Accessing autism services: why a label matters

Posted by Patricia Wright on November 16th, 2009

Describing someone as having autism tells you a bit about that person. But really … what can you tell from that label? Some people with autism require significant support throughout their lives. Others with ASD move through their daily lives independently.

Currently there are three categorical labels used in diagnostics:Autistic DisorderAsperger SyndromePervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS).

The diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome …Read More » »

Safeway and Easter Seals working together

Posted by Beth Finke on November 4th, 2009

An article in Reuters last week touts Safeway Inc. for the generous grants it gives to Easter Seals to empower children and adults with autism and other disabilities.

Safeway executives unveiled the 2009 Safeway Foundation’s Empowerment Grant award winners during Easter Seals’ annual convention in Washington, D.C., granting $1 million to expand programs across the country that measurably improve …Read More » »

Maurice celebrates autism services in Wisconsin

Posted by Bob Glowacki on October 29th, 2009

I am writing to give a huge thanks and “shout out” to our good friend Maurice Snell. Before I left for Capitol Hill Day and the Easter Seals National Convention last week, Maurice came to Milwaukee to share his story with …Read More » »

Help us take our health care message to Capitol Hill tomorrow

Posted by Katy Beh Neas on October 19th, 2009

Hundreds of Easter Seals volunteers and clients are heading to Capitol Hill tomorrow to tell Congress that health care can’t ignore families living with disabilities. Our message is clear: families with disabilities should have affordable health care that provides the services they need, when they need them.

We’ll be visiting our legislators and asking them to support health care legislation that …Read More » »

NJ law keeps autism on legislators’ minds

Posted by Kathy Patrick on October 7th, 2009

On August 13, 2009, New Jersey became the 15th state to enact a law requiring many insurance companies to cover the screening and therapeutic treatment for children up to age 21 who are diagnosed with autism and other developmental disabilities.

The law is scheduled to take effect in February, 2010. Under the legislation, insurance companies will be required to provide …Read More » »

New prevalence = increased demand for services and supports

Posted by Patricia Wright on October 6th, 2009

There has been a rumor for several months that the prevalence rate for autism was going to show an increase. Yesterday those rumors were confirmed.

A publication in Pediatrics indicates that 1 in 91 children between the ages of 3 and 17 has an autism spectrum disorder. The story in Pediatrics came out of a report from the National …Read More » »

ABA at Easter Seals Southeast Wisconsin

Posted by Bob Glowacki on September 22nd, 2009

Here at Easter Seals Southeast Wisconsin we are moving toward adding Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) to our list of services so that we can give children with Autism the best outcomes. Our first objective was to hire the right person to serve as Autism Services Manager and organize the program. We found that person in Paul Messling, and …Read More » »

Easter Seals Central and Southeast Ohio — excellent!

Posted by Beth Finke on August 19th, 2009

I’m pleased to introduce Rob DuVall, Director of Marketing for Easter Seals Central and Southeast Ohio, as a guest blogger today. Rob has a passion for helping others and is dedicated to helping people with autism and other disabilities reach their full potential.

Easter Seals Central and Southeast Ohio – Excellent!
by Rob DuVall

Over the past four years, the adult …Read More » »

Lose the training wheels, and gain your independence

Posted by Scott Fogo on August 6th, 2009

What a pleasure it is to introduce Candy Porter as a guest blogger. Candy is the Director of Marketing and Communications here at Easter Seals Crossroads in Indianapolis.

Lose the training wheels, and gain your independence
By Candy Porter

Last month I had the privilege of observing the opening and closing ceremonies of the Lose The Training Wheels camp here at Easter …Read More » »

Living on the edge

Posted by Kathy Patrick on July 30th, 2009

I’m the vice president of services for Easter Seals New Jersey, so I was invited to attend the Legislative Summit of the National Conference of State Legislatures in Philadelphia earlier this month.

Along with other Easter Seals affiliate and national staff members who handle state government relations, I networked with state legislators, learned about the issues facing my …Read More » »