Updated 04/27/2020:
The Easterseals Rehabilitation Center's 3701 Bellemeade Ave. location remains closed to the public as a precaution, to protect the safety and well-being of clients and staff during the coronavirus crisis. The staff continues meeting many essential needs for children and adults with disabilities, including speech/language, occupational and physical therapy and psychology services via "teletherapy"; inclusive early care and education at the Easterseals Early Learning Center; Group Home and Community Living Services; and emergency repairs to hearing aids, wheelchairs, and other devices. A generous friend has challenged us to raise $10,000 from our community to continue important programs. If you help us reach that goal, we will receive a matching donation of $10,000! Please give what you can today and together, we'll meet the challenge!
Updated 04/07/2020:
The primary location of the Easterseals Rehabilitation Center at 3701 Bellemeade Ave. in Evansville continues to be closed to the general public through at least April 20, 2020, to protect the safety and well-being of clients and staff during the coronavirus crisis. The organization is continuing to meet essential needs for children and adults with disabilities to the greatest extent possible during the building shut-down. A generous friend has challenged us to raise $10,000 from our community to continue important services. If you help us succeed, we will receive a matching donation of $10,000! Please give what you can today and together, we'll meet the challenge for local people who need us!
The update immediately below was posted 03/27/2020:
Easterseals Rehabilitation Center professionals remain available to help children and adults with essential needs while our main location is closed during the COVID-19 crisis. The center will be closed until at least April 7. Here is an update on some of the important programs that are still just a phone call away:
Support from YOU is crucial, if the Easterseals Rehabilitation Center is to continue meeting the essential needs of Tri-State individuals with disabilities during this crisis. Please give today if you are able. A generous friend of Easterseals will match the first $10,000 in donations received, doubling your impact! And we will be extremely grateful for your support of the Easterseals mission.
YOU can also help by purchasing a ticket in the Easterseals ALL CA$H Raffle! The drawing for $50,000, $25,000, and $10,000 has been postponed, and plenty of tickets are still available! Please contact Carolyn Franklin at 812-437-2607 or submit an online contact form and you'll be contacted soon!
Many thanks! Stay strong, stay well, and feel free to contact the Easterseals Rehabilitation Center at 812-479-1411 with any questions.
The update immediately below was posted 03/23/2020:
Easterseals Rehabilitation Center closing to public through at least April 7, continuing essential services to greatest extent possible.
The primary location of the Easterseals Rehabilitation Center at 3701 Bellemeade Avenue in Evansville will close to the general public at 5pm Monday, March 23, 2020, through at least April 7, to protect the safety and well-being of clients and staff during the coronavirus-19 crisis. The closing was announced by Kelly Schneider, President/CEO, who described how the organization will continue serving local children and adults with disabilities to the greatest extent possible during the building shut-down.
Many of the Easterseals Rehabilitation Center’s services are considered essential services and will be continued in the following ways:
Schneider said, “I appreciate all staff of the Easterseals Rehabilitation Center and its divisions for the important work they do, for their passion and dedication, and for the willingness I have heard from all levels of the organization to do whatever is needed during this challenging time. We are all grateful for the community’s ongoing support to help Easterseals continue changing lives for local individuals with disabilities.”
Any questions may be directed to Kelly Schneider, President/CEO, at 812-479-1411 or kschneider@evansvillerehab.com. The organization will provide updates on this web page and on the Easterseals Rehabilitation Center Facebook page.
The statement below from Kelly Schneider, President/CEO of the Easterseals Rehabilitation Center, was Posted 03/20/2020:
Dear Friends,
The Easterseals Rehabilitation Center is working to provide life-changing services for local individuals with disabilities during the COVID-19 outbreak. Of course we are following health and safety guidelines to protect clients, families, and staff. We are receiving many questions and I want to update you on a few ways Easterseals is affected by the crisis, and how we are striving to meet the needs of the people we serve.
• Our dedicated therapy staff continues to provide essential services in creative ways. First Steps therapists are still visiting many children under age 3 in families’ homes. Children over age 3 and adults typically come to us for therapy, but we are experiencing a cancelation rate of approximately 50%. We’re moving to offering the option of speech-language and occupational therapy sessions via “telemed” and specialized apps, so individuals can keep working toward their goals. We will do this as much as possible. Psychology services are extremely important, especially for children experiencing additional anxiety, and we are now meeting some of those needs via “telepsychology” sessions.
• The Easterseals Early Learning Center staff continues supporting children of all abilities, age 6 weeks to 6 years, and their families. Our focus is to provide the safe, stable learning environment that children of all abilities need, while allowing parents to continue working and providing for their families. The Dan & Nancy Mitchell Therapeutic Preschool follows the EVSC schedule, so that program is closed until EVSC classes resume.
• Our nine Group Homes serve up to 72 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and many have health conditions placing them at high risk. Residents are not attending community activities, with the exception of essential medical appointments. Instead, they are receiving 24-hour care, personal assistance, and day programming in the homes from our dedicated staff. Residents continue working on goals for greater independence while thriving in the warm, family atmosphere the staff provides.
• Even in “normal” times, we rely on donors, event sponsors and participants to achieve our mission – to make a profound, positive difference in the lives of local people with disabilities. This crisis is significantly affecting our organization financially. But our top priority must be the health and safety of our clients, supporters, staff, and community. The local Easterseals Telethon, originally set for April 5, is postponed to this summer. We are very grateful to ABC 25, our generous Telethon station, for being willing to reschedule that important event, which plays a vital role in funding therapy services.
I truly appreciate the understanding of clients and families during this unprecedented situation. I am very grateful to staff members for their passionate dedication. And now more than ever, I thank YOU, our supporters, for your sincere concern and commitment to Easterseals. Please feel free to contact me at 812-479-1411 with any concerns or questions.
You may wonder how YOU can help now. We need YOUR support to continue meeting the unique needs of local people with disabilities during this challenging time. We just received a commitment from a very generous friend of Easterseals who is MATCHING ALL GIFTS up to a total of $10,000. So RIGHT NOW, YOUR DONATION WILL BE DOUBLED! When you give on our secure donation page and choose to cover transaction fees, Easterseals receives 100% of your gift. Please consider giving while this generous match is available, and share this opportunity with others. With YOUR help, we can continue changing lives!
Thank you!
Kelly Schneider, President / CEO Easterseals Rehabilitation Center