Early Intervention Provided the Tools We Need to Help Support Our Son

“When we were first referred to Easterseals we were so unsure of what to expect. Our youngest son had some developmental delays that he needed help with and through his therapists and care coordinator we have had so much support as a family and our son has had so much success. We finally have the tools we need to provide our son with

the support he needs to grow. We always feel heard. It is such an amazing feeling knowing you have a whole team of people who want to see your child succeed as much as you do. We have been very blessed.” – Kim K.

After Only a Few Months, My Child Has More Communication Skills

“My name is Kaye and I am a mom to Kiki (2.5 years old). Kiki is my second child, and she is such a joy. I noticed early on that Kiki is unique in many ways. I started to have some concerns noticing that Kiki’s communication was something I could not relate to after she turned 1 year old. I began looking for answers and I was led to Easterseals Hawaii. Easterseals has been great with support and resources. They have wonderful people who are approachable and show genuine care for your child."

“After only a few months, I noticed that Kiki is now more sociable, acknowledges other people around her, she now loves things that used to scare her so much like the water (pool & beach), sand, grass and playgrounds. Although Kiki is not talking yet, she communicates more effectively now using actions. And I also can’t get her out of the pool, and waterpark play-day is always on our top of the list for activities."

“I could not speak more of the importance of Early Intervention with speech therapy and occupational therapy. Consistency and persistence make all the difference. If you have any concerns at all with your child’s development, look for answers and seek the right people. The earlier, the better. Remember that every child is different. Do not lose hope. Be your child’s advocate.”       -Kaye D.

Coming in August 2022 — Family Wellbeing Scale Surveys

Beginning in August 2022, and with each 6-month or annual Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) review afterwards, your Early Intervention Team will be asking you to complete a Family Wellbeing Scale.

What are Wellbeing Scales?

Wellbeing includes positive emotions and moods like contentment, happiness, the absence of negative emotions like depression or anxiety, and overall satisfaction with life. Since children in Early Intervention are too young or unable to answer wellbeing questions on their own, you will receive the Family Wellbeing Scale to complete. These scales measure how your child and family are doing overall and can give you an idea of how Early Intervention services are improving wellbeing.

Why do we ask you all these questions?

You may be wondering why we ask you a lot of questions at the beginning of your child’s treatment and then about every 6 months after that. Your answers to the questions in the questionnaires help us understand your needs and the needs of your child. Over time your answers give you and your Early Intervention team a better understanding of how effective your child’s IFSP support is, how you and your child are doing overall, how much stress you might be experiencing and how confident you are feeling. We ask you to answer these questions because while we would like to understand how well your child is doing with their goals, it’s also important to see how you and your child and family are doing overall. Please help us by filling out the survey once you get it!

Social Chef's Corner

This month, the Social Skills Group of four clients and various ESH ABA staff (BCBAs and RBTs) cooked up their first recipe: Spam musubi! Here is the recipe from our chefs for you to try at home.