Does your child engage in behaviors that drive you crazy? Wondering how you can capitalize on learning during playtime with your kiddo? Determined to stay close to your child though they’re growing up quickly?
If these or other parenting questions and challenges vex you from time to time, Easterseals Northeast Central Florida’s Parent Training Series by Behavior Analyst Allison Berard, M.S., BCBA, is for you.
In the series, Berard, a board-certified Behavior Analyst, offers a series of parent education tools – including handouts and videos – centered on children’s typical behaviors and coping skills for adults. She’s keen on helping children and parents change for the better and grow together in the process.
“Behavior change isn’t magic,” says Berard. “The desired outcome usually takes a lot of time, dedication and consistency. However, the outcomes can be magical!"
In her role at Easterseals, Berard is responsible for training teachers, parents and caregivers how to teach school readiness, play and social interaction skills as well as how to positively and successfully manage problem behavior. The Parent Training education handouts are available online here, or parents may receive them directly by emailing a request to aberard@esnecfl.org. Additionally, the first in the series of videos also are posted online and linked here:

• Teaching Play video
• Junk Behavior video
  

For individual support or for more information about parent training or working with children with autism and other developmental disabilities, parents and caregivers may contact Allison Berard at 386-944-7801 or aberard@esnecfl.org.
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Easterseals is changing the way the world defines and views disability – whether physical, intellectual, emotional or social – by making profound, positive differences in people's lives every day. To learn more about the many programs and offerings of Easterseals Northeast Central Florida, visit eastersealsnecfl.org or call (386) 255-4568.

Bring on the babies!
Easterseals Early Childhood Center Daytona, 1219 Dunn Ave., Daytona Beach, now is accepting infants ages 6 weeks and older for its fulltime daycare program. The program is set to begin in August, though it may open in July if demand necessitates.
The cost of the program is $225 per week, and Easterseals accepts Early Learning Coalition funding. Program hours are from 6:30 a.m. – 6 p.m, Monday through Friday.
Easterseals is committed to the needs and concerns of parents with children of all abilities by offering, top-quality, inclusive childcare; a safe and nurturing environment for children; low child-adult ratios; highly qualified teachers; and low staff turnover.
Space is limited, so families are encouraged to contact program coordinator Laurie Broad at (386) 944-7816.
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Easterseals is changing the way the world defines and views disability – whether physical, intellectual, emotional or social – by making profound, positive differences in people's lives every day. To learn more about the many programs and offerings of Easterseals Northeast Central Florida, visit eastersealsnecfl.org or call (386) 255-4568.

Local teens with special needs are invited to SOAR through summer with fun and confidence-building activities this July with Easterseals Northeast Central Florida.
 
Easterseals will be hosting SOAR (School’s Out Afternoon Recreation), which will be offered in collaboration with YMCA, from July 13 through 31. The mini-program will be from 1 – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at Easterseals Daytona Center, 1219 Dunn Avenue in Daytona Beach. The registration fee is $50 but will be waived for the first 5 clients with completed registration packets and financial assistance may be available for those who qualify.
 
SOAR is for teens with special needs who are ready to pursue a higher level of independence in the areas of life skills, social skills, health, and wellness and successfully preparing for the workplace. The program is designed to encourage young people to their next level of independence and help them gain confidence in their abilities. Highly trained Easterseals employees who specialize in working with children and young adults with disabilities will staff the program.
 
SOAR’s July mini-program is a precursor to a fall 2020 SOAR program in August and September and will be in an after-school program format.
 
Parents and caregivers are encouraged to sign up for July or fall SOAR programs by contacting program coordinator Davine Vincent at (386) 944-7815 or dvincent@esnecfl.org.
 
Easterseals is changing the way the world defines and views disability – whether physical, intellectual, emotional or social – by making profound, positive differences in people's lives every day. To learn more about the many programs and offerings of Easterseals Northeast Central Florida, visit eastersealsnecfl.org or call (386) 255-4568.

The following is shared with permission from Easterseals staffer Shari MacFarlane, who is more importantly an extraordinary mom of two children with autism, a devoted special needs advocate and a skilled case manager within Easterseals Autism Center of Excellence. Shari shares her thoughts with our President/CEO Bev Johnson in response to Bev's "Daily Tip" sent to Easterseals employees with daily updates, motivation and positive thoughts during this pandemic. Shari's perspective is a good reminder for even those who work on the front lines of the special needs community.  May we all "get back to normal" with a deeper understanding.

“I have been reading your daily tips, I felt the need to share a little perspective.  You have done a great job of keeping everyone focused on the recovery side of things, not losing hope or getting too caught up in this moment of distress because it will pass.  But what about those of us for whom this moment isn’t just a moment?
 
With all the talk from all directions about families feeling trapped at home, how hard it is to keep up with your kids without school and the social isolation that comes with 24/7 life at home, there is very little discussion about how this is the life of a special needs family most of the time.  My life has changed very little as a result of the pandemic, other than working from home which has actually made things easier. 
 
With complex medical challenges, we have always been a little “germaphobic”.  Three developmental regressions due to various viruses over the years and many flares of PANDAS makes me want to put my kids in a bubble every cold and flu season.
 
With autism, we don’t get to participate in many of life’s social activities and milestones.  Most self-contained ESE kids do not get to participate in the lower grade graduations or field trips or really anything else that many people think of as a “normal” school experience.  And dinner out with friends, that takes an act of Congress to happen, especially if the friends are also special needs families.  Even shopping in a store is challenging, which is why Amazon loves me so much.
 
From my perspective, everyone has been getting to walk in my shoes just a bit.  Maybe now others can have a glimmer of understanding of how truly challenging being a special needs family is all the time, not just for a month or two.  To all the people saying they can’t handle this any longer and can’t wait for life to be back to normal, this IS my normal!  
 
I know there are many special needs parents feeling the same way.  Since we have many of them coming back for therapy and summer programs, maybe this is a golden opportunity for our staff without special needs kids at home to realize a different side of things.  I don’t want anyone to feel sorry for me or any other special needs family, I honestly didn’t realize just how different our lives were until this all happened.  For me, this is about inclusion once our society starts opening up again.  Inclusion starts with an understanding of how much someone has been excluded and marginalized all along.  Our programs are inclusive, but sometimes each person’s attitude or expectations are not.  Our families would probably appreciate some extra patience and support because they are worried about the lost progress from the past 2 months, the mental health toll on the parents and the kids, the loss of supporting programs, friends and family due to social distancing, not to mention the physical health of their fragile child now that other people are not being so cautious with their behavior.  And that’s on top of all the other worries we are all experiencing.
 
We have wonderful, compassionate people working for Easterseals, now is our chance to really show that off.”