Easter Seals Florida Inc

Direct beneficiaries per year: In 2021, Easterseals Florida directly served almost 10,000 individuals and 14,000 families and caregivers. The 2021 total community impact reached 32,934.

Geographic areas served: throughout Florida

Programs: Easterseals Florida serves children and adults with disabilities or special needs from birth through adulthood. Services include - Early intervention services and assessments provided for children birth to 36 months promoting physical, social and emotional growth for children. Child Development services providing inclusive, high-quality childcare and developmental programming for children with disabilities or developmental delays from birth to five. The PLAY Project, an evidence-based, in-home, intensive play-based intervention program for children on the autism spectrum. Behavior Therapy services provided by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst for children birth to age 22, assisting children and families in their home teaching intervention skills. Disability Navigation Services helps families find services a child needs to achieve developmental milestones. Employment services offers vocational options specifically designed to promote meaningful employment opportunities for adults with disabilities based upon their strengths and interests. Services include a life skills development (also known as adult day training) program in a facility-based setting and a life, employment-readiness and community skills program with a curriculum designed to promote independence in the home and at work by teaching and developing life, employment-readiness and community skills. Easterseals provides supervised work groups who travel to local businesses daily to perform job duties on-site as well as supported and on-the-job training for clients ready for community employment, assisting them with pre-employment skills training, job placement and on-going support. Easterseals also operates Camp Challenge, offering hundreds of children and adults with disabilities or special needs, ages six through adulthood, a chance to enjoy outdoor recreation, socializing with friends, relaxation during their summer vacation, and restful weekend getaways. Set on 61 beautiful acres, campers stay in air-conditioned cabins, and participate in many fully accessible activities include zip lining, swimming, target range and sports activities, talent shows and many other special events. Camp Challenge promotes achieving independence regardless of the challenges a person with a disability faces on a day-to-day basis. Fully accredited by the American Camp Association, a low camper-to-counselor ratio ensures a quality yet fun and exciting experience. Easterseals Florida plays a critical role as an advocate for people with disabilities and special needs by:1. Monitoring local, state and national legislative and judicial developments. 2. Providing parents, families and individual with advocacy. 3. Serving as a community information and referral service. 4. Volunteering to serve on local, state and national organizations and agencies to represent the interests of people with disabilities. 5. Acting as consultants to child care professional helping them gain expertise in working with children with special needs and adapt their settings to include children with special needs as well as their typically developing peers. 6. Creating awareness and public acceptance of people with disabilities through media spots, public service advertising and special awards programs.