Program areas at Easter Seals Midwest
Community living services provide homes with on-site support where adults with developmental disabilities, including autism, can live independent and productive lives in the community. The program also provides training and support to people with disabilities to help them acquire valuable skills. Individuals are assisted in living in independent, yet supportive environments, learning various home management skills and developing a social support network.
Employment services develops employment opportunities for individuals in the community, locates paying positions, and provides on-the-job support. Jobs are carefully matched to meet each individual's work preferences, skills, and support needs.
The autism services division works with individuals with autism as well as their families to help them develop communication, social skills, and behavior modification. Autism services customizes its services to meet each individual's and family's need for support.
The home visiting program works with families who have children with and without disabilities 3 years of age and under, to help link them to additional resources in the community, to help build their knowledge and skill base in regards to parenting, and to model appropriate parenting skills. Trained parent educators visit the homes of eligible families and offer a variety of services, which include but are not limited to: group training sessions targeted at various topics dealing with child development, creating healthy families, and networking opportunities for the families; and resources for children in the home, including books, developmentally appropriate toys for their child, and incentives which may include certificates that they may use to purchase items for their children such as toys, books, safety items, safe cribs, etc.