Easter Seals enables independence for the disabled

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas – Where would you turn if your child was born with a mental or physical disability? Are you familiar with the resources available in Montgomery County that offer assistance with respite for parents and other caregivers? Being a parent of a child with disabilities can be frustrating and rewarding both at the same time just like it is for any parent. Teenagers will push the boundaries to gain independence and learn from their mistakes.

Andi Fry is a parent of 2 teenage girls, but Megan, 16, is in a wheelchair with cerebral palsy. Megan has utilized the services of Easter Seals for 13 years. Services include respite, Camp Smiles, and BridgingApps.

“I look forward to planning our monthly Saturday off! Easter Seals offered respite services for our daughter and her sister. They offer age appropriate activities for all siblings, which really makes a difference”, said Andi Fry.

Megan experienced her first week long overnight camp at 6 years old- Camp Smiles is specifically for children 6-14 years old with cerebral palsy. Megan faces many challenges as an “ordinary teenage girl”, but what is unusual is that she cannot move or speak but only uses her eyes to communicate. Through a Dynavox Eyemaz Megan can watch TV, do school work, maintain her own webpage at www.JustMyEye.com, and create beautiful artwork. Currently Megan and her sister volunteer to help with the programs at Easter Seals. She hopes to someday be an Inspirational Speaker.

"I can't use my hands at all, and so how did I do art before I got the software to let me paint with my eyes? When I was 3 my grandmother Sue Fry, put a head stick with a paint brush on my head. People thought she was crazy, but it worked. When I was 7, I got the DynaVox with the computer ability. I was using scanning still. One day I decided to explore the possibility in my new computer. I found paint. Every computer has this basic program that lets you draw. It was hard to draw with scanning because I could only move the mouse horizontal and vertical. However, it was better than the head stick. My grandmother got me ArtRage on my 10th birthday. ArtRage changed my future. ArtRage allowed me to paint on the computer realistically. My life was changed forever. This was the biggest step in my becoming an artist."-- An Excerpt from Megan's Blog, 06/02/13

Easter Seals Greater Houston is committed to assistance for individuals of all ages with any physical or mental disability regardless of their ability to pay. There are programs available from infancy to adulthood, whether disability is due to an accident, illness, or developmental disability.Originally known as the National Society for Crippled Children, the Easter “seal” campaign was initiated t raise money and awareness by placing a seal on envelopes and letters. Today Easter Seals, a United Way partnering agency, offers Help, Hope, and Answers to more than a million children and adults living with disabilities.

“One in five children has a disability, and most of the families we serve live below poverty. Care giving and medical bills are staggering with families earning too much for government assistance and not enough to provide for their special needs child”, said Kristie Carlisle, Montgomery County Services Coordinator.

Camp, therapy, respite services, education, and training are some of the services provided by each site throughout the country. Leadership Montgomery County Class of 2013 launched the BridgingApps program in Montgomery County. BridgingApps is an Easter Seals program that closes the gap and reduces barriers to allow access to education and therapeutic tools anywhere for parents and teachers through the use of mobile devices to help the disabled utilize their cognitive skills to their highest ability. BridgingApps teaches parents to listen more and empowers kids to do for themselves.

“Given the rising number of apps on the market and the diverse skills of children and adults with special needs, our goal is to provide caregivers and professionals with the best resources for choosing apps to enhance everyday life for people with disabilities and sharing their successes with others. In collaboration with speech language pathologists and occupational therapists, we have created an app review system that focuses on skills—rather than age, diagnosis or developmental level to help improve outcomes for a person with a disability,” said Fry who is the coordinator of the BridgingApps in Montgomery County.

Through apps and mobile devices, individuals with disabilities can communicate, learn to read, write, and speak. Currently there are over 1500 apps that can be manipulated and matched up with desired needs and the device. “The lab is free to anyone to try and see what works for them and their child”, said Andi.

Learn more about BridgingApps at www.BridgingApps.org.

Parents learn about Easter Seals and the programs through outreach events and coordinated resources available through Lone Star College, Conroe ISD Parent Resource Center, the Special Blessings Program at The Woodlands United Methodist Church, and other events.

Catalina Reyes learned about the Social Motion Skills program for her son Daniel through the Parent Resource Center. Daniel is now 21, and has an autism spectrum disorder that makes social integration situations difficult. He participated in several non-traditional out of classroom experiences that enabled him to grow and learn to engage in eye contact, a professional handshake, and manners. Daniel was involved in National Lemonade Day that empowered him to learn first hand what it takes to plan an event, a budget, expected revenue, and build a booth without supervision. Tetra Technologies also hired Daniel as an intern in 2012 as part of the High School, High Tech program that partners parents, educators, rehabilitation professionals and business representatives with high school students in the fields of science, technology, and engineering. Daniel worked all summer on interview skills, IT development, the Help Desk, and how to dress professional in work attire. This provided a huge sense of accomplishment, responsibility, and great job training.

“These programs helped Daniel to invest in planning and conflict resolution while staying engaged and motivated. There is even a Safeway School for Drivers Education that is slower paced and offers an extended program for special needs individuals,” said Catalina.

Other programs offered through Easter Seals are the ECI-Early Childhood Intervention Program that helps parents get the child ready for school, THRIVE that assists families with home ownership and food, Veteran Services, and Transition Services for those with disabilities completing high school, ready for adult services, and career opportunities.

“We are available to help break down the barriers. If we can’t help you we will find someone that can. We are like a stew...a mix of different people all working together,” said Kristie Carlisle.

Easter Seals of Greater Houston offers HOPE, HELP, and ANSWERS to improve the lives of children and adults with disabilities.

To learn more about Easter Seals of Greater Houston, volunteer, donate or be a part of the mentor program email KCarlisle@EasterSealsHouston.org or visit the website at www.EasterSealsHouston.org.

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