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Get involved and make a difference. Give hope to families. Impact the lives of thousands of local children. Make a difference for Michael. Michael is diagnosed with autism and attends a specialized early intervention classroom in Delaware County. In the words of his mother Beth...
"As a mom, I could tell something wasn't right when Michael began missing certain milestones. Through early intervention, Michael began in-home special education, physical, occupational and speech therapies. When Michael turned 3 he began to attend Easter Seals in their developmental delay classroom. We knew immediately it was the right fit for him.
He began to gain independence, confidence and was gaining new skills by the day. He is now able to let us know what he needs and wants when at home; whether he is thirsty, hungry or just wants to go outside and play.
Easter Seals looks at Michael individually as a child, and not by a label of autism. A specific program of classroom, speech therapy, physical and occupational therapy was put together for him so he can be the best Michael he can be. If my son were not at Easter Seals our whole family would be lost. The skills Michael has gained in the short time he has been there has set him up for a lifetime of success.
Early intervention has taught our whole family how to be Michael's full-time therapists; benefiting not only Michael but teaching us how to communicate with him and teach him. They taught us how to turn "therapy-time" into "play-time" and how to best advocate for our child. Every milestone achieved will never be taken for granted."
Early intervention services have been critical in providing Michael the skills he needs to progress and achieve future milestones. Every year more than one million children with unidentified disabilities and developmental delays enter school with learning and health issues that put them far behind their peers. Programs that diagnose and treat children between the ages of birth and five can make sure that kids start school on par with their peers. These programs are chronically underfunded and are at risk due to federal and state funding cuts and increasing costs. Your support ensures that thousands of local children continue to receive evaluations and services critical to their development, giving them the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Please consider supporting Easter Seals of SEPA, and children like Michael, with a year-end gift and help us continue to give children the building blocks they need to succeed in 2013.
To find out more about Easter Seals efforts to raise awareness about early intervention, visit http://www.makethefirstfivecount.org
