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Easterseals
Serving Chicagoland & RockfordYou can reach us at:
1939 West 13th Street, Suite 300
Chicago, IL 60608-1226
312-491-4110
312-733-0247 (Fax)
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Please use the forms below to identify another Affiliate Location.
COVID-19 Communications
On April 23, Governor Pritzker announced the implementation of a modified Stay at Home order for Illinois from May 1 through May 30,2020.
This order continues the mandate that all K12 schools remain in remote learning throughout the remainder of the academic school year and adds that the remainder of our programs at Easterseals will continue to have their physical offices closed, including Gilchrist Marchman Child Development Center.
Importantly, Governor Pritzker noted a requirement, starting May 1, that all individuals over age 2 who are medically able to do so are expected to wear a face covering or mask any time in public where social distancing cannot be enacted. We encourage you to observe these practices for your health and safety.
We know this is very difficult news given the length of time we have already been away from one another. We will continue to stay connected and strong, together!
Easterseals Academy
Governor Pritzker announced that K12 schools will be closed for the remainder of the school year. All three campuses of Easterseals Academy and Gilchrist Marchman will remain closed and we do not yet know what this means for the operation in the summer session. The White House, Governor Pritzker and Mayor Lightfoot have all discussed a phased-in approach to reopening businesses. However, the specifics of those plans, as well as a clear picture of how different parts of our agency fit into those phases, is still unknown.
Please read this letter to parents, dated May 13, 2020, from our Director of Educational and Clinical Services, Mary 'Betsey' Tallon, and our Academies' Principals.
- Staff continue to assemble resources for at-home learning for all of our students.
- Easterseals Academy principals are sharing the continuous learning plan with all school districts we serve.
If you have any questions regarding one of our Eastseals Academy locations please contact:
- Director of Educational and Clinical Services, Mary “Betsey” Tallon, MEd, OT/L, at btallon@eastersealschicago.org
- Principal, Machesney Park Academy, Terence Brown, MAT, MsEd at tbrown@eastsersealschicago.org
- Principal, Tinley Park Academy, Kristin Hrdlicka, MEd at khrdlicka@eastersealschicago.org
- Principal, Chicago Academy, Rose DeCainnere at rdecainnere@eastersealschicago.org
Gilchrist Marchman Child Development Center
Our Easterseals Gilchrist Marchman Child Development Center Closed is closed. It is still unknown as to when we will reopen. We will follow the state of Illinois phased-in approach to reopening businesses.
- If you have questions, please contact Ann O'Malley at aomalley@eastersealschicago.org or call 312.492.7402
CFC 8 & CFC 12
We are following guidance from DHS regarding Early Intervention Services. Until further notice, face-to-face services are discontinued. Guidance from DHS.
- Service Coordinator's are working with families via phone, e-mail, and US mail.
- All home visits are canceled.
- All meetings scheduled at the CFCs are canceled.
- The 45 day rule is relaxed per DHS.
- Contact: Peter Byrne at pbyrne@eastersealschicago.org or call 708.429.8231
Early Learning Services
The Early Learning Services Office is closed.
- Early Learning Services Offices will be CLOSED, starting on Tuesday, March 17, 2020.
- Some partner centers in Chicago and the suburbs will remain open at this time.
- Staff will provide support to partner sites using calls, videoconferencing, and emails and will remain in contact with families to assess needs, provide resources, share newsletters, and offer at-home activities for children.
- Contact: Tracey Mikasa at tmikasa@eastersealschicago.org or call 708.434.2525
Family Support/Partnering with Parents/Teen Family Support of Rockford
- All home visits have been canceled.
- Teen Family Support has suspended all groups (prenatal, parenting) and all homevisiting (Family Support Worker and Doula, Doula-attended births).
- Family Support has canceled all parent trainings.
- The Moms Retreat in Galena has been canceled.
- Partnering with Parents has postponed their current 12-week Chicago Parent Program series.
- Contact: Kathleen Kurtz | kkurtz@eastersealschicago.org | Phone: 815.965.5069 | Fax: 815.965.6021
HarrysButtons
All HarrysButtons locations, including Machesney Park, Tinley Park and Chicago are closed.
- Contact: Jason Reis at jason.reis@eastersealschicago.org
Illinois Autism Partnership (IAP)
IAP staff is assisting in the creation of the Easterseals Academy family e-learning plans.
Visit our Virtual Classroom for hands-on lessons
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Contact: Sarah Smith at ssmith@eastersealschicago.org or call 312.491.4116
The Autism Program (TAP)
Our program is complying with a VISITOR RESTRICTIONS procedure as required by the Illinois Department of Public Health. Our site located at the University of Illinois Health Science Campus is CLOSED. We are supporting families with phone consultations, email, and Go To Meetings video.
- Do not drop off any paperwork. Please fax it to 815.395.5573 or mail it to 1601 Parkview Ave., Rockford, IL 61107.
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March 25 ASD Support Group - Cancelled
- March 28 Gardening Day - will be rescheduled
- March 28 Decorating for Autism Awareness on Hyundai on Perryville – will be rescheduled
- April Leo Club - Cancelled
- April 23rd Behavior and Sensory Training in Belvidere – will be rescheduled
- March Diagnostic and Individual Therapy Appointments – will be rescheduled
- All parent support groups will be postponed.
- Our Family Community Resource Room is closed for face-to-face visitors. However, we are available via telephone and email in our resource room. We do have the ability to mail and email resources during this time.
- Pre-screening of clients for diagnostics and individual therapy will continue; however clients will be screened for any symptoms of COVID-19 if they have traveled out of the country or have any symptoms.
- Our diagnostics appointments are being rescheduled.
- Contact: Lori Davie at ldavie@eastersealschicago.org or call 815.395.5566
Easterseals Illinois Autism Partnership (IAP) has created tools for families and schools including:
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Coronavirus Social Story – Help children understand coronavirus.
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Secondary/Adult Coronavirus Social Story – Help older students/adults understand coronavirus.
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Social Distancing Social Story – Help children understand social distancing.
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Secondary/Adult Social Distancing Social Story – Help older students/adults understand social distancing.
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School Closure Toolkit - Help families structure their time at home during the school closures.
We are carefully monitoring the situation and are focused on continuously updating information and recommendations from ISBE, the state of Illinois, WHO and CDC, as well as our school district partners and local and state health officials
