Because of you, when disaster struck, we were able to launch a Telehealth program within weeks, allowing us to continue to see families when in person therapy was not an option.

As of May 2020, our entire therapy team was able to be trained, and virtual therapy was resumed with 70% of Easterseals families.

“Even though they may not be able to be with their therapist in person, it is powerful knowing we can make a difference virtually with the use of Telehealth, while protecting the safety of our clients and their families.” – Carolyn, Easterseals Physical Therapist

Because of you, Timber Pointe Outdoor Center was able to offer 48 respite weekends to families, at no cost to them. Within a matter of days, all 48 slots were filled, and campers with special needs and their families were able to enjoy much needed time in the great outdoors.

Your support was also instrumental in opening up and subsidizing day camp registrations for campers in summer 2020, as well as helped launch the TPOC-U e-learning program when schools were unable to open.

Because of you, when students at the Easterseals Learning Academy returned to school in Fall 2020 for the first time since March, they were greeted with a wonderful surprise.

Their outside patio had been transformed into a bright, colorful Sensory Garden, designed to create a multi-sensory experience for students and to enhance their learning environment. Filled with artwork created by Teacher’s Aide and free-hand artist Niccole Maloney, the garden’s vibrant multi-colored flowers, insects and giant bird promote visual stimulation and help students with their social emotional development.

Because of you, we were able to break ground on our Growing Together project in Bloomington-Normal.

In 2019 we embarked on the Growing Together Capital Campaign in Bloomington-Normal – a partnership with the BN YMCA and OSF HealthCare St. Joseph Medical Center to create a community center that will unite all members of our community, and propel our organizations into a new era of service to the entire region. This new YMCA Community Center will help Easterseals bring therapy to where kids are, serve the entire family in an easily-accessible location and provide collaborative care in an inclusive facility. This project is scheduled to be completed this summer.

All of these exciting endeavors, and many, many more were made possible because of you.

Thank you for always rooting for the children and families served by Easterseals.

We couldn’t do what we do, without you.

Meet Titus and Teo! These brothers and their parents travel from Macomb, IL to the Bloomington Easterseals Central Illinois Center almost every day to receive services they need to reach their full potential.

Titus is five years old. He loves music, and also is a young scientist. He loves doing experiments and seeing what he can make happen. He also loves superheroes – especially Spiderman. Titus has been receiving services from Easterseals the past few years, working on speech, eye contact, imaginative play and playing with others. His parents share that Easterseals has made a huge difference for Titus, giving him the courage and confidence to do simple day-to-day tasks, as well as giving his family everything they need to help him make progress.

Teo is three years old, and is already a big foodie. His parents share that there hasn’t been anything that he has tried and hasn’t liked. In fact, he recently became interested in helping his mom and dad cook. When not watching Cat in the Hat or Kung Fu Panda, he can be found doing puzzles, playing with dinosaurs and trains, or coloring. Teo sometimes has difficulties regulating his sensory and behavior by himself. Through autism services at Easterseals, Teo has made huge progress. He and his family now have tools and resources for how he can regulate his negative behaviors.

Titus & Teo are both Easterseals Heroes in the upcoming Easterseals Hero Walk (part of the Easterseals Community Rally). You can help support their progress and celebrate the milestones they have made over the past year by participating in the Easterseals Hero Walk on April 24 at Illinois Wesleyan. For more information or to register, visit www.esci.link/herowalk. You can also raise funds for the Easterseals Hero Walk by visiting justgiving.com/campaign/eastersealscommunityrally.

We are so proud of both Titus & Teo, and the many milestones they have made, and thankful to their parents for commuting several hours every day so they can receive the services they need to be 100% Included, 100% Empowered. We are excited to continue to watch them grow, and are thankful to their parents for trusting Easterseals to be a part of their sons’ stories.

John has been one of the race directors of Run the Woods for over twenty years! This 5K/8K trail run and 1-Mile Hike is held on the first Saturday of October at Easterseals Timber Pointe Outdoor Center, and brings several hundred runners, volunteers and supporters to Timber Pointe every year while raising money for Easterseals through race entries and sponsorships.

He shares, “I love Run the Woods, because it showcases the wonderful mission of Easterseals and the beauty of Timber Pointe in a powerful way to weekend athletes every year. When I am at Timber Pointe, I reflect on my many blessings and I know I need to give back to our community and to Easterseals.”

John has been practicing law for twenty-nine years with the Bloomington law firm, Pratt and Pratt, P.C. He enjoys spending time with family and friends, community service, music, swimming and the great outdoors.

Thank you, John, for your dedication to the children and families we serve!

In a year filled with uncertainty, want to share a story with you that fills our hearts with thankfulness.

This year, so many generous supporters stepped up to help Easterseals families continue their therapy through Telehealth. Here is a message of thanks from our friend Isaac’s mom, Christina.

“Telehealth has been a huge blessing to our family during these uncertain times. Isaac gets sick very easily, and unfortunately, sickness has caused him to be hospitalized multiple times.

For the safety of Isaac and his siblings, I made the decision in March to stop all therapies. Easterseals contacted me and asked if Isaac and his older brother Elijah would like to participate in telehealth, and of course we said yes!

Children with special needs thrive on structure, and your donations help our kids continue to reach their goals in therapy without regression. We are so grateful for Telehealth because even though life has been turned upside down, our kids can still interact with their therapists, putting a bit of structure and normalcy back in their lives. Thank you so much for supporting Easterseals. It means the world to us and other Easterseals families!”

You can learn more about Isaac here and get your holiday shopping started with limited edition gifts inspired by Easterseals ambassadors, like Isaac, here!