Easterseals Central Illinois

Easterseals pediatric occupational therapists help find what is meaningful to your child and therapy focuses on caregiver and child-centered goals. Occupational therapists increase a child’s independence and quality of life while targeting a variety of areas including daily living skills, sensory processing, self-regulation, motor skills, and coordination. Treatment includes an emphasis on educating the caregivers and providing strategies to increase participation in their home and community environments.

Easterseals pediatric speech therapists use a variety of techniques to teach essential skills needed to be confident and succesful communicators. Speech-language treatment plans and goals are developed and implemented based on your child’s needs and goals of the family. Our therapists are experts in creating an environment in which children feel successful, yet are challenged to develop their individual skills.

Easterseals feeding therapists can turn mealtime struggles back to an enjoyable experience again. By working closely with the family, our therapists utilize several different approaches depending on the needs of the child. One of which includes SOS (Sequential Oral Sensory) approach to feeding which address both sensory processing and oral motor skills a child needs to eat a wide variety of food groups and textures. This approach allows a child to interact with food in a playful, non-stressful way.

Easterseals developmental therapists help children birth to 3 years old meet milestones by supporting the whole family. This therapy addresses a child’s global development by providing services in a child’s natural environment. Caregivers are provided home therapy strategies to help the child gain skills and make progress.

Caring for children of all ages is a tough job, however many children, youth, and teenagers with disabilities face special challenges. They may experience fears about the future, poor self-esteem, and difficulty coping with their disability. Many parents of children with disabilities also experience very unique challenges related to managing their child’s development and behavior. Counselors at Easterseals can help
individuals and families, with and without disabilities, focus on their abilities, learn positive coping methods, improve challenging parenting tasks, and enhance social and behavioral skills in a comfortable and fun environment. Counseling helps children improve their quality of life and works to increase their happiness.

Constraint Induced Movement Therapy is an innovative, scientifically-supported method of upper extremity rehabilitation for children with neuromotor impairments.

Cortical/Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI) is caused by damage to the visual centers of the brain. The eyes are able to see, but the brain is not interpreting what is being seen. CVI interventions change everyday quality of life for children and their families. CVI is the only visual impairment where vision function can be improved through specialized intervention.

Prechtl’s General Movements Assessment (GMA): During a physical therapy evaluation, Prechtl’s General Movement Assessment can be used to assess babies from birth up to 5 months of age who are born prematurely or have a complex birth history to determine if they may be at risk for developing cerebral palsy.

Serial casting is a procedure that involves a series of casts used to stretch soft tissue contractures and/or inhibit abnormal muscle tone. It is a specialized strategy used by Easterseals physical therapists to address decreased range of motion in the ankles due to muscle tightness. New casts are applied every week until the desired position or range of motion is achieved.

Children seen in the cerebral palsy clinic may have a variety of diagnoses that impact movement and motor development including, but not limited to, cerebral palsy, hypotonia, developmental delays, and genetic disorders.

Assistive Technology Clinic & Resource Services
Easterseals therapists work with local vendors and the child and family’s funding sources to provide evaluations for and assist families in obtaining positioning and mobility devices such as customized wheel chairs and seating systems, adaptive strollers, walkers, gait trainers, standers, and bath chairs.

Orthotics Clinic
Easterseals physical therapists consult with an orthotist to determine the appropriate prescription for custom-fitted orthotics/braces to provide stability and support for proper positioning of the feet and ankles during standing, walking, and other functional activities.

Central Illinois Orofacial Anomalies (CIOAT) Clinic
The CIOAT clinic provides a multidisciplinary team approach to the evaluation and management of individuals with cleft lip or palate, speech problems, ear deformities, or other conditions. The team works with the Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) and other central Illinois area agencies.

Easterseals provides individualized programs and services to support children with autism and their families. Our services are spread through this program guide, from pediatric services, to specialty clinics and supportive programs. Easterseals meets the needs of children throughout the spectrum.

Autism Services and Supports:
Adaptive swim lessons
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
Assistive Technology Clinic
Augmentative & Alternative Communication
New Diagnosis Parent/Family Orientation
Autism Diagnostic Clinic
Autism Resource Centers
Counseling
Occupational Therapy
Physical Therapy
Residential Day Camp
Sequential Oral Sensory Feeding Therapy (SOS)
Social Skills Group
Speech Therapy
Water Seals Swimming Group

Owned and operated by Easterseals Central Illinois, Timber Pointe Outdoor Center is the premier resource in the state of Illinois for providing specialized outdoor recreational, experiential and family programs for individuals with disabilities and illnesses in a fun, safe and accessible environment.

Timber Pointe Outdoor Center provides specialized lodging, staff and programming modified to accommodate kids and adults of all abilities. From day camps, overnight summer camps, partner group camps, and weekend family retreats there's a camp fit for everyone.