For Immediate Release
Easterseals Announces Expansion of Early Intervention and Educational Programming in Hillsborough County, Florida
Tampa, Florida, October 13, 2023
Media Contact:
Tanya Cielo
tanya@skystrategicmarketing.com
813-337-0893
For Immediate Release:
Easterseals Announces Expansion of Early Intervention and Educational Programming in Hillsborough County, Florida
Tampa, FL (October 13, 2023) – Finding services to support children with developmental challenges can be frustrating for caregivers. In response to this pressing need, Easterseals is pleased to announce the expansion of its programs in Hillsborough County, Florida. The nonprofit, which is dedicated to creating equity, inclusion, and access for people with disabilities, is now enrolling families in its The Incredible Years® program and is introducing a new private school, the Easterseals School for Limitless Learning, coming to the Bloomingdale area in mid-2024.
THE INCREDIBLE YEARS® WITH EASTERSEALS
Enrollment is open for The Incredible Years® with Easterseals, a free group therapy program for caregivers and children ages three to eight years old, with the next session beginning on October 6, 2023, at the Brandon Children’s Board Family Resource Center. Interested families can register online at https://tinyurl.com/incredibleyearshillsborough, and future locations will be added based on demand.
Amanda Lopez, Program Manager for The Incredible Years® with Easterseals, said, “This evidence-based group therapy program is a blessing to our community. The curriculum provided by Incredible Years has been life-changing to the families we have already served in our first few cohorts. Children are able to learn about their emotions and make friends in their small groups, and the caregivers are able to build strategies to strengthen their parenting skills and the bond they have with their child. We are seeing happier families, increased confidence in the caregivers served, and children with healthier coping skills.”
Generously funded by The Children’s Board of Hillsborough County, The Incredible Years® with Easterseals program is designed to strengthen child well-being, promote social-emotional learning and academic competence, and prevent, reduce, and treat behavioral and emotional problems in young children.
Families enroll in a 14-week session that meets once a week. In the caregiver-focused group, participants work on strengthening parent-child relationships, increasing parenting strategies, and building community support. Held simultaneously, the child group concentrates on teaching self-control skills, problem-solving strategies, and ways for participants to positively express emotions. The Incredible Years® program also includes a home education component.
Interested families are encouraged to email IncredibleYears@fl.easterseals.com or call 813-836-4739 with any questions.
As more and more families register for The Incredible Years® program, Easterseals is working to open more locations throughout Hillsborough County. Easterseals is also actively recruiting for a Bilingual Family Support Specialist.
In addition to programs like The Incredible Years®, Easterseals is bringing even more early intervention and educational services to the local community.
EASTERSEALS SCHOOL FOR LIMITLESS LEARNING
Easterseals is thrilled to introduce the School for Limitless Learning, a brand-new private school that will serve children who are neurodiverse or have other related disabilities, coming to the Bloomingdale area in mid-2024. The campus, which is currently under construction, will be located at the BayCare Health Hub at 2470 Bloomingdale Avenue in Valrico.
Easterseals School for Limitless Learning will include two specialized programs, a lower elementary program and an early childhood program. The goal of the private school is to provide an inclusive and supportive learning environment, designed to help special needs students reach developmental milestones through hands-on activities.
Jenn Siffermann, Vice President of Programs, said, “Parents and caregivers of children who have autism, or any other type of developmental or learning challenges, are too often told what their child’s limitations are. At Easterseals, we focus on supporting a child’s ability to reach their full potential with limitless learning opportunities.”
The curriculum at the Easterseals School for Limitless Learning will be based on the DIRFloortime® model, which is widely regarded as an effective approach to support children with autism. The objective of the DIR® is to build healthy foundations for social, emotional, and intellectual capacities, rather than solely focusing on skills and isolated behaviors. Teachers in both school programs will be trained in DIRFloortime®.
Operating on a 10-month school year, the lower elementary program in the Easterseals School for Limitless Learning will serve children who are neurodiverse or have other related disabilities in the age range of preschool to second grade. Small class sizes will ensure personalized attention, and the connection, play-based curriculum, led by state-certified teachers, will keep students engaged.
The Easterseals School for Limitless Learning’s early childhood program will operate year-round and will provide classrooms for children with and without diagnosed disabilities, who are six weeks of age through three years old. In addition to DIRFloortime®, this program will utilize the Frog Street Curriculum to foster cognitive, physical, social, and emotional development.
The Easterseals School for Limitless Learning will also offer nutritionally balanced meals and snacks, before and after-school care, care during school breaks, and summer programs. The private school will feature a state-of-the-art indoor sensory room, an outdoor boundless playground, and a secure campus.
Registration for the school’s first summer enrichment program for preschool to second grade is planned for spring 2024, along with the opening of enrollment for the child development program.
The lower elementary program is slated to open next fall for the 2024-2025 school year, with enrollment dates to be announced.
Parents interested in learning more about the Easterseals School for Limitless Learning can contact Sifferman at 813-868-7191 or jsiffermann@fl.easterseals.com.
In addition, the Easterseals School for Limitless Learning is actively seeking donors who share its commitment to inclusive education. For more information about becoming a donor, please contact Angela Beers, Easterseals Senior Director of Development, at 570-856-8287 or abeers@fl.easterseals.com.
For more details about the Easterseals School for Limitless Learning, please visit its website at https://www.easterseals.com/florida/programs-and-services/children--families/school-for-limitless-learning.html.
