Easterseals of Southeastern Pennsylvania provided direct services
to thousands children and adults with disabilities last year. Our clients are
challenged with a variety of disabilities including: brain damage, physical
disabilities, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, mental
retardation, learning disabilities, genetic disorders, autism, hearing, vision
and speech disorders and developmental delays.
Our mission is to
provide exceptional services to ensure that all people with disabilities or
special needs and their families have equal opportunities to live, learn, work
and play in their communities.
The following programs help these individuals to receive needed
therapeutic services, challenge their cognitive and motor skills, express their
creativity and interact with their peers in a fun and comfortable environment.
Approved Private School- Approved Private
School is for children two to eight years of age with cerebral palsy,
severe neurological impairment, muscular dystrophy and autism. Each child has
an individualized education plan that defines the child's goals and objectives
for cognitive, self-help, socialization, speech, language, feeding, fine
motor, gross motor and nursing needs. A staff of special educators, Speech Pathologists,
Physical and Occupational Therapists, Behavior Specialists, Nurses, Social
Workers and Assistive Technology Specialists renders these services.
Early Intervention- Early Intervention program
provides support and services to families with children birth to age five, who
have developmental delays and disabilities. Early Intervention supports and
services are designed to meet the developmental needs of children with a
disability as well as the needs of the family related to enhancing the child’s
development in one or more of the following areas: physical development including
vision and hearing, cognitive development, communication development, social or
emotional development and adaptive development.
Friendship
Academy- Friendship Academy is an inclusive learning center
where all children play to learn. Certified Teachers and Paraprofessionals
provide an exciting, stimulating, and developmentally and age appropriate
learning environment.
Assistive Technology- Assistive
technology (AT) services and devices are offered to both children and adults
with disabilities. Children and their families are served through evaluations,
training and support on the effective use of AT applications and devices.
Assistive technology is also integrated into the curriculum of Easterseals
programs which include the Approved Private School, Early Intervention, summer
camp and recreation. Adults are served through referral from professional,
service, government organizations or individuals throughout the community.
Easterseals provides essential job training skills through the aid of
specialized evaluation and training by AT Specialists and the use of adaptive
computer hardware and software.
Physical, Speech, Occupational and Behavioral
Therapy- These services are provided to children and adults in schools and day cares
under contract with school districts and intermediate units. These services are
also available as requested by families. Our therapists serve hundreds of
children at our centers or in their school settings.
