Adults with autism thrive at new inclusive adult day center

Posted by Bob Glowacki on June 18th, 2009

When we think of autism, we tend to think of early childhood therapeutic interventions. I received a reality check when Easter Seals Southeast Wisconsin opened a new inclusive adult day center in Kenosha. The center is located inside the YMCA of Kenosha Callahan branch, and the first three participants who enrolled there have autism. Later on, more adults …Read More » »

Easter Seals testifies on health care reform before Senate committee

Posted by Katy Beh Neas on June 17th, 2009

Last Thursday Easter Seals staff testified before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), telling them that meeting the needs of people with autism and other disabilities is an important component of health care reform.

Mary Andrus, Easter Seals Assistant Vice President for Government Relations and Co-Chair of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities’ Health Care …Read More » »

Hope for adults with autism

Posted by Beth Finke on June 16th, 2009

You know the prevalence of autism statistic — that one we hear all the time about one in 150 children having autism? Well, until I read Patricia Wright’s Advancing Futures for Adults with Autism post last week, I just assumed that number had been measured fairly recently. But it turns out that the original findings …Read More » »

Advancing Futures for Adults with Autism

Posted by Patricia Wright on June 9th, 2009

I recently overheard someone say, “it took us 20 years to figure out what to do in early intervention and autism — we don’t have that kind of time when it comes to adults with autism.” It’s true. We don’t have time. The much-lauded statistic of “1 in 150 diagnosed” is usually accompanied by a picture of a young child’s …Read More » »

Man with autism finds employment in struggling economy

Posted by Julia McCollum on June 3rd, 2009

With all the news of the national unemployment rate nearing 9%, some may forget that those numbers are significantly higher for individuals with disabilities. The United States Department of Labor reports that, of those people with disabilities who say they are able to work, only 56 percent are working (PDF) — the rest are looking for jobs. With a …Read More » »

58-year old man with autism communicates through art

Posted by Beth Finke on June 2nd, 2009

Here’s a quick addition to Paula Pompa-Craven’s post about finding housing for adults with autism. An article in the Marina del Rey Argonaut touts Pierre Dumas, an artist in southern California who has autism.Pompa-Craven says interacting with his fellow artists at the art wall has done wonders for Dumas’ development.

“Being part of a community can be very …Read More » »

Want to volunteer? We’ll help find an opportunity near you!

Posted by Beth Finke on May 28th, 2009

President Obama signed the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act on April 21, and since then more people are becoming interested in volunteering. From an AARP Bulletin Today article:Obama noted that service to others—he was a community organizer in Chicago before entering politics—was instrumental in launching his career. “I would not be standing here today were it not for …Read More » »

Safeway earns Easter Seals’ All-Time Top Corporate Partner designation

Posted by Beth Finke on May 22nd, 2009

Easter Seals recently designated Safeway Inc. its All-Time Top Corporate Partner. Man oh man, do they deserve that honor!In their fundraising campaign during April (Autism Awareness Month), Safeway invited customers to support Easter Seals services for people with autism and other disabilities at checkout. In just one month, Safeway raised $8,824,141! Safeway employees also raised an additional …Read More » »

Keeping autism and other disability services a top priority

Posted by Beth Finke on May 18th, 2009

During his first months in office, President Obama has already signed the State Children’s Health Insurance bill (a top priority for Easter Seals) and designated funds in the economic stimulus package to go directly to programs that improve the lives of those with autism and other disabilities.

Easter Seals President and CEO Jim Williams visited the White House recently to personally …Read More » »

Data on autism and divorce

Posted by Beth Finke on May 15th, 2009

I’m well aware that when Jenny McCarthy made an appearance on an Oprah Show about autism, she said that the divorce rate among couples who have a child with autism is 90%. And I still remember reading the post Patricia Wright published here about Sen. John McCain’s (R-AZ) autism statement during the presidential election. In that statement, McCain said …Read More » »