Easter Seals Iowa offers the highest-quality services designed to meet the individual needs of children and adults with disabilities. We help each person overcome obstacles, become independent and reach goals.
ACHIEVING INDEPENDENT METHODS (AIM)
AIM is a unique managed care plan for people with mental retardation and developmental disabilities. This program offers a full range of direct services, including employment, housing, health services, recreation, and socialization. Clients must be referred by Polk County Health Services.
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY CENTER
Equipment Loan Services
Equipment Loan Services loans durable medical equipment such as electric hospital beds, electric and manual wheelchairs, and adaptive bathroom devices to those in need. Equipment is provided at a nominal fee and can be used for an unlimited length of time. Easter Seals seeks donations of used medical equipment for use in this program.
Demonstration Center
The Demonstration Center, located at the Assistive Technology Center at Easter Seals Camp Sunnyside, showcases different types of assistive technologies, such as tub lifts, kitchen and bathroom features, and other items individuals may use to make their homes more accessible. The Demonstration Center is a valuable resource in allowing customers to try equipment before it is brought into the home.
Assistive Technology Lending Library
Individual residing in Iowa, including persons with disabilities, family members, teachers, health professionals, etc., are eligible for the program. A limit of 5 items can be loaned at any given time, for up to 30 days. A person can access an unlimited amount of items in a given year. The borrower is responsible for the pick-up of all item(s) from the Easter Seals Assistive Technology Lending Library and the borrower is responsible for all fees to return the item(s) to Easter Seals.
BOB & BILLIE RAY CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER
Easter Seals provides equality childcare in a safe and nurturing setting in which children of all abilities can explore their environments, develop new skills and learn from each other. The Child Development Center serves children from 6 weeks to kindergarten. Daily activities are educational, and the curriculum is driven by developmentally appropriate practices to meet each child's physical, educational, social, emotional, and developmental needs.
CAMP, RESPITE, AND RECREATION SERVICES
Resident Camp
A traditional week-long Resident Camp. Sessions held at Camp Sunnyside for individuals with disabilities ages four and older. Camp Sunnyside features a lake for canoeing, an animal farm, horseback riding, archery, nature trails, frisbee golf course, the Variety Club Activity Center, an accessible indoor pool and the Meredith Tree House.
Respite Camp
Easter Seals Respite Program provides temporary care for children and adults with disabilities, allowing parents/caregivers breaks to focus on other areas of their lives. Regularly scheduled respite weekends are held at Easter Seals Camp Sunnyside twice each month. Emergency care is also available.
Supported Day Camp
Supported Day camp is designed to provide all the fun of daily camp activities while providing parents and caregivers a break. The program is a day camp program but provides higher ratios of supervision and skilled personal care. (Ages 4-17)
Bridge Camp
This program is designed for children who can be supported in a traditional Bridge camp ratio with 1:8 supervision. The program focuses not only on the traditional activities of camp, but will have activities structured around becoming a good role model and helpful friend to peers with disabilities. (Ages 6-12)
CASE MANAGEMENT AND SERVICE COORDINATION
Case Management Services assist participants to become as independent as possible. Our case managers help individuals and family members make choices about the type of services available and how they can access them. Case Managers also advocate for participants' rights, monitor services, and link consumers to appropriate providers.
DAY HABILITATION SERVICES
Life Club
Life Club is an adult day habilitation program serving adults with disabilities. Life Club provides skill training and opportunities to experience the Des Moines community. The service runs Monday through Friday and is staffed at a ratio of 1:7, staff to consumer respectively. Some activities offered include community service work, boating, swimming, bowling, movies, and going out to eat. Life Club is consumer focused and works towards individual goals to increase personal independence.
CSI: Clients Socially Integrated
CSI is a long-term community based day program that focuses on consumers learning transferable skills that lead to independent community integration. All activities occur in the community. This service runs Monday through Friday and is staffed at a 1:4 ration, staff to consumers respectively. CSI focuses on independence, inclusion, individualization and productivity.
EMPLOYABILITY
At a ratio of four participants to one staff, this training program operates Monday through Friday for five hours a day. It is designed to teach individuals community safety skills, employability skills and work skills. Individuals with increase skills in the areas of transportation and safety, professional dress, emergency procedure and social skills, as well as job task completion.
RURAL SOLUTIONS
Rural Solutions provides on-site rural rehabilitation services to farm family members with a disability. Easter Seals assists families by promoting increased independence through adaptive equipment, modification, and support services that enable a family to continue their livelihood on the farm.
HOURLY SUPPORTED COMMUNITY LIVING
Easter Seals offers Supported Community Living programs for children and adults. This community-based program is designed to develop and strengthen daily living activities. Services are provided in both group and individual settings, and include activities such as going out to eat, social outings, swimming, and working on communication and socialization skills.
24-HOUR SUPPORTED COMMUNITY LIVING
This program provides extended services to adults with disabilities who require 24-hour care in their place of residence. The primary goal of 24-Hour SCL is to support and assist an individual as they learn the life skills necessary to one day live and recreate in the community independently. Skills such as meal planning and preparation, budgeting and banking, and social interaction are the focus of this program.
