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Resources

If you have questions about early learning, disability, or finding supports or services for youth, families, or communities, our experts have answers and information to support you.

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Autism

Early Childhood Education

Disability and Early Intervention

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Blog
  • 11/10/2022

IAP Strive for Success videos help educators support students with autism

The Illinois Autism Partnership (IAP) at Easterseals presents a six-video series of STRIVE for Success educational best practice training videos to help educators support students with autism.

Blog
  • 10/25/2022

Help us Embrace Abilities, Expand Possibilities with a Year-End Gift

Help us in Embracing Abilities, Expanding Possibilities. That's our tagline and North star. Every person our affiliate serves has unique abilities. Our job is to help those abilities shine to expand their possibilities today and in the future.

Blog
  • 10/21/2022

Board Member Q&A: Desiree Vargas Wrigley drives innovation and entrepreneurship in Chicago communities

We recently welcomed a number of new board members to our Easterseals Serving Chicagoland and Greater Rockford (ESCGR) Board. We want to give you a better sense of who they are and why they serve. In this post, we spoke with Desiree Vargas Wrigley who is the Chief Innovation Officer and Executive Director of TechRise by P33 and Verizon. We spoke with her about what brought her to the board and how her entrepreneurial background shapes her vision of social impact and community work.

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Search below to read our latest stories about our programs and clients.

Podcast

Podcast
  • 09/17/2022

Episode 3: How to Turn Around a Nonprofit in Crisis

When Sara Ray Stoelinga became the new President & CEO of Easterseals Serving Chicagoland and Greater Rockford in May 2019, the organization was in financial and organizational crisis. They were more than $22 million in debt with an additional several million dollars in unpaid bills and were barely making payroll. The direction and sustainability of the agency were uncertain. This podcast delves into how Stoelinga — together with the Board of Directors, strong new senior leaders, and essential external partners — righted the ship at the non-profit and the lessons learned along the way on the journey from organizational peril to a future of growth and prosperity.

Podcast
  • 08/18/2022

Episode 2: Training First Responders to Understand Autism

Emergency personnel are likely to have encounters with individuals with disabilities and those on the autism spectrum. For example, some law enforcement data have suggested that people with disabilities are seven times more likely to have police encounters than the general population. In this episode,  you'll hear from Shannon Wess, an Autism Specialist with the Illinois Autism Partnership,  about our First Responder Trainings for local police, fire, and ENT departments, as well as public service agencies. Each training focuses on strategies that emergency personnel can use to support and help individuals with autism in emergency situations. They are provided at no cost to the departments involved.

Podcast
  • 08/01/2022

Episode 1: In Conversation with Carter Sanders

Carter Sanders is a person who approaches everything with intention, dedication, and preparation. He is on the autism spectrum and is a graduate of Easterseals Academy, an alternative school placement for students with ASD, emotional disability, developmental delay, or intellectual disability. Carter is currently an Easterseals employee, as well as a Special Olympian and energy ambassador. In this episode, Carter joins Sara Ray Stoelinga, President & CEO of Easterseals Serving Chicagoland and Greater Rockford (ESCGR) as well as Jason Reis, former ESCGR Employment Services Coordinator, and shares his journey.

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