My name is Rachael Kennedy, I am an audiologist, and I began working at Easterseals in December. As an audiologist, I diagnose and treat various degrees and types of hearing disorders. Audiologists also dispense hearing aids, assess vestibular (balance) function, and even screen newborn babies for hearing loss. My favorite part of being a clinician is creating long lasting relationships with families and the people I serve. I love learning new things and being able to take what I’ve learned from other professionals and incorporate it into my work. I’ve learned bits and pieces about other professions in school, but I think my greatest knowledge has come from hands on work and collaborating with other professionals in the same office. I am impressed by my new Easterseals family of clinicians and family support staff. I think having other professionals working side by side helps reinforce the importance of each profession to families. When families have access to a variety of clinicians under one roof, it shows that we are a nice well-oiled machine that works smoothly and always provides families with a “whole” child centered approach. Although I haven’t been here very long, I see Easterseals as an opportunity to grow my clinical skills working with kids of all ages and exceptionalities. Regarding audiology (and hearing aids) in general, people often assume that hearing aids will restore their hearing to normal, which is not the case. Unfortunately, hearing aids do not give us 20/20 hearing. However, hearing aids are one of the main options to help keep the brain and ears stimulated! I like to help make people aware of the importance of audiology and hearing health. Whether it is explaining how the ear works, counseling about hearing protection, or recommending routine hearing testing, audiology is often an educational topic of conversation that I try to share with others. I hope Easterseals is a place for families to feel safe and know that their children are in the best hands with the most caring team! Fun fact: I have hearing loss in one ear and love to share my experiences with families! I want my families to feel comfortable knowing that they have an audiologist who understands the difficulties that come with hearing loss. For more information about Pediatric Audiology services from Easterseals, please call 386-255-4568 ext 325.
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12/17/2020 Easterseals Northeast Central Florida Among Beneficiaries of MacKenzie Scott Philanthropic Gifts Announced December 15thRead NowAuthor and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott announced yesterday that she has made an unrestricted transformational gift to Easterseals Northeast Central Florida. Easterseals Northeast Central Florida is one of 22 Easterseals Affiliates from across the country to benefit from Scott’s philanthropy, in addition to its National Office, to support life-changing services and powerful advocacy for the one in four Americans living with disability today . Ms. Scott outlined her giving in a post called "384 Ways to Help." You can read Ms. Scott’s announcement of her 2020 giving and selection process here. In announcing the 384 organizations to benefit from her philanthropy, Ms. Scott indicated that she’d asked a team of advisors to accelerate her 2020 giving to immediately support people suffering from the economic effects of the pandemic. “We do our research and deeper diligence not only to identify organizations with high potential for impact, but also to pave the way for unsolicited and unexpected gifts given with full trust and no strings attached,” said Ms. Scott. “Because our research is data-driven and rigorous, our giving process can be human and soft. Not only are non-profits chronically underfunded, they are also chronically diverted from their work by fundraising, and by burdensome reporting requirements that donors often place on them. These 384 carefully selected organizations have dedicated their lives to helping others, working and volunteering and serving real people face-to-face at bedsides and tables, in prisons and courtrooms and classrooms, on streets and hospital wards, and hotlines and front lines of all types and sizes, day after day after day. They help by delivering vital services and also through the profound encouragement felt each time a person is seen, valued, and trusted by another human being. This kind of encouragement has a special power when it comes from a stranger, and it works its magic on everyone.” She continued, “The response from these organizations in talking with us often included personal stories and tears which invariably made me and my teammates cry. This kind of chain reaction was captured perfectly by a longtime advocate for people with disabilities: ‘We work with people who have been marginalized for many reasons. Some of our greatest moments of success come through small gestures when a client’s hope is restored. Feeling valued is an amazing sensation. I see the eyes of our clients light up when their efforts are appreciated. Good begets good. I have always believed this, but I have been sorely tested over the past few years.’ Scott added, “Me too.” Easterseals Northeast Central Florida offers life changing supports and services for over 5,000 local children annually, partnering with their parents and physicians to improve lifetime success. Children receive early intervention and developmental screening, early childhood education, autism diagnoses and functional assessment, pediatric specialty therapy interventions and family supports such as respite, wrap around care and adaptive technology focused on helping children reach their full potential in how they live, learn and play. “This gift from Ms. Scott represents a transformational gift for Easterseals and we are humbled and honored to advance the dreams we have for our clients,” said Easterseals Northeast Central Florida President & CEO Bev Johnson. “With the input of leading experts across specialties and diagnoses, Easterseals Northeast Central Florida has the people, capacity and passion to redefine how our community addresses disability services. We are overwhelmed with the anticipation of accelerating our progress, and the limitless possibilities in creating a community where:
Ms. Scott signed the Giving Pledge in 2019, a project that encourages billionaires to promise to give away at least half of their wealth throughout their lifetime. Wealthy individuals including Warren Buffett, Bill and Melinda Gates as well as Reed Hastings and Patty Quillin have also signed the Giving Pledge. # # # About Easterseals Northeast Central Florida Easterseals Northeast Central Florida has advocated for people with disabilities for 70 years. With the input of leading experts across specialties and diagnoses, Easterseals Northeast Central Florida has the people, capacity and passion to redefine how our community addresses disability services. We achieve this by creating and managing programs and services, and by strategically partnering with our community’s most respected and prominent medical, educational and social-service organizations. We are dedicated to creating a community where every child with special needs in our community is 100% empowered with the services and supports they need to thrive. Learn more at www.eastersealsnecfl.org. About Easterseals Driven by its purpose to change the way the world defines and views disability by making profound, positive differences in people’s lives every day, Easterseals has been an indispensable resource for individuals with disabilities, including veterans and seniors, as well as their families and communities for more than 100 years. Together, its national network of Affiliates serves 1.5 million people annually through high-quality services and powerful advocacy. Its services include early intervention; autism services; medical rehabilitation including physical, occupational, and speech therapies; behavioral health; workforce development; adult day programs; and more. In schools, workplaces, and communities, Easterseals is fostering environments where everyone is included and valued – making a real and positive impact on us all. Join us in ensuring that everyone – regardless of age or ability – is 100% included and 100% empowered to fully participate in life. Learn more at www.easterseals.com. 12/14/2020 Welcome to our newest Easterseals Explorer, Early Childhood Education Director Diana MartinRead NowMy name is Diana Martin and I am the new Early Childhood Education Director for the Daytona location. I am coming from the Volusia Flagler Family YMCA where I was the District Executive Director for over 13 years. I have a long background in Childcare and training of childcare personnel for the association. I supervised a staff of over 150, assisted families with financial aid and ran all day to day operations of both facilities. I received my Childcare Directors credential in 2012 then went onto earn by BS degree in Business management all while being a mother of 5 and working as Executive Director. I am always up for a good challenge and love working with children. I had a dream of having 10 children and when that was cut short at 5 from a difficult delivery that ended my chances of ever having another child I knew I needed to devote my life to working with children. My goal is to make every child in my center feel wanted, loved and provide them the opportunity to excel and provide them the confidence to conquer any challenge with pride. If you are interested in our Early Childhood Education programs at our Daytona campus, please contact me directly at 386-944-7831 or via email at dmartin@esnecfl.org. I look forward to getting to know all our current and future Explorers! Sheryl Cook, Easterseals Honorary Life Director, was named Easterseals 2020 Agency Champion recently during the National Philanthropy Day event sponsored by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), Volusia/Flagler Chapter. AFP President Hardy Smith presented this award and nomination from Easterseals. "In her early childhood years, Sheryl was an Easterseals client, receiving physical therapy for a short time while in elementary school. Her parents, Tom and Gloria Cook, were Easterseals champions, locally and nationally for over 60 years. She grew to become an ardent supporter and well-spoken advocate for her community, especially Easterseals. Sheryl says she supports Easterseals because the organization makes such a profound difference in the lives of so many people in our community. Over the span of her life-long relationship with Easterseals, Sheryl has consistently revealed a strong, lifelong commitment to families with disabilities and /or disadvantaged families. As a 40+ year participant and leader on the Rotary Easterseals Golf Committee, Sheryl has helped Rotary raise nearly $1 Million for children with special needs, and the families who love them. On average, Sheryl dedicates at least 10 hours per month towards stewardship, advocacy, direct planning and board/committee participation for Easterseals. As a member of the Board, she is consistently active on several committees. As a fundraiser on the Gift Planning committee, she opens doors routinely by introducing new persons to Easterseals mission with personal invites, stewardship and follow-up. When customers to her family business are thrilled with their level of personalized service, she encourages donations to Easterseals as a means of expressing appreciation. She offers personal thanks, cards, notes, phone calls and such every month to Easterseals donors, large and small, which provides an opportunity for her to share her passion and enthusiasm as a volunteer, and ultimately helps to cement new donor relationships." Easterseals is proud to have captured the affection of this incredible lady towards our mission! Many, many lives are made better because of YOU, Sheryl! We adore you and your Tom Cook family. 12/9/2020 Sheryl Cook and Tom Cook Jeweler recognized as Corporate Philanthropist of the Year!Read NowYou could say Sheryl Cook became a volunteer for Easterseals while still in the womb. Cook’s mother, Gloria Cook, became involved as an Easterseals volunteer and advocate before Sheryl was born, even serving as the National Chairman of the Board of Easterseals. Her father, Tom Cook, also was a supporter of Easterseals and founded the highly successful Rotary-Easterseals Golf Tournament in 1979 to honor his wife, Gloria, and her extraordinary efforts as an Easterseals advocate. The Rotary Golf Tournament has become a local tradition, and in its 40th year, the Rotary Golf Tournament benefiting Easterseals has raised just shy of $1,000,000. Sheryl and her family at Tom Cook Jeweler have given tremendous gifts to Easterseals and many other community agencies to support special events in the form of prizes, sponsorships, cash and volunteer time. On Friday, November 20, 2020, the Association of Fundraising Professionals Volusia/Flagler Chapter held their annual National Philanthropy Day event and named Sheryl Cook and Tom Cook Jeweler as their Corporate Philanthropist of the Year! Earlier during the event, Sheryl Cook was also named Easterseals 2020 Agency Champion. Thank you, Sheryl and Tom Cook Jeweler! Introducing Easterseals new project supervisor for our SOAR (School's Out Afternoon Recreation) Program, Jennifer Reilly! Join us in welcoming Jen to SOAR, a program for teens with special needs, designed to encourage and support whatever level of independence they are capable of in important areas such as life skills, social skills, health and wellness and successfully preparing for the workplace. Jen is recruiting now for a Winter Mini-Session on December 28, 29 and 30th between 1-5 pm at Easterseals Daytona Center. Financial assistance available! Jen, a COTA/L in Volusia County Schols is enthusiastic about her new role, "I will be building community relationships in an effort to recruit kids (teens) to participate in this incredible after-school program that will teach life skills while building social skills while having fun! So many people don’t even know what SOAR is! SOAR stands for School’s Out Afternoon Recreation. It’s an after school program where teens of ALL levels can come together to learn about life skills, nutrition and wellness, do activities and build social skills in a safe environment with ample, professional leadership." Jen says what she enjoys most about working with families through Easterseals is the opportunity to work with all levels of abilities in the pediatric population, and Easterseals affords the ability to do so while involving parents/guardians in the process. There are so many expert clinicians and educators that help guide what is the best environment for teens with special needs. A little more about Jen: "I’m grateful for the opportunity to work for such an amazing non-profit, and to have the opportunity to be a part of such a dynamic team. Children and families are my passion – they have been my whole life. I’m a mom of three amazing children, ages 16, 18 and 19 – the two eldest serving in the US Air Force and US Army. I have traveled all over the world on various mission trips working with underprivileged children & families in Costa Rica, Uganda, Haiti and Namibia. I’m looking forward to seeing SOAR grow to serve a whole new population in Volusia County. If you are a therapist working with a teen in any of our schools and you think SOAR would be a good fit for them, please spread the word – we’d love to have them join us!" For more information about SOAR, contact Jen Reilly at jmreilly@esnecfl.org or 386-871-5086. 386-290-4101386-290-4101 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: 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. *** 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. 6/23/2020 Easterseals Now Accepting Infants for Fulltime Child Care; Program Begins in AugustRead NowBring 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. *** 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.” |
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