When a community comes together, a powerful voice is heard. “Our Community: Breaking Boundaries” was the theme of the Developmental Disabilities Summit held on February 28^th. The Summit, was organized by members of the Developmental Disabilities committee of Sarasota County’s Community Alliance (http://sarasotaalliance.net/ddc.asp),  provided a much-needed platform to hear the voices of our community. Those voices included parents, professionals, support coordinators, and service providers.

Over 50 participants attended the Summit and self-selected to participate in one of 3 break-out sessions. The groups were organized by age category, those interested in services for children birth-12, adolescents 13-26, and adults 26 and older. Each of the groups answered the same questions during the break out session:

Who or what are the resources you use in our community?

Developmental disability services in Sarasota would be great if we had…?

How are we going to get there?

 While each group created separate, extensive answers to each of questions, eight main themes consistently emerged across the groups.

 These themes were:

1. Having a “single point of entry” for connecting to community services
2. Marketing/public relations campaign to raise awareness of disabilities and of services
3. Parental empowerment programs
4. Education
5. For-profit business involvement to increase awareness and to provide employment opportunities
6. Fee-for-service options
7. Increased financial support
8. Social & leisure activities

These are the 8 goals that the committee will focus on over the next few years. We look forward to developing a more collaborative, efficient, and “heard” community. If you are interested in attending the meetings, they are held the second Tuesday of each month at 1:00pm in Health Department building on Ringling Boulevard. The more, the merrier because there truly is power in numbers!

-Dr. Kameron Hodgens, VP of Programs and Services

What we do have is an incredible professional team providing state of the art services to children, teens and adults with disabilities right here in the Sarasota and Manatee county community.

We are a name you can trust.  Our 65-year local history means that many who were born with Down Syndrome, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, autism, or other disabilities have grown up at Easter Seals.

We provide children’s therapies including speech/language and occupational therapy as well as early intervention.  We offer respite for families and caregivers.  Our VIP Academy is a well-respected high school operating under the auspices of the School Board of Manatee County, preparing young people with disabilities to use their abilities to lead more self sufficient lives. And our adult day training program provides activities and therapies for adults with disabilities.

From birth throughout the span of life, Easter Seals is here to help those with disabilities achieve their fullest potential and to lead exceptional lives.

 Contact Caroline Tanner at 941-355-7637 ext. 404 to arrange a tour.  You won’t see seals but you will be inspired.

At first glance of this blog entry’s title, you may be thinking that I am asking you to let Easter Seals know what you need. And while that assumption deserves a resounding “Yes! Please do let us know what you need!,” I am also here to tell you that many other local agencies and entities in our community need to hear from you, caregivers – right now – in regards to how we can make your life run a little smoother, your stressors be a little less overwhelming, and hopefully your family a bit more cohesive and happy. Continue reading →

The title of this blog is reciprocal – at Easter Seals Southwest Florida, we strive to maximize the impact of our services just as much as we hope to empower families of individuals with disabilities to maximize the impact of services available to them. Continue reading →

On Monday, August 16th, ABC World News Tonight aired a story on family from New Jersey who is raising a son with autism (link below). While ABC regularly features stories on autism, this one in particular struck a chord with me because it raised an issue not often mentioned in mainstream media: autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are life-long and those individuals diagnosed with ASD typically require systematic, organized supports through out their lives. ASD is rarely, if ever, cured, but rather treated by the individual’s personal “village” of family members, therapists, and other community supports. Continue reading →

I am consistently surprised at stories I hear from families who are advocating for their children with special needs…surprised because I can’t believe what they HAVEN’T been told. Children with disabilities are protected by state and federal laws that ensure educational support services and social systems supports; however, time & time again, when I ask families about IEP goals or about recieving SSDI, I’m often met with blank stares and silence. Continue reading →

This section will be particularly active during our State’s legislative session, which runs from January to March. It is my intention to keep you updated on decisions and votes that are pending on the House and Senate floors that can make a huge difference in funding for individuals special needs and their support programs. Continue reading →

After being in the community for over 60 years, we couldn’t be more excited to have the ability to blog to our families, our staff, and our supporters! Continue reading →