What prompted you to begin your board relationship with Easterseals?
As a mother of two children on the spectrum and the caregiver of my adult sister with special needs it's imperative for me to help educate other parents, caregivers and our community of the resources available to them. I can think of no better organizations than Easterseals that helps bridge the gaps of accessible care and education early on in one's journey. 

Were you involved with Easterseals or disability advocacy prior to joining the board ?
I have not, but am excited to be apart of Easterseals and hope to be a great asset to the board.

Why did you choose Easterseals as a recipient of your generosity, time and talent? What do you hope will be your niche within Easterseals scope of services?
I have a passion to serve families and individuals with unique abilities.
It's important that we strengthen and encourage the relationships, engagement and participation within our local communities. I look forward to assisting with "Community Outreach" and helping create lasting partnerships with community leaders and local businesses.
 
Why is Easterseals important to our community?
Early intervention is key to educating and getting families the services they need. Easterseals is leading the way!

Staci lives in Port Orange with her husband Chase, and together they have four children: Shea, Chloe, Jacob, and Kennedy Reagan.

Easterseals Northeast Central Florida, based in Daytona Beach, welcomes James M. Walker, MD, its first in-house, Board Certified Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrician.
 
The focus of Walker’s practice will be twofold: autism diagnoses for young children (ages 18 months - 48 months) and support for families with children diagnosed with autism. Walker will be the first Easterseals-based physician who exclusively serves this growing and complex population.
 
“We are thrilled that Dr. Walker has joined our team of professionals focused on children with autism,” said Bev Johnson, President/CEO of Easterseals. “His commitment to our families is a gratifying culmination of years of our leaders strategizing and planning, as we comprehensively serve children with autism from the youngest age to full independence and their families.”
 
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are the fastest growing developmental disabilities in the world today, affecting 1 in 44 children. In response to this trend and the resulting demand for services, Easterseals’ Autism Center of Excellence autism program has continued to grow at a rapid pace since its inception in 2008. Today, the program is a recognized autism leader offering early diagnosis, comprehensive diagnostic evaluations and intervention treatment for children with ASD.
 
“Dr. Walker is well known and respected in pediatric autism research, diagnosis, and treatment circles,” added Johnson. “By bringing him into the Easterseals network throughout North Central Florida, we open more avenues for families to receive the comprehensive services our organization offers.”

In various roles, Walker has served children in Ohio and Florida since 2000. These positions include Developmental/Behavioral Pediatrician at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Harbor Behavioral (Toledo, Oh.), University of Florida College of Medicine(Jacksonville), as well as Medical Director of Developmental Pediatrics at Harbor Behavioral and Director of Developmental Pediatrics of North Florida (Jacksonville).
Walker earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine, Plymouth, Montserrat, and is licensed to practice medicine in Florida and Ohio.
 
Walker’s services will be available to families who receive Easterseals autism services via the Autism Center of Excellence. Learn more about Easterseals Northeast Central Florida and its Autism Center of Excellence at www.easterseals.com/necfl. ###
 
About Easterseals Northeast Central Florida
Easterseals Northeast Central Florida offers life changing supports and services for over 5,000 local children annually, partnering with their parents and physicians to improve lifetime success.  Children receive early intervention and developmental screening, early childhood education, autism diagnoses and functional assessment, pediatric specialty therapy interventions and family supports such as respite, wrap around care and adaptive technology focused on helping children reach their full potential in how they live, learn and play.

Ashley Leonhardt Lee was installed by her aunt Sheryl Cook at Easterseals’ annual meeting, who performed the ceremony as Easterseals only Honorary Lifetime Director, an honor her mother and Mrs. Lee’s grandmother Gloria Cook held for many years.  Sheryl and her sister Vicki Cook Leonhardt, owners of Tom Cook Jeweler have followed the community footsteps of their parents Tom and Gloria Cook, who were Easterseals champions, locally and nationally for over 60 years.  Now, Ashley Leonhardt Lee, Vicki’s daughter and Sheryl’s niece, is excited to embark on her own charitable journey as an advocate for her community and most especially, the children of Easterseals.
 
“I believe we have one of the best volunteer boards in our area with a healthy make up of seasoned, long term Easterseals supporters and a new class (or cohort) of diverse volunteers with a fresh set of ideas and experiences to help drive us into the future” says President & CEO Bev Johnson.  “As a point of interest, we have a board where there is generational involvement. Several board members are 2nd generation volunteers and we have just inducted our first 3rd generation volunteer. We are incredibly fortunate to have longevity and history coupled with new vision and ideals. Our board members are able to honor our past with a strong vision for the future.”

My name is Dawn Melani, Charter School Principal. This is my 4th year with Easterseals.

My Primary responsibilities as the Principal are handling all of the day-to-day operations of the Charter School including teacher and paraprofessional supervision and training.

I enjoy building strong relationships with families. Our students benefit in so many ways when they have a strong home-school connection.

I believe to be successful you have to grow both personally and professionally. I have set my goals high and I’m committed to learning everything I can about my position. I embrace change and that has helped be grow personally as well.

I want to be known as the person any staff member or parent can go to for support or resources.
I love to be a mentor, help and give back!

I hope that when people think about Easterseals, they think about all the valuable child development and educational services we provide to help guide parents through the preschool years.