Earlier this month, a teenager with an autism was attacked by peers in her hometown. As we strive to create a world where every child is 100% Included and 100% Empowered, we released the following statement in order to provide support for Makenna and education for our community.

­The vision of Easterseals Central Illinois is to ensure that every child is 100% included and 100% empowered. As the leading provider of services and supports to families living with autism, we all too often see them suffer the painful isolation of being excluded, misunderstood and mistreated.

 We are not only a resource for the families we serve, but we are here for our community. Our advocacy and awareness programs are available for families, schools, community groups, first responders and workplaces. Using our virtual Ability Awareness Program, we encourage families can take action today by educating their children on what makes everyone unique, and how to celebrate differences.

Autism currently impacts 1 in 54 children. It is estimated that over 7,000 children with autism live right here in central Illinois. Together, we can do better.

At Easterseals, we have the privilege of meeting amazing families in our community. We are also incredibly fortunate to have friends and families who use their time, energy and resources to fundraise for our organization.

Rock the Farm is an annual concert that Team Alex organizes, with proceeds from the event benefitting Easterseals. Typically held at Mackinaw Valley Winery, the event has transitioned to a virtual live stream from Bloomington’s Castle Theatre. Participants can stream the concert featuring the Way Down Wanderers and Chicago from the comfort of their homes.

Team Alex fundraises in honor of a very special boy – Alex Camacho! Alex is 13 now, and began receiving services from Easterseals when he was 5-months-old. Team Alex shares that during his time at Easterseals, he has made great strides and reached milestones through feeding & speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy and more.

While working through an initial diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy, Alex’s family noticed that he was having trouble with his vision, and at 7-months-old, Alex was diagnosed with Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI). CVI is a neurological visual impairment, meaning the eyes are able to see, but the brain is not interpreting what is being seen. CVI is the leading cause of blindness in children in the developed world, but is treatable with therapeutic intervention. While treatment or CVI is known, it is not widely available.

All proceeds from Rock the Farm support Easterseals Central Illinois, benefitting Alex and many other children and families in our community. With the funds raised over the seven years of Rock the Farm, Easterseals is launching The Alex Center for CVI, which will begin its first clinics later this year.

This Friday, June 19 at 7 p.m., Rock the Farm will be live streamed from the Castle Theatre in Bloomington and will feature performances from The Way Down Wanderers & Chicago Farmer with special guests The Home Fires. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at www.GoTeamAlex.com. 

By Megan Pedigo, Director of Marketing, Easterseals Central Illinois

My name is Megan Pedigo. I am the mom of energetic, 5-year-old twins, and the Director of Marketing for Easterseals Central Illinois. 

Since starting at Easterseals a few years ago, I have been able to use my experiences as a parent to put myself in the shoes of some of our families. Through observing therapy sessions at our location, trying activities with my own kids at home and getting to know the families of children we serve, I feel very connected to the services provided by our therapists at Easterseals.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic & stay-at-home-orders everyone was working remotely. Because of this I felt disconnected from the experience Easterseals families were having with telehealth.

How did it look? How do you log on? How do you expect a child to sit still for an hour in front of a screen and do therapy? 

Because observation was not an option, my family offered to volunteer as participants and gave telehealth a shot. Together, we participated in a Speech Therapy Session, Counseling Session, Physical Therapy Session and Occupational Therapy Session.  Here are 10 things I learned from my telehealth experience.

1. The child leads the session.

When one of my daughters interrupted the farm animal sound game to talk about her new sloth book, our therapist asked her to see it.  When my girls ran off, the therapist and I talked about their speech until they came back. She said that this was common – most sessions involve activities with the child, and conversations with the parents. Therapists have a set plan and activities for the session, but they are flexible and dynamic, allowing the child to lead and using their individual interests to sneak in therapy.

2. Sessions are active.

“How can you do therapy over the computer?” This was a question I had, along with so many parents who have children receiving therapy, particularly physical and occupational therapy. In short, Easterseals Central Illinois uses play based therapy. Play-Doh, bubbles, favorite stuffed animals….therapists make a therapy session an hour packed with a child’s favorite activities.  As the weather gets warmer, therapists anticipate going outside and seeing kids ride their bikes, play on swing sets and run in the grass.

3. Sessions are done in a natural environment.

The parent coaching model has always been a cornerstone of pediatric therapy at Easterseals Central Illinois. However, it can be hard to translate what the therapist does in a clinical setting to at home activities. Telehealth is bridging that gap. The therapist and the caregiver work together, as a team. The therapist provides support during the session (and offline) to help build caregiver confidence in implementing the strategies on their own.  This helps the child use these strategies for success throughout the week, rather than just during the session. This therapy is also happening in the child’s natural environment, with their toys and their caregivers. Challenges may present themselves more prominently in the home, which can make therapy more effective.

4. Therapists are patient.

Our first session, both girls were seated and ready to engage. That lasted about five minutes. They kept interrupting the therapist, shouting out things and running off camera. By the fourth session, I was logging on right at start time and wrangling them into the room within camera view. I had to resist the urge to interrupt the session and put my girls back on track. Being coworkers, and understanding I was trying to get a feel for telehealth – the therapists all told me to chill.  They are able to engage with the child on their terms and guide them back to tasks. As many families know, therapists are highly regarded, sometimes worshipped by the kids they serve. If your child wants to show off their trophies from years of soccer, go for it. If your child is having a meltdown, leave the camera on and let the therapist observe. If your child only wants to play with you and not engage with the therapist, back up and let the therapist observe your play and guide it along.

5. The technology is user friendly.

I will admit, I struggled with the technology a little at first. We had four telehealth sessions with Easterseals in one week and each had a specific link.. Once I figured that out, it was seamless. My recommendation: as soon as you get the link create a calendar entry and put the link in there. Set a reminder for 15 minutes before so you have time to transition your kids out of their activity and prep for therapy.

6. Location and attitude matter.

For the first two sessions, we cleared out the space, had materials ready and discussed expectations beforehand. The last two sessions I was running late, scrambling and tossing the girls in front of the computer at a different location. It showed. They were more distracted, and I had to run around getting materials rather than engaging in the session. The girls got less out of it, and I was having to ask the therapist to repeat a lot.

7. Use stationary technology.

Cell phones and tablets are an option for telehealth.  However, a laptop worked best for us, and same goes for a lot of families. With facetime, video calling and games being played on phones and iPads, kids are used to grabbing the device and walking around. If a laptop is unavailable, make sure the phone or tablet is at a place where the child cannot grab it and walk around with it. This will also help the session run smoother.

8. Therapists are able to address common challenges in real time.

Have you ever found yourself having a hard time explaining a challenge you are having at home to a teacher or therapist? Much like the praise for ‘natural environment’, therapists are getting a firsthand look at the child’s day to day life. Parents can show the therapist a commonly occurring challenge in the home, and the therapist can address it in real time.  The child can work on asking for a snack with their mom in their own kitchen.  They can work on climbing their own stairs, or getting dressed in their own room.

9. Limit your distractions.

I am guilty of being pulled away from their therapy session because of a phone notification or laptop ping. As the session got going and my girls were engaging with the therapists, I noticed my mind wandering and my phone magically ending up in my hand. I missed what they were doing, and lost the opportunity to ask questions or learn how to implement at home.  I got the most out of their sessions when I left my phone in the other room on silent.

10. The benefits are emerging.

Telethealth is not a replacement for in-person therapy. However, there are a number of benefits emerging. With participation rates soaring, we are able to see how things like parent coaching and treating the child in their natural environment are improving the child’s progress. We are able to take down geographic barriers and optimize therapist schedules. As we slowly begin to open up for in-person therapy to resume, telehealth will remain a key part of our service delivery model.

This pandemic has put everyone in a situation they never thought they would be in. Parents, who are already juggling many tasks, are now taking on even more. Telehealth is not something many of us thought would be a huge part of our weekly lives, but with patience, individual adjustments and benefits emerging, it is something that will carry us all into the future of pediatric therapy.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at MPedigo@eastersealsci.com or give Easterseals a call to get started on your telehealth journey today- (309)686-1177.

May is Better Hearing & Speech Month. Each year, this month provides an opportunity to raise awareness about communication disorders, and the life-changing therapy services that people can receive.

Easterseals Central Illinois pediatric speech therapists use a variety of techniques to teach essential skills needed to be confident and successful communicators. Speech-language treatment plans and goals are developed and implemented based on each child’s specific needs, and goals of the family. Our therapists are experts in creating an environment in which children feel successful, yet are challenged to develop their individual skills.

This BHSM month, we are highlighting our friend Ben. He has made incredible progress since starting at Easterseals in 2016 when he was 4-years-old. Now, as a fearless 7-year-old he has met many milestones and overcome adversity and challenges – always keep his sweet smile on his face.

His favorite things include eating chicken (of any kind), cheese sticks & yogurt. He loves riding his bike and playing basketball & baseball with his twin brother, Jake. His favorite song is Old Town Road!

From his NICU nurses and doctors in his earl years, to his therapists, teachers, friends, and of course, family, Ben has made an impact on the lives of many people. He was diagnosed with a severe speech delay due to health complications at birth, and had a tracheostomy tube until he was three. His family shares that his diagnosis made them feel overwhelmed and nervous, but also hopeful and determined to get him the services he needed. His mom shares that “he has personally taught me a new meaning to life, and to embrace every day with joy.”

Through his hard work and perseverance and Easterseals therapy services, Ben has celebrated many milestones like graduating from the ABA program and making significant strides with his speech and learning. In the past year, Ben has improved his speech in such big ways. He has gone from using his talking device somewhat regularly to hardly ever using it now. A year ago, it was harder for others to understand him at times, and now his speech has gotten so much better and he receives many compliments on how well he speaks.

This May, we are so happy to reflect on the milestones that the kiddos at Easterseals have met. Through his hard work and determination, Ben has made significant strides, while inspiring every person he meets. He shows no signs of stopping.

This year, autism awareness month is hitting at a time when everyone across the globe is dealing with a change in their routines. This disruption in our lives is just a small glimpse into the lives of those living with autism spectrum disorder. Today, we would like to introduce you to Gabriel! He is a student at the Easterseals Learning Academy and has been home with his parents during the stay at home order. His Mom, Andrea, shared some images of their day.