By Natalie Scott

Celebrating its 75th anniversary, Easterseals has served as an indispensable resource for exceptional services for children and adults with disabilities! It’s very likely that you or someone you know has been touched by the myriad of services and supports offered by Easterseals. 

At Easterseals Delaware & Maryland’s Eastern Shore, services are designed to meet the needs of individuals throughout their lifespan. From children’s therapies, to adult day services, to employment training and support to services for caregivers, Easterseals is there to help people with disabilities find and live out their full potential. They are the “go to” place for caregivers to find support, for families to find the answers they need to meet life challenges.

As the number one provider of early intervention services in Delaware, Easterseals helps children meet milestones and surpass all the limits others put on them. Under the care and guidance of Easterseals skilled speech, occupational and physical therapists, children and their families are encouraged as they face the unknown. Easterseals also offers Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and Early Childhood Education services as well. With Easterseals, families are empowered and they know they are not doing it alone. 

Easterseals services go far beyond children’s services. Adults with intellectual disabilities are served in their Intellectual Disabilities Services day program. They are able to stay engaged in their community through activities or pre-vocational training. Or, they can choose the Supported Employment services which helps them find a meaningful job with competitive wages. 

Adults with physical disabilities, including veterans and seniors, enjoy their days in Easterseals adult day program, where lifelong friendships are formed. Participants can choose to take part in a multitude of activities throughout the day. Specialized services for those individuals living with dementia or Alzheimer’s also are provided.

Caregivers are not forgotten at Easterseals! The Community Outreach Program offers valuable resources for caregivers as well as access to assistive technology, support groups, trainings and information and case management. In addition, small grants are available for caregivers to provide respite, or a break, from the constant demands of caregiving. 

Easterseals Camp Fairlee provides a break to caregivers while providing adventure and independence to the children and adults who attend. Campers grow and become more independent each year during their time away from home. While their loved one is away at camp, families and caregivers can relax knowing their child is in capable hands enjoying themselves. Camp provides respite and adventure for families during the summer and throughout the year during the respite season from October through May. 

In other words, Easterseals serves people through the entire life spectrum, all the years in between and the people that love them!

Easterseals has eight locations throughout Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Please visit the website and see all of their services for people of all ages and abilities: www.de.easterseals.com.