Easter Seals Success Stories
Food Lion Shop&Care 2013
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His work in quality assurance has not only boosted raves from customers and management, but boosted Javaris’ self-esteem and self-worth. Javaris loves talking to the customers and several regulars look for him as soon as they walk in the store. When asked about his favorite parts of the day, he mentioned several different customers that he helps through the store, particularly an elderly lady that comes in and needs help getting her groceries to the car. He finds joy in making sure she and all of his customers have a great shopping experience.
The Easter Seals UCP employment support staff person assigned to Javaris has seen a tremendous difference in his personality. The opportunity to have a job that he can excel at and people commend him on has made a tremendous difference in his demeanor. Instead of having to face what he can’t do, he has the opportunity to succeed, grow and learn new skills, along with a paycheck that allows him some independence.
Easter Seals UCP Supported Employment Program in Charlotte helped secure 76 jobs this past year, which means they helped 76 people find independence. The organization works with 25 companies in the Charlotte metro area, who partner with Easter Seals UCP to employ people with unique challenges and disabilities, and provide as much staff support as needed for the placement on the job. Food Lion currently employs five Easter Seals UCP job placements in the Charlotte area and many more across the state of NC.
Keith Westbury
Easter Seals UCP North Carolina & Virginia Employment Support Program
Keith was born with Kearns-Sayre Syndrome and has difficulty hearing. He started working with Easter Seals UCP Supported Employment program in 2003 when his mom heard about their services from another community member.
He began working at the Landfall Food Lion as a Deli Associate in 2006. When asked about what his job meant to him, Keith said, “I am making progress in society. Making a difference for my family and for myself. Easter Seals UCP has helped me connect to the community and has helped me with achieving my goals.”
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David loves working with his supervisors and co-workers. They make him feel like a part of the Food Lion family and include him in activities outside of the store. This past Fall, David volunteered to work the State Fair and help out with the canned food drive and he supported the store’s bowling night to help raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network. In his spare time, David enjoys playing video games, watching wrestling and loves roller coaster videos on YouTube.
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I am thankful for the opportunities given to me by Eater Seals through the care of my children because without this program, I would not have been able to obtain my High School Diploma. I did not finish high school and became discouraged because I did not feel that I would be able to do so. It was merely because I had a place that I trusted whole-heartedly with the well-being of my children, that I was able to complete school. Financially I was not very stable and the Early Head Start Program provided an opportunity for my children to be cared for and for me to complete school without the financial worry. I am a single parent and I understand the significance of a “proper” platform in order to educate my children. I know that I needed to receive my high school diploma and further my education for the sake of my children. Easter Seals has allowed me the opportunity for growth as well as given me the reassurance and the ease of mind that my child is being cared for, nurtured and loved as I would when I have to be away.
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Catie appeared to be typically developing until about 3 months old when she started twitching slightly. Since then she has had seizures almost every day. She began Physical Therapy on July 17, 2010, at the age of 4 ¾ months. Continual emphasis is placed on increasing her muscle tone and balance so she can sit independently to play. She has a chair and pony walker to help her be more functional and interact in her world.
Catie rolls consecutively on the floor. She likes the games that light up on the Ipad and really likes to roll to the Christmas tree. She is noticing even more around her. She always responds to Mom, Dad, and Logan. Catie really enjoys Logan reading books to her and sharing his latest creation.
Catie has the biggest smile that can light up the world. She does her best to smile and interact, even though it can be hard on a day with several seizures. She is strong and determined and will even giggle and coo at times. She is reaching and playing more with her toys and switches.
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Bea began to improve very quickly, and has been making steady progress ever since. Today she walks and runs, feeds herself, is saying words and using sign language, and loves to laugh and joke and play. She loves people and all animals, and is a big snuggle bug, full of hugs, kisses and lots of mischief!
In addition to the vital therapies and support, Easter Seals has provided respite funds that have been invaluable to mom. Thanks to recreational funds, Bea surfed with Izzie at Surfer’s Healing and also started therapeutic horseback riding. Respite, recreational and autism funds were provided by Food Lion’s Shop&Care program.
Josh Jarrell
Easter Seals Serving DC MD VA
After 16 years of devoted service to his country in the U.S. Coast Guard, Josh Jarrell was in trouble. As the conflict in Afghanistan began winding down and Federal Agencies across the board were downsizing, he was given an honorable discharge from his position as IT asset manager. He had no job, bills to pay and worse yet, little idea of how he could rejoin the civilian workforce. Having to reduce monthly expenditures, he moved out of his Arlington, Va., apartment and in with his girlfriend.
Thanks to the Easter Seals Greater Washington Baltimore-Region Veterans Employment Program, Jarrell was given the proper training to improve his resume and interviewing skills, which has led to his current position as security analyst for Customer Value Partners. As a Government contractor, he uses automated tools to determine networks vulnerabilities and prevent unauthorized access of government IT infrastructures.
After a few months of unemployment, Jarrell got in touch with the Virginia Employment Commission, which directed him to Easter Seals. He attended four straight monthly workshops at The Harry & Jeanette Inter-Generational Center in Silver Spring, Md. At the workshops, Jarrell listened to employer panelists and recruiters, who discussed everything from key words to incorporate into a resume to learning exactly how to answer questions in an interview. Jarrell also appreciated the camaraderie that was built with the other veterans and the exchange of tips and experience that benefited all parties.
Eventually, Jarrell was entered into a database, where his new and improved resume was seen by a headhunter, recruiting on behalf of Customer Value Partners. His sharpened interviewing skills impressed the program manager to the point that he was asked to start days later. “I would not have felt as confident over the phone or during in-person interviews, without the incredible coaching I got from Easter Seals,” said Jarrell. “The program gave me an understanding of how to convey my experience level and how it would fit into the positions that were being advertised. I would not have been hired so quickly without the assistance of Easter Seals. It is a fantastic program!”
John Catalano
Easter Seals Serving DC MD VA
John Catalano is a shining example of how the Easter Seals Veterans Employment Program is helping veterans reintegrate into the workforce every day. Catalano didn’t just join the workforce, he helped Easter Seals bring others into the workforce as well.
Catalano spent 17 years as a military personnel recruiter for the Air National Guard, where he was stationed at Channel Islands, Calif., and Andrews Air Force Base (Md.), outside of the nation’s capital. He had spent seven years in similar roles with the Air Force, prior to his time in the Air National Guard.
After nearly a quarter-century commitment to his country, Catalano earned a job with Verizon, where he recruited for the company, much like he did for the Air National Guard. After three years, he was laid off and out of full-time work for three years. He made the most of the situation, using the G.I. Bill to further his education at University of Maryland, University College, where he studied marketing and human resources management.
Catalano was happy to go back to school, but was becoming worried about his financial situation, as he was paying for his son, John II to earn his Bachelor’s degree. Eager to secure full-time work, Catalano went to a State of Maryland representative in Waldorf, where their “One Stop” program was helping veterans become employed. It was there that he was referred to the Easter Seals Veterans Employment Program. Catalano attended a monthly workshop at the Silver Spring Headquarters in March of 2012 and quickly became acquainted with the staff. In May, he was offered a full-time job to become a case manager at Easter Seals, assisting other veterans rejoin the workforce.
Easter Seals helped elevate Catalano closer to his dream. He was hired by the Veterans Employment Program to assist veterans like himself find the opportunities they so richly deserve.
“Easter Seals helped me get back on my feet and get back into the job market,” said Catalano. “It was so satisfying to give back to fellow veterans after being helped myself in a similar fashion.”
After a short time with Easter Seals, Catalano secured a position as a program analyst for the U.S. Navy, where he is in charge of administrative fundraising, budget and correspondence. It was a position he was looking for all along, but never would have been able to obtain it without Easter Seals.
Since its inception in 2010, Easter Seals’ Veterans Employment Program has placed more than 200 veterans in meaningful, sustainable positions with nearly 100 companies. Easter Seals has also provided almost $300,000 in job training. Men and women who have dedicated their lives to protect this country are receiving help every day and reentering the job force in the Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. area. With assistance from the U.S. Department of Labor and several other resources, Easter Seals will be able to tell more veteran employment success stories of our nation’s heroes.
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“Easter Seals looked at him from every angle to figure out a therapy plan. They gave him more confidence and gave us the extra support we needed to keep going,” Shannon says. “Easter Seals is amazing. We cannot talk about or thank them enough.”
Because of Brendan’s disorder, his bones are soft and his parents have to take precautions to keep him safe. Easter Seals was there to help by teaching Brendan how to balance, climb stairs and kick a ball. They also taught him how to handle other kids running into him, which is a huge fear for his parents since his bones can break so easily.
“With any child, you don’t always know what to expect, and when a child has a disability, that anxiety is multiplied. At Easter Seals, we can help parents understand what is happening with their child and what to expect and that makes it less scary,” Katie Megee, Easter Seals Physical Therapist, says. “We can help parents help their child achieve their maximum potential.”
A trusted provider of children’s therapy services for more than 60 years, Easter Seals Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore specializes in treating children ages birth through eighteen years with a variety of challenges, including developmental delay, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, a speech and language delay, feeding and swallowing difficulties and others. Easter Seals specializes in meeting the needs of children and their families through creative, playful activities that go beyond traditional services.
“Brendan continues to prove us wrong,” Shannon says. “It is interesting how children teach us things. I used to be such a planner. Brendan taught me I can’t do that, I have to be flexible. He teaches me to take one day at a time and to live every day to the fullest.”
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After visiting Easter Seals Western Pennsylvania and meeting the caring team of teachers and specialists – his parents knew that the Linda Lanham Zeszutek School Program was the perfect fit. Chase is currently in his 3rd year at the School Program South Site, and he’s thriving. Chase has made significant gains including walking independently and using devices and pictures to communicate needs. His family is pleased with his progress and their ability to be involved in his education.
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