OUR SERVICES
AUTISM SERVICES
We are the leading nonprofit service provider for adults and children with disabilities, including autism. Through family navigation and support, parent training and education, therapy, Applied Behavior Analysis, respite and individual support, social skills training, pre-employment training, community inclusion, and community education, we offer a full scope of services so that people with disabilities can live, learn, work, play, and act.
Our team creates individualized plans to develop and improve communication and social skills while troubleshooting challenging behaviors. We’re with the families and individuals we serve at every stage of life, whether they’re just receiving a diagnosis, or trying to better understand autism.
“The trainings have enabled my parents to see and understand me in a better way. With the help of you all and my parents, I’ll do better.”
FAMILY-FOCUSED
While many autism programs only focus on the person with autism, our Parent Training Program aims to work with the whole family on how to best understand and support their family member with autism.
This was highlighted recently when one of our amazing Direct Support Professionals assisted in part onsite, part in-home Parent Training with a new family.
“Thank you for all the information you provided my parents,” the child said. “The trainings have enabled my parents to see and understand me in a better way. With the help of you all and my parents, I’ll do better.”
EMPLOYMENT SERVICES
We provide an individualized approach to developing the skills, confidence, and experience necessary to find and keep a job. With our Pre-Employment and Employment Programs, Project SEARCH, Summer Teen Employment Program, and Employment Support services, we prepare each individual and their family for a successful career path. With the changing work climate created by COVID-19, we made sure those we support in their workplaces had job security, were safe in their workplaces, and had a safety net of support if their employment status changed during the pandemic.
“The kind of customer service you offer is the kind I’m look for in my restaurant”
OUTSTANDING CUSTOMER SERVICE
A young man who receives employment services from Easterseals Midwest made quite the impression on a customer at the restaurant where he worked.
The customer, who is the owner of a fine dining restaurant, told him, “The kind of customer service you offer is the kind I am looking for in my restaurant.”
While the young man had to turn the generous job offer down because of the distance from his home to the restaurant, his employment officer made sure he knew how high of a compliment he was paid.
The young man could not stop beaming, proud of the quality of service he provides and impressions he was making on his customers.
EARLY CHILDHOOD SERVICES
At Easterseals Midwest, we know that a child’s environment and social experience in their first three years of life is critical to their brain development. This year, it was more important than ever that children had safe, nurturing environments that educate and include children of all abilities. Through adapted early intervention services, such as home visiting, telehealth, and one-on-one therapies, we create an educational foundation that promotes bright futures for families.
“Seeing that the work continues, and that there are many areas of progress really matters right now. “
A SMALL CONSTANT
Maura and all of our amazing team had to make many changes and adjustments when COVID-19 struck. She specifically noticed the toll it was taking on families with young children adjusting to new schedules, finding new difficulties in everyday tasks, and changing major aspects of their lives to adapt.
But one thing that Maura did not have to adapt was monthly progress summaries, sent to the parents of the children she supports.
“These reports have been more reassuring to review than usual, probably because of the shared sense of concern about the wild changes in daily life and the shift to telehealth. Seeing that the work continues, and that there are many areas of progress, really matters right now,” said one parent.
Although it was just a small, unchanged action during the pandemic, the response proves that through all the hard work, all the adjustments, and all the changes, our services are continuing to make a positive impact.
COMMUNITY
LIVING SERVICES
Our team works with families and individuals to determine the best option of services for their specific needs and situation, whether that means going into the family home or helping an individual move into a home of their own. We’re there beyond the moving process and offer a large scope of services - from visiting a few hours a week to assist with money management and budgeting abilities, safety skills, nutrition and meal preparations, and medical assistance to 24/7 oversight.
“On their first FaceTime call, Brians face lit up when he saw his mom. He say there a few minutes stunned - we actually thought the screen was frozen! “
MAKING A CONNECTION
We’ve all had to make adjustments during the pandemic. A big one for Brian was not being able to see his mom in-person due to social distancing.
That is, until Joyce, the Direct Support Professional supporting Brian, discovered that Brian’s mother had an IPhone capable of FaceTime. After a quick lesson for both Briand and his mother on how to use the app, the two were able to see each other and chat for the first time in two moths.
“On their first FaceTime call, Brian’s face lit up when he saw his mom. He sat there a few minutes stunned - we actually thought the screen was frozen!” Joyce said. “He was so overwhelmed and happy to be experiencing their time together.”
Now, Brian and his mother are able to FaceTime multiple times a week with Joyce’s help. It’s made such a difference for Brian and his mother to have been able to connect through the safety protocols.