Jason's Story
As an essential service provider, we've remained open to ensure we're here for the most vulnerable people and families throughout the community. We have continued to provide mental health services,substance use services, autism therapies, and support for emotional trauma. During these times, more than ever before, we want to encourage you to make your mental health a priority, as well as checking in on your loved ones. Just as adults may have difficulties coping during COVID, children and teens are also finding it difficult to cope with the loss of their daily routine, school activities and critical socialization with classmates.
Children like Jason, who has anxiety and an autism spectrum disorder, need extra support and attention right now. Oftentimes when children and teens come to Easterseals, they're in crisis and in need of support to help them stabilize and find services that match their needs. This was the case with Jason - just before coming to Easterseals, he had been in extreme crisis which was unintentionally magnified by a medication adjustment. As the crisis worsened, his aggressive behaviors caused the school to ask him not to return with this 7th grade classmates and he was ultimately admitted into a psychiatric hospital for treatment and support. Once out of the hospital, Jason's family turned to Easterseals for therapy. For Jason, the start of 8th grade wasn't looking much brighter and was proving to be quite difficult. While he avoided being hospitalized, he was sent to an alternative school for children with significant behavioral challenges to finish out the year. Not to be defeated, Jason was dedicated and focused in therapy at Easterseals. Because of his persistence, he was able to start 9th grade at a public high school. Although he was worried it wouldn't go well, he continued to work hard. The team at Easterseals worked closely with school staff to improve the support he received in his environment as well. Once the laws changed and the autism benefit became available to children over age six, Easterseals staff pushed hard to get Jason into Applied Behavioral Analysis(ABA) therapy. There was some hesitation because he was 16 at the time and would have been the oldest child Easterseals served in ABA therapy. But Jason and his family persisted, and once he got into ABA therapy, he saw some incredible progress.
ABA therapy helped Jason learn how to take care of his own hygiene tasks, make himself a simple meal, and many other wonderful every-day tasks. Jason continued to work hard in services and graduated from high school last year. At no point during school did he get suspended or have any disciplinary or behavioral concerns! Jason continues to receive services from Easterseals and transitioned really well when services went online in March. Jason is just one successstory of many children, teens, families and adults who've accomplished many great successes as a result of hard work, determination and support from the Easterseals Michigan team. We're asking for your support today. Please give a donation to allow us to continue to offer behavioral health therapies, autism therapies, support for emotional trauma, programs to build bridges between parents and their children, and so much more. Easterseals Michigan served over 15,000 people last year. We are so grateful for the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of so many Michiganders. But we know there are many more out there that need help. Your generous donation will be used to help children and teens who:
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are frustrated and discouraged by new, unexplained and unexpected behavior changes
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are involved with the juvenile justice system
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are experiencing unusual and unhealthy arguments on a regular basis
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may be using substances
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are experiencing significant changes in mood and interactions with others
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need to consider out of home treatment options
Easterseals Michigan relies on donors like you to expand our evidence-based services, offer new and innovative services and treatment options, and provide treatmentr egardless of the ability to pay or insurance status, thanks to our participation in the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic program. Will you donate today to help children and teens going through one of the most stressful pandemics of their lives?
