Easter Seals Southwest Florida

Project Rainbow - Children’s Respite Services
        Delivering care for children with special needs and their families

For more than a quarter of a century, Project Rainbow has provided FREE respite care, a vital resource to families in the community. Our services create temporary relief for families or caregivers by providing a safe environment where kids have time to be kids and parents/caregivers have time to be independent adults. Project Rainbow was created in 1982 to provide respite care and support to medically fragile, chronically ill, and disabled children from birth to 17 and their families. These supports include hosting special activities and events and facilitating case management and supportive services.

Our highly-skilled professionals offer quality therapy services to children and their families from birth through age 17, with an emphasis on children ages birth to 5. Our therapies include speech/language, occupational, physical, and developmental/early intervention services. Therapy is delivered in either a child’s natural setting or in our state-of-the-art Children's Therapy Center. The center was constructed using green building principles that provide the healthiest, safest indoor environment for the well-being of children, families and staff. Our multi-disciplinary approach engages families in the therapeutic journey for each child.  Because we offer all of these therapy services in one place, our therapists can collaborate with each other to determine the best treatment for the child.  We also interact with other professionals for a comprehensive approach. The Center provides a fun environment where children learn and develop through play!

Art Initiative – The Art Initiative, an original program to Easter Seals Southwest Florida, began as a technique of occupational therapy and then blossomed into a creative outlet for many of our consumers. Through designing and creating, our artists have acquired valuable social and emotional skills such as increased self-esteem, self-expression, and a sense of accomplishment. The program’s instructor, a graduate of the Ringling School of Art and Design, teaches concepts of art, such as shading, depth perception, and layout. In addition to the instructional aspects of the program, Art Initiative participants have the opportunity to earn income by selling their completed works at various community venues.

Our comprehensive employment services facilitate Southwest Florida adults living with disabilities to identify workforce opportunities and secure employment. Participants receive individualized counseling designed to reach their vocational goals, including assistance with tasks such filling out job applications, creating resumes, and enhancing job interview skills. Additionally, once a placement is found, on-site job coaching is available, as well as disability awareness training for the employer.

The VIP (Vocational Introduction and Preparation) Academy is an alternative high school program offered through the Manatee County School Board for students age 14-22 years old who are eligible for Exceptional Student Education (ESE) services. The students who attend the VIP Academy have a wide range of developmental and/or physical disabilities and the focus of the program is to assist these students with developing confidence, maximizing their attainable levels of independence, introduce and refine pre-vocational and employment skills to prepare them for their transition into life after school. The primary purpose of the program is to teach vocational training,leading to job placement and increased healthy individual development, such as self-esteem, feelings of self-worth, and independence.