taking on disability together
2017 Legislative Priorities Department of Mental Health Rate Increase
For five out of the last eight years, the network of community-based providers who support Missouri citizens with developmental disabilities have been under-funded, or the funds have been withheld. The salaries of direct support professionals who work with our individuals fall behind the salaries of similar staff in state-operated facilities by as much as $3 - $4 per hour. It is imperative that a Cost of Living Allocation of 3 percent be implemented this year and annually thereafter.
Department of Mental Health Rate Rebasing
In an effort to correct the payment system, the Department of Mental Health has contracted with the actuarial firm Mercer to develop standardized rates to cover the cost of services for people with developmental disabilities. The inflationary cost has made the current rate structure imbalanced and presents a very real threat to the community-based network of providers who form the safety net system for people in need of these services and supports.
Vocational Rehabilitation Funding
It is essential to the employment opportunities for people with developmental disabilities that the Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation request is fully funded. Vocational Rehabilitation, as a part of the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, is requesting approximately $600,000 in general revenue funds which would then draw approximately $2.3 million in Federal funding.
Autism Funding
Approximately one in sixty-eight children in Missouri will be diagnosed with autism. Our services keep families together, help children attend their neighborhood schools, and prepare them for a bright future that includes gainful employment and independent living. Easterseals Midwest supports an increase of $1 million in additional funding for the five statewide autism services.
eastersealsmidwest.org | 1.800.200.2119
E ASTE RSE AL S MIDWEST AT A G L ANCE
Who We Are Easterseals provides opportunities for people of all ages with a range of disabilities to achieve their full potential. For nearly 100 years, we have been the indispensable resource for people and families challenged by disabilities. Through therapy, training, education and support services, we empower people to live a life of opportunity, independence and contribution. Advocacy is also a core part of our mission. Easterseals partners with community members to work together in building a better, more inclusive world for people of all abilities. We offer a variety of education and outreach programs, including workshops for legislators, first responders, physicians and educators.
1700+ 2,500+ 4,300+ 55,000+ Employees
4,600+ LIVES CHANGED
Individual Donors
Volunteer Hours
Hours of Staff Training and Development
We believe that everyone, regardless of ability, should have the opportunity to live, learn and work in their community.
103,088 92% 15% $2
MILLION
estimated Missouri adults living with an intellectual/ developmental disability
unemployment rate for adult Missourians with an intellectual/developmental disability
of children age 3-17 have one or more intellectual/developmental disability
raised by Easterseals Midwest staff and volunteers each year to supplement government funding
Serving all of Missouri 19 Regional Service Centers
St. Joseph Kansas City 3 locations
Bolivar
Columbia St. Louis 9 Locations
Cape Girardeau
Joplin Springfield
Poplar Bluff
Tavish When Tavish McCain was 18 months old, he stopped talking. Despite meetings with speech therapists and educators, no one could tell Edward and Rosemary why their son’s speech development had halted. It wasn’t until Tavish entered kindergarten that they started to get answers. Tavish was diagnosed with autism, a lifelong developmental disability that impacts a person’s ability to communicate and interact socially with others. Autism affects 1 in 68 children nationwide, and one in 70 children in Missouri. For Tavish and his family, things really began to change when they started Easterseals Midwest’s Parent Training. This free, two-week intensive program coaches parents in order to help them become lifelong supporters and advocates for their child. Tavish was also able to participate in our Friendship Training program, which teaches kids the skills they need to make friends – something that can be a huge obstacle for children with autism. Today, Tavish is a creative, active young boy who loves to build and problem solve. He has a bright future ahead of him!
Karen At the start of 2015, Karen shared a small room in a nursing home with only a curtain for privacy. She didn’t have the freedom to go out into the community, and mostly stayed inside. She was overweight, on oxygen 24 hours a day, and experiencing seizures. Things began to change when Karen joined the Easterseals Midwest family. In March 2015, Karen moved into one of our community living homes in Bolivar, Missouri. With the chance for a fresh start, Karen decided to change her life for the better. Determined to lose weight, Karen started walking, and making healthier food choices. So far, Karen has lost over 80 pounds and, amazingly, no longer needs oxygen or suffers from seizures. She even walked a mile in our annual Walk, Run ‘n Roll fundraiser this summer—something she could never have imagined doing a year ago. With the support of Easterseals Midwest staff, Karen also reconnected with her family, an important milestone in her journey back towards a fuller, more active life. After 20 years apart, Karen reunited with her daughter just in time to find out she is going to be a grandmother to twins! Her next goal is to find a job and become employed. Giving Karen the support she needed to live independently has completely expanded her world and empowered her to create a happier, healthier life for herself.
Briana Ask Bri where she sees herself in the near future, and she has a clear answer: in a leadership role at her job. Bri’s vision for her life wasn’t always this focused, but with support from Easterseals Midwest Employment Services, she is now living a happier, more independent life. Before entering our program, Bri says she struggled with work responsibility — she admits that she would be on her phone all the time, even when she was supposed to be focusing on tasks. That isn’t the sort of behavior you’ll see from Bri now! Since starting her job at Kohl’s in the spring of 2015, she has grown into a reliable and valuable employee. With the support of job coach Kerry Holland, Bri made progress in following the routines of her assigned departments and managing her time, including break time, appropriately. Her supervisors noticed Bri’s progress and began to try her out in other roles, including the men’s department, the jewelry department, and customer service — for which she needed to learn the entire sales floor in order to restock returned items accurately. Bri excelled when given these responsibilities, and was even named an Employee of the Month at her store. Since beginning services with ESMW, Bri has gone from just wanting a paycheck to taking ownership of her job and finding meaning in her work. We see big things in the future for this mature, dedicated young woman!
Bryce At 20 months old, Bryce’s doctor suspected that he was on the autism spectrum and started attending Easterseals Midwest’s First Steps, a program for children ages 0-3 experiencing developmental delays. At two-years old, Bryce was officially diagnosed with autism. Seeing his success in First Steps, Bryce’s parents signed him up for Easterseals Midwest Early Childhood services—a program where they knew he could receive oneon-one attention and develop his social skills in a low-stress environment. The Early Childhood class was a perfect fit, and in July 2014, Bryce started class with four other two-year-olds. “The teacher-to-student ratio was great,” said Kerri, Bryce’s mom. “He was newly diagnosed, and receiving lots of therapy. Soon he started coming home and saying more words.” Now Bryce talks about other kids every day – even kids that aren’t in his classroom – and has made tremendous strides with his social skills and ability to interact with others. With the addition of ABA therapy, Bryce is now more comfortable dealing with transitions and change, which has made life for his family a lot more manageable. “If Bryce hadn’t had Easterseals, he wouldn’t be where is today. We are both working parents, so it’s harder. But knowing that the support is there, and that he has the funding to attend this program is a wonderful thing for our family,” said Kerri. “It makes so many things possible.”
Our Public Policy Objectives • Raise community awareness around disability and disability issues • Create opportunities for people with disabilities to live and participate in their own communities • Eliminate barriers for people with disabilities so that public spaces are safe and accessible • Expand opportunities for civic access • Ensure equal access to new and emerging technology • Pursue equal employment opportunities for people of all abilities • Provide access to safe, affordable housing for people with disabilities
Easterseals Midwest Board of Directors Sean Donlin | Board Chairman Mark Darrell | Vice Chairman Kent Schien | Vice Chairman Jacqueline Bardgett Bill Bartelsmeyer Tricia Bolster Mary Beth Compton
G.T. Cozad III Kim Hakim Rich Harkwell Tim McCraw
William Florent | Board Treasurer Lynn Wallis | Board Secretary Judy Kent | Director Emeritus Michael Monson Marian Nunn Shelley Ririe Stephen H. Wedel
Wendy Sullivan | Chief Executive Officer John Adkins | Executive VP of Internal Relations & CFO Tom Barry | Executive VP of External Relations & CDO
Chris Wittenauer Rob Woerther Brian Wright
Jeanne Marshall | Executive VP of Services & CPO Greg Kramer | VP of Business Development
Together, we’re changing the way the world defines and views disability by making profound, positive differences in people’s lives every day.