Changes have been plentiful at Easterseals Rehabilitation Center in the last year.
In 2017, Evansville Business took a tour through the renovations of the organization’s building along Bellemeade Avenue (“Bright Light” in the April/May 2017 issue). Since then, Easterseals has continued to expand programs and services to accommodate the needs of the Tri-State.
At the organization’s annual luncheon on Oct. 24, President and CEO Kelly Schneider shared the changes Easterseals has completed in 2018 — the biggest being the centralization of the early childhood programs.
Earlier in the year, Easterseals moved the Dan and Nancy Mitchell Therapeutic Preschool (for 3 to 5 year olds identified as having developmental disabilities requiring special education services) into the Easterseals Early Learning Center at 621 S. Cullen Ave., joining the Milestones Early Care (6 week to 3 year olds of all abilities) and LEAD Academy (inclusive preschool for 3 to 6 year olds of all abilities) programs. This prompted a “re-launch” of the center, complete with new signage and a ribbon cutting ceremony. Easterseals also will expand curriculum for children to include arts enrichment and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) aspects.
This change allowed the Assistive Technology Department to move into the space formerly occupied by the therapeutic preschool at Easterseals’ Bellemeade Avenue location, which also will bring about renovations.
Another large change involves the psychology department. James Schroeder, Ph.D., who joined Easterseals in June as a pediatric psychologist, is leading the efforts as the department expands. Over the next five years, this will allow the department to hit several goals — enhancing pediatric therapy services; increasing capacity to meet critical needs for psychology services; and offering mental health resources to all families in the area.
