Erin Rogers, Executive Vice President of Program Services for Easter Seals Peoria-Bloomington is inspired daily by the dedication of the Easter Seals staff to the children with whom they work, and the specialized knowledge and creativity they bring to each and every session. It is their passion, persistence and unique training that support the progress of the children. And, at the end of the day, it’s the stories of progress and success of our children that makes her work so rewarding.
As the parent of two young, typically developing children, Rogers appreciates the added challenge of parenting a child with special needs. Research has shown that the sooner developmental delays in children are addressed, the better the developmental progress and long-term outcomes. In fact, the phrase in Illinois related to Early Intervention is, “The sooner we start, the farther they grow.” It’s true, and yet many people continue to take a “wait and see” approach. If families have questions about their child’s development, they need to know that Easter Seals can help. Rogers believes it is critical for families to find a trusted resource that will enable them to identify early services to help their child. Easter Seals is that trusted resource. Easter Seals helps families identify developmental delays, develop a treatment plan, provides direct services for children living with autism and other disabilities and delays, and offers support to the entire family.
Rogers recalls receiving feedback from a parent of a child who she and her team worked with who was discharged from therapy services at Easter Seals and will be starting Kindergarten in the fall. He is speaking in sentences, answering questions and will be unassisted in his community Kindergarten classroom. The child’s mom shares, “Not only has Easter Seals helped Garrison, but they have also given us, as parents, hope for Garrison’s future. Without their encouragement and well-organized treatment plan, we would not have been able to help Garrison reach all the milestones he has reached.” According to Rogers, Garrison is just one example of how Early Intervention makes all the difference.
Rogers has been with Easter Seals for more than twelve years. She earned her master's degree in early childhood special education from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and her bachelor's degree in family and consumer sciences from Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois.
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