Easterseals Delaware & Maryland's Eastern Shore Celebrates 75 Years

An indispensable resource for the region, Easterseals Delaware & Maryland’s Eastern Shore is celebrating 75 years of creating an inclusive community for local children and adults with disabilities, seniors, and their families. Though early services focused solely on children’s therapy services, Easterseals has expanded over the years to meet the needs of adults with disabilities and seniors through innovative services to ensure they have equal opportunities to live, learn, work and play in their communities.

“This is a monumental year for us as a local affiliate of Easterseals! We are proud to serve as a longstanding support for people with disabilities in the region,” Kenan Sklenar, President/CEO, said. “Easterseals has grown through the years but our mission to promote independence and empowerment for people with disabilities of all ages has been unwavering. We have an incredible 75-year legacy, but we are just getting started!”

In 1948, Easterseals began serving a handful of children with disabilities in a small school in New Castle and a summer program in Sussex County. Today Easterseals spans the entire state of Delaware and has two locations on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. To deliver the wide range of services it offers, Easterseals employs approximately 250 people at eight locations. Although still recovering from the impact of the pandemic, last year the organization served more than 6,100 people with direct services and 28,800 in indirect services like education and training.

Today, Easterseals offers not only Children’s Therapy but also day services for adults with intellectual or physical disabilities, supported employment, personal attendant services, recreational camping and respite, Agency with Choice services for those on the Medicaid Lifespan Waiver, Applied Behavior Analysis therapy for toddlers with autism, and services for caregivers through the Easterseals Community Outreach Program.

“At Easterseals Delaware & Maryland’s Eastern Shore, we are constantly looking for ways we can evolve to meet the growing needs of the community,” Sklenar said. “Most recently, Easterseals opened a new location in Smyrna, Delaware, for an adult day program because we recognized the need for additional services to support seniors in the state. To expand our services for caregivers, Easterseals opened an office at the Milford Wellness Village.”

According to Joseph Guariano, Easterseals Board Chair, Easterseals is planning a year-long observation of the 75th Anniversary, culminating in a celebration gala which will be held on October 19 at Chase Center on the Riverfront.

“Easterseals has been and continues to be an incredible resource for people with disabilities and seniors in our region,” Guariano said. “This organization helps children build a firm foundation, enables adults with disabilities to live independently and ensure seniors remain a part of their community. The work done by Easterseals is essential to building an inclusive community. I am proud to be a part of this incredible mission and invite all to join us as we celebrate not only its legacy but also its promise for the future.”