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Like many Iraq War Veterans, Jake has been living with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) from his 12 years of service in the National Guard. Similar to nearly 4.7 million Veterans with a “service-connected disability,” Jake never imagined he would have to adapt his daily experiences due to a disability he wasn't born with. After an honorable discharge, Jake became a police officer hoping to continue a theme of serving and protecting his community, but he experienced frequent complications due to his PTSD and ultimately left the force. Learn how he used our Veteran services to overcome his challenges and live his best life!
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Chris Richards is a story that unpacks so many of the modern elements of disability employment in Massachusetts. Chris's story touches on the importance of Easterseals services for people with acquired disabilities, the growth of job opportunities via telecommuting and assistive technology, finding new passions in response to disability (creative writing), and finally the catch 22 of receiving disability benefits and competitive employment.
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This year, a little girl arrived for preschool in a town northwest of Boston. Rebecca, four years old, has various physical and cognitive disabilities, and was welcomed by her special education team. Her teacher, Mary Ellen Forty, immediately got to work considering how to engage Rebecca in the classroom. They heard about the device loan program of the AT Regional Center in Worcester, and a whole new world was opened up for Rebecca.
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Bill Greenlaw had spent years dependent on aides in a skilled nursing facility before having an evaluation from Easterseals. After learning about his needs, the Easterseals specialist set him up with adaptive eating and drinking equipment along with life-changing assistive technology. Click to read more about his growth in independence.
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In late 2017, Easterseals MA was just about to launch a brand new innovative program called “College Navigator,” when they received a call from Easterseals California and Roseanne Walden, Adam's mother. Roseanne was in great need of an agency providing services specifically for students in higher education - a growing and critical unmet need. Click to read more about how the college navigator program helped Adam, a gifted cello player with autism, succeed in college. Adam was even featured in an HBO documentary as a child!
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Sharon Hendrickson served in the United States military for 8 years, but at the end of her service she was left with a debilitating back injury. After coming home, Sharon struggled to adjust to a "normal" life and was unclear about what benefits were available to her. After being referred to the Easterseals Veterans Program, she finally began to receive the guidance she needed. Click to read her full story.
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Darnell "DJ" Younge is an 8-year-old second grader who was born with congenital fibro-type disproportion, ventilator and g-tube dependent. DJ is non-verbal and has difficulty using his hands. His school reached out to Easterseals in 2018 and he began receiving AT and AAC services which have allowed him to flourish in school. Click to read his full story.
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Andrew Pilkington grew up in Wayland, Mass. His parents discovered he had cerebral palsy when he was an infant, and he did not develop in the same way as other children his age. Andrew does not have full use of his fingers, arms or legs, but in 2019 he is best known as an award winning filmmaker, editor, producer and writer!
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John Miller took full advantage of the unique supports of Easterseals Massachusetts' College Navigator program. With individualized tools and guidance from the program, he completed his first semester at Northern Essex Community College and is well on his way to reaching his goal of becoming a paraprofessional. Click to read more about his experience in College Navigator.
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At a young age Cesar Rodrigues was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy which affects the skeletal muscles responsible for movement caused by a loss of motor neurons. Because he was an artist who originally used typical paint brushes and pencils, symptoms of his condition became an obstacle. After working with Easterseals, Cesar now has an custom build adaptive painting box where he is able to flourish as a local artist!
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It was important to her father-in-law, Henry Oliveira, that his 100th birthday was celebrated in their own home, and Kristi used the short-term device loan program to make it possible! The program lends wheelchair-accessible ramps that are portable which anyone can borrow for free for 4 weeks at a time. Having Henry at the party was a success, Kristi explained, “Everyone was so appreciative. And they couldn’t believe how simple it was to arrange for the ramps through MassMATCH.”
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After Timothy's Braille Notetaker, which he uses daily at his job, stopped working properly he needed a solution quickly. When he heard about our Assistive Technology Loan program, he reached out to our staff and was able to borrow a new Braille Notetaker while he determined which product would be best for him long-term. Click to read Timothy's full review of the program.
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Matthew Jameson has been involved with Easterseals MA since 2014 as a youth leader and advocate. Born with mild spastic diplegic cerebral palsy, Matthew is passionate about disability rights and has done great advocacy work since becoming involved with ESMA. He is currently a student at UMass Dartmouth where he continues to advocate for disability rights. Click to read his full story.
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Julia Cobb is a dynamic 16 year-old girl who is currently in her sophomore year at Algonquin Regional High School in Northborough where she receives AAC services through Easterseals MA. As a young girl, Julia was considered "non-verbal," but she now uses alternative and augmentative communication to easily communicate with her parents, friends, and teachers. Click to read her full story.
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Stanley Cliche was diagnosed with Central Auditory Processing Disorder and Asperger’s Syndrome at a young age. When it came time to think about college, Stanley, now 19, had concerns about how he would handle the workload and adjust to college life. By aspiring to enter the college setting, Stanley was facing an environment that fundamentally does not support people with developmental disabilities. But, then he heard about Easterseals Massachusetts’ new College Navigator Program through Nancy Mader at the Federation for Children with Special Needs.
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Regina Pontes had a book she wanted to write but no way to write it. In 2011, following a series of debilitating illnesses, she experienced a stroke and lost function on her dominant left side. When a counselor at the Boston Center for Independent Living suggested she apply for Easterseals's Assistive Technology assistance, she was surprised.
"I thought Easterseals served just children. I had no idea what they did for adults, and I had no idea all that they'd do for me." Click to read her full story.
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Adriana Mallozzi has been receiving Easterseals’ services since she was a year old, initially in CT. Born with cerebral palsy, she is a quadriplegic wheelchair user. She began receiving services at Easterseals MA in 2005 and has been a prominent community member ever since. Now on the ESMA Board of Directors and CEO of Puffin Innovations, Adriana continues to be an entrepreneur, innovator, and most importantly, a disability advocate. Click to read her full story.
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C.K. served in the United States Marine Corps from 1998-2001, but after experiencing military sexual trauma, which resulted in PTSD, she was given an other than honorable discharge for smoking marijuana to ease her symptoms. Upon returning home from her service, C.K. faced many barriers to getting the help she needed, but after a friend referred her to the Easterseals Veterans Program, things finally started to look up. Click to read her full story.
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