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Easter Seals Southwest Florida Exceptional People Exceptional Lives

Easter Seals Southwest Florida: Exceptional People. Exceptional Lives.

By Lalaena Gonzalez-Figueroa

Photography by Chad Spencer

For nearly seven decades, the organization now known as Easter Seals has provided resources and services designed to support and assist young people with developmental disabilities and physical limitations. Thanks to the unwavering efforts of volunteers, donors and professionals working together, individuals who were once shuttered away are now given opportunities to live to their fullest potential. No longer relegated to spending their lives in hospitals out of public view, children and adults are heralded for their abilities, celebrated for their unique gifts, and empowered with a sense of purpose and pride. Easter Seals Southwest Florida continues this tradition with a range of programs and services that are designed to meet the specific needs of families and individuals within Sarasota and Manatee Counties.

Founded in 1946 by parents of children with special needs, Easter Seals Southwest Florida has evolved to continue to meet the needs of those children, and the generations that have followed, as they have grown into adulthood. The trend, notes the organization’s president and CEO Ladd Waldo, is a telling one. “Thanks to improvements in medical research, technology and care, individuals impacted by profound disabilities are living longer lives,” he observes. “In turn, their families recognize the need to offer ongoing support and care. Easter Seals Southwest Florida has expanded our services in order to best serve our evolving population; in addition to programs and assistance for small children, we also offer an alternative high school as well as an adult day program. Our aim is to empower individuals to live their lives to the fullest extent.”

Easter Seals Southwest Florida serves more than 400 clients at a given time. Among the services provided by the organization are speech/language, physical and developmental therapy programs for children and adolescents; a vocational high school program; and adult day training which includes opportunities for community outings, vocational training, and recreational and cooperative activities. Easter Seals Southwest Florida also provides families and caregivers with home-based or community-based respite care. This service gives caregivers much needed “away time,” which can be used for errands or appointments, or just to have relief from the responsibilities of caring for others. “Our staff is highly trained and qualified to care for individuals with disabilities, but they also care for pets or other non-disabled children during their four-hour shifts,” explains Waldo. “It’s a service that is supported by our monetary donations, and we offer this free of charge to our clients.”

Committed to meeting the ongoing needs of its diverse client population, Easter Seals Southwest Florida is constantly assessing the changing issues affecting local residents. One trend, notes Waldo, is the need for assistance within the adult community. “We are looking at the needs of veterans who return from wars with disabilities, and at the health of the Baby Boomer population in particular,” he says. “Needs change; a healthy adult may suffer a stroke, or lose a limb to diabetes, and we can help. Our board members, staff and volunteers are committed to helping local residents, to providing them with the support and services necessary to live productive lives.”

Easter Seals Southwest Florida advocates for its clients as viable and important members of their communities, and strives to educate area residents on their potential. Clients work for local businesses, display and sell artwork at regional shows, and learn critical life skills that may enable them to live independently despite the challenges they face. “We want our clients – and the community at large – to understand that people don’t have to be fully dependent; they can live their lives with the right support and assistance,” says Waldo.

Sarasota and Manatee County residents have ample opportunities to support Easter Seals Southwest Florida. The organization accepts monetary gifts, appreciates volunteers for its ancillary services, and welcomes participation in annual fundraisers including the Walk with Me event and The Meadows Cup Pro-Am Golf Tournament, which has raised over $700,000 to benefit local programs. The organization has also launched its 1st Annual International Design Competition, DesignMatters2, which now has 54 registrants from 23 countries. The competition is an open call to architects, artists and designers to create innovative ways to transform the way teens with disabilities experience the world.

Ultimately, says Waldo, Easter Seals Southwest Florida seeks to raise awareness of the services and resources available to individuals with all levels of disabilities. “Like so many agencies and organizations within our region, we are acting as advocates for our clients, helping them and their families enjoy better, more productive lives. We work with truly exceptional people, and appreciate the opportunity to share their gifts and abilities with the community at large.”