and she is no longer as fussy as she was at the beginning.  She really enjoys the social interaction with the other kids and has become a "ham" when anyone points a camera at her or gives her praise! 
 
After repeating the program every day for the past 4 weeks, I have memorized most of the movements, exercises, and songs that we do.  Jessica also seems to know what is coming and sometimes moves in anticipation of the next steps.  There are minor variations each day in the "academic" portion of the program and we have added self-dressing and some leg exercises.  But for the most part, the routine has remained the same.  We are very excited that we will be able to continue these exercises at home as we just ordered the conductive education setup for our house. 
 
Jessie has continued to do well with sitting at the table and doing fine-motor activities with toys and self feeding.  She is doing very well taking a spoon from me and feeding herself.  She also holds a sippy cup while sitting at the table with no external support.  Her short sitting is very strong now.   She is doing pretty well with toilet training, but it is still hit or miss most of the time. 
 
Jessie does 5-10 minutes of walking at the beginning and end of each daily session using a toddler push walker (with lots of help from Erika and me).  Jessie holds onto the walker while Erika supports her from the back, prompting her to take steps and giving her support and help where needed.  I help her hold onto the walker and give arm support while she takes steps.  At first, she would not  move her feet hardly at all, but now she will take steps after verbal prompting or with tickling.  Her steps are still too small, but she is definitely improving.
 
The daily repetition of this program really seems to be getting through to Jessica.  After several days of doing the same things with her, she eventually begins doing more of the work herself.  I also think the group dynamic is great because everyone is doing the same thing at the same time and they feed off of one another.  

Sumter County Firefighters 2009 Annual Lily Sale raises $19,520.63 to benefit Easter Seals South Carolina's children with disabilities and special needs.

Deanna Lewis, Easter Seals CEO and two Easter Seals participating families presenting plaque of appreciation to Captain Brian Horton, Sumter Fire Department