Easterseals

For many families, caregiving is a lifelong journey.

From early childhood through adulthood, true autism acceptance means recognizing that caregivers need ongoing support too. Reliable information, services, mental health resources, and community connection all matter.

When caregivers are supported, families are stronger.

Explore trusted resources for every stage of the journey: easterseals.com/understandingdisability

Exciting news out of Easterseals Joliet Region!

Earlier this month, the Light Up Lives Celebration of Giving raised more than $160,000 to support therapy, education, workforce training, and more that help people with disabilities live full, independent lives.

This support helps expand access, keep services within reach, and make sure people with disabilities and their families can get what they need, when they need it.

We’re grateful to our community partners, the supporters who showed up in a HUGE way, and our team at Easterseals Joliet who deliver this support every day!

A powerful example of local impact from our affiliate, the Easterseals Rehabilitation Center.

In a recent segment from Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW), we meet Paige, the Center’s 2026 Youth Ambassador, a determined 13-year-old building strength, balance, and confidence through Easterseals therapy.

Paige also helped represent Easterseals during this year’s Telethon, which raised more than $912,000 to support children and adults with disabilities across the Tri-State.

That support goes right back into the community, expanding access to early education, therapy, and services that make independence possible for people like Paige and nearly 5,000 individuals and families.

This is what our Affiliate network makes possible: real support, real outcomes, in communities across the country.

2026 Easterseals Youth Ambassador: Paige Musgrove Meet the 2026 Easterseals Youth Ambassador: Paige Musgrove

Government websites are how public services reach the community.

They’re used to submit applications, complete required forms, access school information, find public health guidance, and get updates from local agencies. For many services, there is no alternative.
When those systems are not designed to work for people with disabilities, the result is not just inconvenience, it creates unnecessary obstacles. Tasks take longer, require additional assistance, or cannot be completed at all.

That means delays in care, missed deadlines, and barriers to services people rely on to live, work, and participate fully in their communities.

The ADA Title II web accessibility rule was developed to address these gaps and establish a consistent standard for digital access across state and local government.

Delays in implementation mean those barriers remain in place longer. Public services need to be usable in practice, not just in theory.

Leading Disability Organizations: Delaying Digital Accessibility is Unacceptable - AAPD For Immediate Release: April 21, 2026 Contact: Naomi Hess, [email protected]; 202-873-4011 A broad coalition of disability rights organizations is expressing our unequivocal opposition: the Department of Justice’s Interim Final Rule extending the compliance deadline for the Title II digital ...

Autism acceptance means meeting people where they are. It means recognizing that every autistic person is different and support should reflect that.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach. Acceptance looks like listening first, understanding individual strengths and needs, and tailoring services that help people thrive at every stage of life.

Learn more about autism acceptance and watch our Understanding Autistic Traits series, featuring Easterseals experts alongside autistic self‑advocates: easterseals.com/understandingdisability

New research shows more than one-third of family caregivers in the U.S. are people with disabilities themselves. https://heller.brandeis.edu/community-living-policy/research-policy/publications/titles/caregivers-w-disabilities.html

That reality is often overlooked, but it has real consequences for families, the workforce, and our communities.

We see what happens when caregivers don’t have the support they need. When caregivers are stretched, the impact is felt everywhere, from health outcomes to workforce participation.

As our President and CEO Kendra Davenport shares, strengthening support for caregivers means building systems that reflect the full reality of care, including the experiences of caregivers with disabilities.

Read our full statement below.
https://www.easterseals.com/about-us/newsroom/easterseals-news/statement-easterseals-president-ceo-kendra-davenport-on-new

Statement from Easterseals President & CEO Kendra Davenport on New Research Highlighting Caregivers with Disabilities Easterseals CEO Kendra Davenport released a statement highlighting new research that reveals over one-third of family caregivers in the U.S. are people with disabilities. The organization calls for strengthened support systems, including Home- and Commu...

It's our anniversary! April 22 marks 107 years of Easterseals supporting people with disabilities across the country. Through disability, aging, and veteran services, Easterseals helps people access the support they need to live full, independent lives and stay connected to their communities.

To celebrate our anniversary, donations are being matched 4X for a limited time, making this a powerful moment to give and help reach even more people who rely on Easterseals services.

Make your donation at: https://hq.easterseals.com/107Match

Providing support for an autistic loved one comes with real questions. Caregivers need resources they can trust.

What services are available?
How do we plan for the future?
Where can we turn for trusted guidance?

Autism acceptance means making sure families don’t have to navigate those questions alone. Evidence-based resources and community-centered support make a lasting difference.

Easterseals is there for every stage of the journey. Explore resources at https://hq.easterseals.com/understandingdisability