Easterseals Celebrates Developmental Disability Awareness Month

New Castle, DE – When Dominick David, of Newark, is in his Easterseals day program for adults with intellectual disabilities, his mom, Lynne, knows he is engaged in activities, forming relationship bonds and staying connected to his community.

“Easterseals is a place Dominick can grow. It is not a place where he will sit and be stagnant. They have fun things to challenge him,” Lynne says. “It is the best place to accommodate Dominick. Plus they have therapy services on site so he can maintain the skills he has. Easterseals provides all the services we need. Everyone is involved. He has had great Direct Support Professionals. They become family.”

March is Developmental Disability Awareness Month. The recognition serves to increase public awareness of the needs of people with developmental disabilities and to provide opportunities, like ones found in Easterseals programs and services, to meet their full potential and thrive in our community.

When Dominick, who has Cerebral Palsy, was a baby he was not meeting his milestones. He was unable to communicate his needs and because he was frustrated, he would often throw fits. His family was grateful for Easterseals children’s therapies which taught him sign language and verbal speech. Physical and occupational therapies also helped him build a firm foundation of physical coordination and independence.

“Easterseals gave us a great start to help him grow. Communication was a big deal for us. It was a huge gift from Easterseals early on,” Lynne says. “I also remember thinking he would never walk. Then just before he turned two, we walked out of Easterseals instead of pushing him in a stroller. It was a great experience for both of us. They encouraged me and made me feel like ‘I got this’. That’s why I chose Easterseals when he was older and needed adult services because I felt comfortable there.”

Easterseals offers a variety of day program services for adults with intellectual disabilities to keep participants engaged in their community. Choices include a Life-Skills program, Pre-vocational Services and Supported Employment Services if participants are seeking a job in the community with competitive wages.

For Dominick, Easterseals is where he finds friendships, is included in the community, experiences day trips, meets his therapy goals and so much more. For his parents, Easterseals means services they can count on for a lifetime.

“Easterseals gives us security and safety. That means a lot. I know he will be okay,” Lynne says. “Easterseals is a constant in his life. It gives him independence away from the home, which will help him transition when I am gone. That is super important.”