Press Releases

Jack Witzman knew something was not right when he and his wife, Jackie, were driving home from the store one day and, suddenly, Jackie did not know where she was going. Jackie was later diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, confirming his suspicion.

When Stella was born 10 weeks early, Amanda saw in her daughter a determination that carried her through many complications and eight weeks in the NICU. Between three and six months, Amanda and Jim, Stella’s parents, noticed Stella was not using her left arm and leg. They were shocked to learn she had had a stroke after birth. Wanting the best outcome for their daughter, they sought out Easterseals Children’s Therapy services.

Easterseals Delaware & Maryland’s Eastern Shore employees, Ebony Keaton, of Bridgeville, and Lawrence “Larry” Manokey, of Seaford, were recently recognized with an Honorable Mention as the top Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) in the State for their inspirational work supporting people with disabilities. They were both nominated by their supervisors and honored at an annual event held by the Ability Network of Delaware.

National Direct Support Professional Week officially is observed September 9-15, 2018, but at Easterseals we appreciate and recognize the contributions of Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) every day.

Easterseals was out in full force at the rally last week to support HB 104, the Michael McNesby Full Funding for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities. We are asking the State to keep its promise and approve $9 million in state funding as a first-year commitment to fully fund disability services.

It is a typical scene happening in many homes across the country, a family sharing a meal at the table. However, for the Shrieves family, this night is anything but typical. For the first time since two-year-old Cheyanne was born, the family is all eating the same meal. Easterseals speech therapy services helped this magical moment come true.

Recently, The Tatnall School presented Easterseals Delaware & Maryland’s Eastern Shore with a check following their fundraising efforts through their “Hop-N-ing” program to raise funds to benefit local people with disabilities. This year, Easterseals and The Tatnall School celebrated their 18-year partnership of spreading ability awareness to early childhood students. The students raised money to support Easterseals services for local families based on the number of times they hopped up and down, with contributors pledging money per hop. Since its inception in 2000, the “Hop-N-ing” event at The Tatnall School has raised over $38,000 for Easterseals.

Verna Hensley is the mother of Julia Hensley and the vice president of public affairs at Easterseals Delaware and Maryland's Eastern Shore. "Most parents of children in their twenties are contemplating 'empty nest' syndrome, but it's a different syndrome that haunts me each day. Trisomy 9 Syndrome, a rare chromosome abnormality, entered my world almost 23 years ago when my daughter, Julia, was born."

Easterseals Delaware & Maryland’s Eastern Shore recently received a $10,000 donation from the Donnie Williams Foundation. The donation will be used to support the Easterseals Children’s Therapy program in Salisbury, MD.