Not For Profit

For all the therapeutic work performed for clients of Easter Seals, the chances of real success would be lessened considerably without the devotion of families, the head of the local Easter Seals office said.

"One of the things we know for certain is that as important as what we do is, the real progress a child with special needs makes comes within the context of family, be it parents or grandparents or siblings. That's why we involve family from the start," said Steve Thompson, CEO of Easter Seals for Peoria & Bloomington-Normal & Decatur.

Learning their child has special needs can be devastating for parents, especially those who are told not much can be done for the child. "It is a big thing for the parents when they hear us say 'yes, we can help,' especially when they had not heard those words yet," Thompson said.

He said some parents feel uplifted from the second they walk in the door at the Easter Seals center on East Armstrong Street in Peoria. It's bright and cheery by design, he added, "and we think it speaks volumes about hope for the future. Then when we start talking to them about what their kids can do instead of in terms of what they cannot do, they realize the possibilities."

Thompson said the children themselves may not realize they have special needs until they are older, or at least they don't think as much about it until later. The pre-teen years are harder when they see friends and siblings doing things they cannot. "That's really when we see other issues becoming weightier for them, like the long-range future when they start wondering whether they will ever get married or be able to have children," he said.

"That's why we look for different things that can be confidence builders. Our 'Lose the Training Wheels' program that helps them learn to ride bicycles is an example of that. We also look for events they can be included in with their families," he added.

September and October are busy months for the organization with fundraising events. Then in early November the organization will have its 21st Annual Easter Seals Tribute Dinner, honoring those whose philanthropic spirit has benefited the organization and its young clients and their families.

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