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Ernie Dianastasis, a longtime board member of Easterseals Delaware & Maryland’s Eastern Shore, will be recognized at the 2016 Easterseals Annual Dinner on Thursday, October 13 at the Chase Center on the Riverfront.

When Emily Hurst, of Hockessin, first walked through the doors of Easterseals she was very nervous, but little did she know how much she would grow to love the environment, the staff, new friends and, of course, the dance parties. As those nerves faded, Emily’s mom, Julia, has watched her grow into a more independent woman thanks to the skills she is learning at Easterseals.

Tina was reluctant to leave her youngest son, Kyle, for the first time at Easterseals Camp Fairlee. Thanks to some gentle nudging from her daughter-in-law, she was finally persuaded to give it a chance. All that worry went away as soon as she opened the car door and saw Kyle’s smiling face.

Easterseals Delaware & Maryland’s Eastern Shore recently received a $25,000 grant from Discover Bank to support its Supported Employment program – a program that opens the door to meaningful work and competitive wages in the community for adults with intellectual disabilities, while providing employers with dedicated, productive employees. Each year, Easterseals partners with over 60 businesses around Delaware to recruit and train individuals with disabilities for their workplace.

Recently, Senior Pen Pals and More teamed up with Easterseals Delaware & Maryland’s Eastern Shore to help combat the feeling of loneliness felt by their participants who are not able to attend the adult day programs due to COVID-19. The group brought joy to over 240 participants by writing encouraging letters which were mailed to participants’ homes. The group plans to continue to send letters to additional Easterseals participants.

Like any parent, Jeanne Eskridge, of Townsend, wanted it all for her son, Brian. After graduating from high school and completing a job-training program, Jeanne sought a future for him that would be engaging and challenge him to reach his potential. Easterseals day services for adults with intellectual disabilities coupled with a part-time job has been the solution to meeting his needs and hers.

Caregiving responsibilities can be overwhelming at times but when a caregiver has someone sharing that weight, it does not feel as heavy. Easterseals is proud to come alongside caregivers, like Erika Carlson, who supports her husband, Chuck, with dementia.

Easterseals Delaware & Maryland’s Eastern Shore recently received the “Cultural Access Award” from Art-Reach of Philadelphia for their Artfulness program. The program brings art to the seniors and people with disabilities who attend Easterseals adult day programs. Throughout the pandemic shutdown, the Artfulness program continued their work virtually and were able to engage a wider audience in all of Easterseals day programs in the state.

Easterseals Delaware & Maryland’s Eastern Shore has announced the sixth annual “Bill Adami Fund for Innovation” award will be used to fund two projects initiated by Easterseals staff to improve accessibility within the organization. The Bill Adami Fund for Innovation was created in memory of Easterseals late President/CEO, William J. Adami, who passed away in 2013.

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.