Easter Seal Society Of South Central Pennsylvania

Programs: Medical rehabilitation services at easter seals central pennsylvania focus on the diagnosis and treatment of disabilities to help individuals live as independently as possible. Successful rehabilitation is influenced greatly by the positive belief that individuals can make up for the loss of one sense or ability through training, practice, and focusing on a person's abilities rather than on their disability. Medical rehabilitation is provided by licensed therapy professionals who design treatment and training programs tailored to meet each client's physical, social, emotional, and vocational needs. Medical rehabilitation services offered at easter seals central pennsylvania's five sites include; physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, audiological services, and special instruction. These services are provided both in a clinic setting as well as through state sponsored early intervention programs. Our therapists work closely with other professionals involved in the development and implementation of these programs including physicians, nurses, therapists, psychologists, social workers, vocational counselors, teachers and other specialists linked through one or more agencies. Working together with clients and their families, these professionals help to restore functioning lost as a result of a wide range of disabilities or the lack of typically developed abilities. In fiscal year 11/12, easter seals central pennsylvania provided 21,410 therapy visits to 1,537 patients within our 27 county service area.

the easter seals lance and ellen shaner child development center is a state recognized quality early care and education center and a participant in the keystone stars quality initiative program. Easter seals child development center currently holds a star iii designation. The purpose of the child development center is to provide an inclusive, comprehensive child development program, for infants, toddlers, preschool and pre-kindergarten children that ensures quality, innovative educational programs and customized support services, as necessary. Our staff provides developmentally appropriate curriculum experiences and activities, as well as therapeutic intervention, for those children in need of such services. Classrooms are staffed by early childhood educators and trained paraprofessionals. Easter seals strives to provide a fully inclusive early care and education setting which means that all children, both typically developing and children with diverse needs, are welcome to grow and learn together within our program. The curriculum and programming that are offered meet the needs of all children and additional services, such as physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy are available, as appropriate, to meet the specific needs of children with developmental delays. During fiscal year 11/12, the easter seals child development center provided care to over 90 children. The child development center also participates in the internship program with penn state university. This year 3 student interns were provided a comprehensive training series on topics such as curriculum, the iep process and department of public welfare regulations.

easter seals interpreting services (esis) provides sign language interpreters to a variety of venues in order to facilitate communication between individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing with those who are hearing. Those venues include various military installations, federal agencies, doctor offices, mental health agencies, hospitals, state agencies, universities, high schools and events sponsored by state and private organizations. In addition, esis offers american sign language (asl) classes to the community from the york and mechanicsburg facilities. Esis serves the commonwealth of pennsylvania and surrounding states with its coordinating offices in york and mechanicsburg. In addition to the director, there is currently a staff of two other full-time certified interpreters, as well as an interpreter coordinator. Also, esis contracts with approximately 71 local certified independent contractors on a regular basis for jobs that take place in the south central pa region. Approximately 10 other independent contractors are also used by esis occasionally statewide, all of which are certified in compliance with pa act 57. During the fiscal year 11/12, esis provided services to 318 individual clients, while reaching hundreds more during events sponsored by state and private organizations.

other program services include therapeutic recreation, early intervention, and autism resource centers.