Videos - Easterseals Southwest Florida

ADDRESS: 350 Braden Ave., Sarasota, FL 34243 PHONE: (941) 355-7637 FAX: (941) 358-3069 Office Hours: 7:15 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

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Abilities Shining Through Art at Easterseals Happiness House Our Art Initiative Program began back in 2016 as part of our Adult Services Program. It has helped many individuals with disabilities receive art instruction and increase their fine motor skills. They enjoy creating a wide variety of acrylic and watercolor paintings, as well as ceramic and craft projects. Our artists are proud of their work, and they receive payment on a commission basis for any artwork sold. Artists receive 70% of the proceeds from the sale of their original artwork, and the Art Initiative Program receives the remaining 30% to help pay for supplies. Please consider donating to help us keep this incredibly rewarding program sustainable for years to come. Why not double your gift during 2022? You can have your gift matched by donating through the Louis and Gloria Flanzer Philanthropic Trust at https://flanzertrust.org/make-a-donation/ and choose Easteseals of SWFL. Your gift means the world to our budding and seasoned artists! You can also purchase prints of original paintings on Fine Art America. Shop online at https://tinyurl.com/ShopeESArt

Abilities Shining Through Art at Easterseals Happiness House
May 19, 2022
Giving Challenge - Thank You! We can't tell you how much your generosity means! Thanks to generous people like you, we will receive much-needed support from this year's Giving Challenge. We are grateful to The Community Foundation of Sarasota County, The Patterson Foundation, and our Board of Directors for their commitment to philanthropy and to our mission. Watch this video and see just how much your gift means to those individuals that we serve. Thanks for helping our abilities shine!

Giving Challenge - Thank You!
Apr 20, 2022
Giving Challenge - That's My Easterseals During the #GivingChallenge2022, you can #BeTheOne by supporting Easterseals Southwest Florida - Happiness House. We've been leading the way in providing full equity, inclusion, and access to healthcare, employment, and education for people with disabilities, families, and our community. Give today at https://www.givingchallenge.org/organizations/easter-seals-southwest-florida-inc

Giving Challenge - That's My Easterseals
Apr 20, 2022
Giving Challenge - Employment Services Disability doesn't define a person. At Easterseals Southwest Florida - Happiness House we look at everyone's strengths. Our Employment Services Department helps pair local businesses with applicants so they can thrive in their everyday environment. When everyone can open their minds to new possibilities, everyone's abilities can shine! #BeTheOne today and donate during the #GivingChallenge2022 at https://www.givingchallenge.org/organizations/easter-seals-southwest-florida-inc

Giving Challenge - Employment Services
Apr 20, 2022
Giving Challenge - Early Intervention at Easterseals Happiness House As experts in understanding development, the coaching and education we provide the families we serve carry over into their day-to-day lives. These important steps help to provide the best foundational strength so children can grow and be ready for their next steps in life. Please help us continue providing early intervention by supporting us during the #GivingChallenge2022. #BeTheOne today and donate at https://www.givingchallenge.org/organizations/easter-seals-southwest-florida-inc

Giving Challenge - Early Intervention at Easterseals Happiness House
Apr 20, 2022
Mission Monday - Jackson's Story The Lily School at Easterseals Happiness House is educating children and changing lives! Our inclusive environment allows the Corcoran family's quadruplets to thrive together. Their son Jackson has autism, and the Lily School allows their children to learn side-by-side under one roof in an environment where Jackson can receive optimal care. Join us on April 26th for the 2022 Giving Challenge to celebrate this amazing family! #MissionMonday

Mission Monday - Jackson's Story
Apr 18, 2022
Mission Monday - Our Art Program Continues to Positively Impact Our Community The Easterseals Adult Art program has been a signature program at Happiness House for many years. We are so proud of our artists and their impact on our community. Art truly extinguishes stereotypes and creates a culture representative of all. Join us on April 26th for the 2022 Giving Challenge to celebrate them!

Mission Monday - Our Art Program Continues to Positively Impact Our Community
Apr 11, 2022
Mission Monday - William's Story Meet William. William has attended the Lily School for the past year. In this video, his parents explain how his unique needs are met by the Easterseals staff and curriculum. They also express how meaningful it is to them that William receives such love and care from his teachers. Please consider supporting the Lily School and all of the other comprehensive programs provided by Easterseals Southwest Florida - Happiness House. Learn more about what we do online at easterseals-swfl.org. Support us during the Giving Challenge 2022 at https://www.givingchallenge.org/.

Mission Monday - William's Story
Apr 5, 2022
Easterseals Adult Transition Night: Beyond 22 The Adult Transition Night: Beyond 22 presentation was created to assist parents with helpful information on what to expect after their child completes high school. This presentation took place on March 25, 2022 at Easterseals Southwest Florida in Bradenton, Florida. Please feel free to share this informational video with anyone who may find this information useful. To learn more about Easterseals Southwest Florida - Happiness House, please visit our website at easterseals-swfl.org.

Easterseals Adult Transition Night: Beyond 22
Apr 4, 2022
AquaCares SNN EastersealsSWFL Easterseals Southwest Florida was featured on SNN's Aqua Cares segment, sponsored by Aqua Plumbing & Air. President & CEO Tom Waters shared details about the full lifespan of services at the 75-year-old agency that serves individuals with disabilities and their families.

AquaCares SNN EastersealsSWFL
Dec 20, 2021
IS Match AvaPhysicalTherapy Watch Ava as she participates in physical therapy at the InStride arena. The children who attend therapy at InStride Therapy receive a multitude of life-changing benefits. The problem is that many children in our community aren't financially able to participate. Many of the children we serve at InStride Therapy have no insurance, limited insurance coverage, or parents simply cannot afford the premiums involved with having their child participate in important therapy programs. With your help and the support of the doTERRA Healing Hands Foundation, we can provide more children with therapy - children who would otherwise be unable to participate. The doTERRA Healing Hands Foundation empowers people and communities worldwide by providing the tools needed to become self-reliant. They do this through their collaborative impact partnerships, facilitating community development projects in Co-Impact Sourcing® communities, and empowering Wellness Advocates to engage in good in local and global community projects they care about. This incredible organization has the heart to give and we've partnered with them in our "Horses Bring Healing to Children" matching fundraiser from now until June 1st, 2021. Each donation during this campaign will be matched by the doTERRA Healing Hands Foundation up to $15,000. That means every single dollar counts! Every dollar makes double the difference in our ability to provide therapy to the children in our community that need it. Won't you consider helping? We're striving to raise enough money to provide 10 children with weekly therapy scholarships for a full year. This means they can attend therapy every week for a full year with your help. Learn more about our matching fundraiser, the Healing Hands Foundation, and even donate at https://doterrahealinghands.org/match-program/fundraiser/133/what-we-do.

IS Match AvaPhysicalTherapy
May 18, 2021
How does Hippotherapy help Occupational Therapy? Learn more about how Hippotherapy helps Occupational Therapy from Easterseals Happiness House occupational therapist, Cindy Kirchberg, MS, OTL. Join us in our efforts to provide 10 children with weekly therapy scholarships for a full year through our "Horses Bring Healing to Children" doTERRA Healing Hands Foundation Matching Fundraiser. All gifts will be matched by doTERRA Healing Hands Foundation until June 1, 2021. Donate today at: https://doterrahealinghands.org/match-program/fundraiser/133/what-we-do

How does Hippotherapy help Occupational Therapy?
May 18, 2021
Jones Potato Farm Visit May 2021 Our Easterseals Academy High School students enjoyed a visit to the Jones Potato Farm in Duette, Florida. They had the opportunity to learn about potato farming first-hand from Mr. Jones. They enjoyed touring the farm, witnessing the potato processing procedure, sitting in a giant tractor, and even picking their very own potatoes. It was a fantastic group adventure and everyone learned a lot. Special thanks to Mr. Jones and the entire crew at the Jones Potato Farm for their generosity and hospitality.

Jones Potato Farm Visit May 2021
May 5, 2021
doTERRA Healing Hands Foundation - Matching Fundraiser Join us May1st through June 1st, 2021 for the doTERRA Healing Hands Foundation matching fundraiser at InStride Therapy. Double your gift to help us provide weekly therapy scholarships for 10 children in need for a full year. Give today at https://doterrahealinghands.org/match-program/fundraiser/133/what-we-do

doTERRA Healing Hands Foundation - Matching Fundraiser
May 1, 2021
Farmer Mike Visits the Duette Elementary Schoolhouse Join Farmer Mike as he visits the historic Duette Elementary Schoolhouse, which is the last one-room school in the State of Florida. Farmer Mike has a wonderful opportunity to learn from Ms. Betty King all about the history of the school.

Farmer Mike Visits the Duette Elementary Schoolhouse
Apr 27, 2021
Learning About The Picture Exchange Communication System - Phase 2 The Picture Exchange Communication System® (PECS®) is an evidenced-based alternative communication system. This communication system was developed by Andy Bondy, Ph.D., and Lori Frost, MS, CCC-SLP. PECS and it was first implemented with pre-school students diagnosed with autism at the Delaware Autism Program. The PECS® teaching protocol is based on B.F. Skinner’s book, Verbal Behavior, and broad-spectrum Applied Behavior Analysis. PECS consists of six phases. In our last video, we showed Phase 1, "How to Communicate" in which individuals learn to exchange single pictures for items or activities they really want. In this video, we show Phase 2 which is called "Distance and Persistence" in which individuals still use a single picture and learn to generalize this new skill by using it in different places, with different people, and across distances. At Easter Seals SWFL, we implement PECS not only in the classrooms and therapy clinic but also in our Early Intervention home-based practices. In this clip, you will see Caroline Muolo, ITDS working with one of her clients in their telehealth session. Caroline is coaching the family through Phase 2 of PECS. These parents work as a great team to help their child, Liam use PECS to request two of his favorite toys! The combination of evidence-based Early Intervention coaching practices and PECS is helping Liam's abilities continue to shine!

Learning About The Picture Exchange Communication System - Phase 2
Apr 19, 2021
Learning About The Picture Exchange Communication System - Phase 1 The Picture Exchange Communication System® (PECS®) is an evidenced-based alternative communication system. This communication system was developed by Andy Bondy, Ph.D., and Lori Frost, MS, CCC-SLP. PECS and it was first implemented with pre-school students diagnosed with autism at the Delaware Autism Program. The PECS® teaching protocol is based on B.F. Skinner’s book, Verbal Behavior, and broad-spectrum Applied Behavior Analysis. PECS consists of six phases and begins with Phase 1, "How to Communicate" in which individuals learn to exchange single pictures for items or activities they really want. Phase 2 is called "Distance and Persistence" in which individuals still use a single picture and learn to generalize this new skill by using it in different places, with different people, and across distances. At Easter Seals SWFL, we implement PECS not only in the classrooms and therapy clinic but also in our Early Intervention home-based practices. In this clip, you will see Caroline Muolo, ITDS working with one of her clients in their telehealth session. Caroline is coaching the family through Phase 1 of PECS in this video and Phase 2 in a second video. These parents work as a great team to help their child, Liam use PECS to request two of his favorite toys! The combination of evidence-based Early Intervention coaching practices and PECS is helping Liam's abilities continue to shine!

Learning About The Picture Exchange Communication System - Phase 1
Apr 19, 2021
Reading with Farmer Mike - Anywhere Farms Can you really start a garden anywhere? Watch and see as Farmer Mike reads the book Anywhere Farms, by Phyllis Root. to some of our 4-year-old students at the Lily School. Farmer Mike helps us discover all the necessary supplies that are needed to start a farm basically anywhere. Enjoy this video which includes a fun, inquisitive, and engaged group of future "anywhere farmers."

Reading with Farmer Mike - Anywhere Farms
Dec 2, 2020
Easterseals Southwest Florida Board Slideshow 2020 The past year has been full of hard work, great times and unexpected surprises. We are grateful for the opportunity to be part of this wonderful community and thankful for the support of those partners who help us as we continue to serve. Enjoy this year in review!

Easterseals Southwest Florida Board Slideshow 2020
Nov 20, 2020
ESSWFL Early Intervention + Employment = Empowerment In the past, people with disabilities faced an isolated existence. They were robbed of the fullness of life. Things that others take for granted such as work, income, purpose, were considered unattainable for those with developmental, physical, or mental challenges. A large segment of our population was marginalized, set aside, and wrongly deemed unemployable. Major barriers still exist for disabled people seeking jobs including hiring bias, inaccessible transportation, or an absence of tools, technology, and effective training. Easterseals believes in the power of purpose and is facing the challenge head-on. Creating solutions so that differently-abled can enjoy their place in the workforce. Early intervention and job training are the keys to helping these individuals obtain and maintain employment. Statistics show that 1 in 6 children are on the autism spectrum, and 75% of adults on the spectrum are unemployed. Easterseals is utilizing different therapies to help these individuals learn to focus and learn so they can successfully work and gain more independence. Early intervention begins in the Lily School where needs assessment and therapy are integrated into the curriculum for students ages 6 weeks to 5 years old. Each classroom has a lead teacher and assistant therapy who work together with our therapy team. Our on-site therapy team consists of speech therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and behavioral therapists. The power of work, the power of purpose, and the power of friendship are what make us all thrive. Our campuses offer progressive learning experiences that promote engagement, independence, and work. Through technology and research, Easterseals is able to provide education and job training that was unimaginable a generation ago. The truth is that 75% of people with autism are employable, and most disabled people, including those with severe mental illness, report that they want to work. Stephen Hawking so beautifully states, “Concentrate on things your disability doesn’t prevent you doing well, and don’t regret the things it interferes with. Don’t be disabled in spirit as well as physically." The mission of Easterseals is to make a difference in the lives of these individuals and their families, but we can’t do it alone. There is a powerful need in our community to bring these important services to those on our waiting list. Your generous gift can help us continue to serve and make an impact for generations to come.

ESSWFL Early Intervention + Employment = Empowerment
Nov 12, 2020
Enroll Your Child at Easterseals Academy Easterseals Academy is a nonprofit organization that believes all children are entitled to an education where they can thrive. We specialize in serving students ages 5-22 with Autism, developmental disabilities, physical disabilities, learning disabilities, and mild behavioral disabilities. Our three locations serve families in southwest Florida. Kindergarten and first grade are located at our Braden campus. Second through eighth-graders attend our Fruitville campus. High school students attend our 30th St. West campus for students through age 22. All three schools are currently welcoming students. Our new open enrollment option allows children to join at any point in the school year. Face to face classes are conducted in a clean, safety-first setting. Remote learning options are also available for those that require an at-home experience. Easterseals Academy offers a comprehensive educational program that includes a wide range of supplemental services at no additional cost outside of tuition fees. Individual therapeutic services are conveniently available during the school day and payable through Medicaid, private insurance, and private pay options. Our ratios are very low so that we can meet the needs of our learners. We work in rotations in the classroom so that the teachers can offer one-on-one support. The student support services include enrichment activities built into the school day. These activities include art therapy, equine therapy, music therapy, and agriculture. Through a partnership with The Brain Wave Center in Sarasota, Florida, Neurofeedback is built into our curriculum. Offering Neurofeedback enables us to provide support for students to increase their abilities to focus and learn. Student goals are individualized with instruction centered on functional academic skills, communication, play and socialization, motor skills, and cognitive development. Our early intervention process helps families address challenging behavior and identify component treatments for young learners. Our wide range of qualified therapists helps to reduce problem behaviors and build functional skills while offering better outcomes for our students. Partnership, leadership, and teamwork that makes ABA Academy one of the best places to enroll your child. For more information, contact Easterseals Academy at 941.355.7637 or visit us online at easterseals-swfl.org.

Enroll Your Child at Easterseals Academy
Nov 11, 2020
Farmer Mike Teaches About Tractors Join Farmer Mike as he helps teach us to have a better understanding of Farm Technology and how it directly effects the increase of farm production, thus giving the agriculture community the ability to feed more people. Learn some new vocabulary words and see some tractors in action!

Farmer Mike Teaches About Tractors
Jul 10, 2020
Farmer Mike takes us to visit the baby goats! Join Farmer Mike in his latest farm adventure! Meet our new friends, Judy Anderson and Miss Maria, who joyously give Farmer Mike a tour of their goat farm as we tag along.

Farmer Mike takes us to visit the baby goats!
Jul 6, 2020
Farmer Mike Reads to Four Little Piglets Join Farmer Mike with 4 brand new piglets at the farm as he reads a new and exciting story! They're so new that they don't even have names yet. Farmer Mike is reading The Three Horrid Little Pigs, by Liz Pichon.

Farmer Mike Reads to Four Little Piglets
Jul 6, 2020
Rockin' Music Therapy with S T A R S June, 2020 We're always #BetterTogether! Watch as our S.T.A.R.S. Program meets online for Music Therapy. Together, participants from #EastersealsHappinessHouse and #TheHaven work to figure out the name of this famous "Rockin'" song. Can you guess it before we do? Join in for a little singing and dancing at the end. Go ahead... get your groove on!

Rockin' Music Therapy with S T A R S June, 2020
Jun 18, 2020
Music Therapy - STARS - May 27, 2020 The participants in our STARS Program are working on following the beat with Ms. Courtney McDonald, our Music Therapist. Watch as Thomas masters the 1, 2 & 3, 4 beat. Nice job, Thomas! Practice makes perfect so keep up the good work.

Music Therapy - STARS - May 27, 2020
May 28, 2020
ESSWFL Art Activity: Flower Hair Pins In this art activity, Ms. Viktoria shows us how to create fun, coffee filter flowers to wear in your hair. Consider making some of these for a Mother's Day gift or for someone you care about. Handmade gifts are always memorable on any occasion! Have fun! Supplies: -Paper plate -Coffee filters -Tape -Scissors -Paint brush -Acrylic paint (red, black, orange, yellow, purple, pink) -Hair pin Instructions: -Fold a coffee filter in half, then in half again -Using your scissors, cut the filter into a circle (making 4 circles) -Repeat this process, cutting a smaller circle this time -Use the scrap part of the filter to cut even smaller circles -This will give you 4 larger circles, 4 medium circles & 4 small circles -Use your paint brush to paint a large circle purple (or the color of your choice) on the paper plate -Paint a medium circle pink (or color of choice) -Set the circles aside to dry -take the smallest circle and fold it in half and then in half again (making a triangle shape) -Use your scissors to make small cuts into the rounded portion of the triangle (see video for technique) to create a fringed effect -Carefully unfold the small circle and paint it yellow (or the color of your choice) -Repeat this process for all of the small circles using color combinations of your choosing -After all the circles are dry, place the medium circle on top of the large circle -Next, place the smallest circle on top of the medium circle -Place them in the palm of your hand and close your hand to scrunch up the circles (see video for technique) -Use your scissors to CAREFULLY poke two small holes in the center of the circles/flower through which the hair pin will go (see video for placement) -Carefully push the hair pin through the two holes (see video) -Take a piece of tape (about 1.5 inches long) and cut it in half with your scissors lengthwise to create a narrow strip of tape -Wrap the tape around the back side of the flower where the hair pin is pushed through the petals (see video for placement of tape) -Carefully open back up the petals of your flower -Create flowers in whatever color combinations that you want. Have fun and experiment with color combinations -Enjoy your flower hair pins!

ESSWFL Art Activity: Flower Hair Pins
May 6, 2020
ESSWFL Art Activity: Ocean Scene Painting In this painting activity, Ms. Viktoria helps us learn how to blend colors to create an ocean scene. Have fun! Supplies: -Acrylic Paint (green, dark blue, turquoise, black, white, red) -Paint Brushes (small detailed brush & larger 1” brush) -Painter’s Tape -Canvas or Thick Paper -Cotton Balls -Paper Plate Instructions: Cover top of canvas with two strips of painter’s tape. Squeeze out a small amount of dark blue paint underneath the blue tape. Squeeze out a small amount of turquoise paint underneath the dark blue paint. Squeeze out a small amount of green paint underneath the turquoise paint. Squeeze out a small amount of white paint underneath the green paint. Using the larger paint brush, sweep your brush in a left-to-right fashion over the dark blue paint. Do the same for the colors below as you slowly blend the colors together. Remove the blue painter’s tape from the canvas and carefully throw it away. Let your painting dry. Add a new piece of blue painter’s tape over the dark blue area that you painted so the tape is right up against the unpainted area. Enjoy the dogs barking. ;) Blend together some blue paint with white to create a soft, powder-blue color. Paint the light blue color into the empty space above the tape. Remove the tape and carefully throw it away. Add some white paint to the paper plate and dab in a cotton ball. Continue to dab the cotton ball onto the plate so you don’t have too much paint on the cotton ball. Paint the clouds onto the sky area (the light blue) using the white paint with this technique. Place clouds wherever you want in the sky. Use the small paint brush, dipped in white paint, to paint some squiggly lines which represent the waves (see video for an idea of how to paint these waves). Paint a larger white wave that will be at the base of the boat. Paint the base of the boat using the red paint & then a line going up from the center (which will be for the sail). Paint a white triangle on the left-hand side of the black line to make part of the sail. Paint another white triangle on the right-hand side of the black line to make the rest of the sail. Paint a red flag at the top of the black line and paint red stripes on the left-hand side of the sail. Using black paint, paint birds in the sky. Enjoy this beautiful painting!

ESSWFL Art Activity: Ocean Scene Painting
May 5, 2020
ESSWFL Art Activity: Stay Home Save Lives Pop-Up Card Have you ever created a pop-up card before? It's fun! Come along on this creative adventure with Ms. Viktoria Bridgeford as she teaches you how to make a fun pop-up card that you can send to someone you love. Once you learn how to make a pop-up card you can create all kinds of fun new cards by using your imagination. We'd love to see what you can create! Post pictures of your creation in the comments section. Have fun! Supplies: Construction paper - 5 pieces (red, green, yellow, white & sand/khaki colored) markers Ruler Glue Scissors Glue stick Directions: Take the yellow piece of construction paper and fold it in half widthwise to create a card. Use the ruler to draw a line (the width of the ruler) along the long, folded edge of the paper and also along the top and the bottom of the paper (the two narrow sides). This creates two squares drawn on each of the corners of the paper near the fold. Cut along the line of one of the squares, starting at the fold, from the folded edge just to where it meets perpendicular line (see video). Repeat on the other side. Use the ruler as a guide and run your scissors along the line drawn between the two corner squares. Flip the paper over and repeat the process (see video). This helps with creasing the paper and will allow it to fold easier. Fold along this creased line on each side of the paper. Then, open the paper and fold along this creased line inside the card (see video). The effect will look like you created a step or bench along the inside of your card. Now cut a 3” x 3” square out of the yellow paper. Cut a triangle out of the red paper with each side measuring 3.5” each. Use the glue stick to glue the red triangle on top of the yellow square to create a house. Cut a 1” x 1” square out of white paper and glue it to the center of the house. Use a black marker to outline the window and draw a cross in the middle. Feel free to draw a little face in the window (maybe draw yourself!). Place glue on the lower portion of the house and glue it to the lower part of the step you’ve made on your card. Note: do NOT glue it to the top part of the step… only the lower portion (see video). Fold the sand/khaki colored paper lengthwise. Cut a triangle with one straight side and one curved side (see video). Open up the folded triangle and refold the center so it creates a “V” shape (see video). This creates the trunk for two palm trees. Now, take the green paper, fold it so you can cut a square about 2” on each side. Fold the square diagonally so it creates a triangle. Fold it again to create an even smaller triangle. Cut a small triangle out of the middle (see video). Unfold to create a double “X” shaped piece of paper. Cut the two X’s apart. With your scissors, snip small lines into each section of both X’s to create the look of a palm tree leaves. Fold the leaves in half (see video), open and apply glue to the inside and place one of the palm tree trunks. Do this for both of the trees and glue the entire double palm tree onto the lower part of the step, right next to the house. Repeat this process to create a second set of palm trees for the other side of the house. Glue the second set of palm trees slightly higher on the step to create the feeling that it’s farther away in the scene. Using a green marker, draw some pieces of grass around the picture (near the base of the trees, house, and all around the lower portion of the card - see video). Draw a slightly higher stem coming up from the grass that you drew on the lower portion of the card (as if it’s the front yard of the house) and also on any sprigs of grass on the front of the house. Take an orange marker (or color of your choice) and draw a spiral at the top of each stem (similar to the look of a peppermint candy). You can also choose to simply draw a circle instead of a spiral and color it in. Then just add a darker center. That’s it! You’ve just created an amazing Pop-Up Card. Great job!

ESSWFL Art Activity: Stay Home Save Lives Pop-Up Card
Apr 17, 2020
ESSWFL Art Activity: Flower & Bumble Bee Painting Join our Art Teacher, Ms. Viktoria Bridgeford, for another fun at-home art activity using basic supplies you probably have at home already. Have fun! Supplies Needed: -Paint (acrylic) -Paper plates -Markers -Scissors -Construction paper -Paint brush -leaf (long and narrow) Directions: Place the leaf on a paper plate and paint one side of the leaf with green paint. Place the painted-side of the leaf down onto the construction paper at the bottom of the paper to create one of the base leaves of the flower. Repeat the process to make the second base leaf of the flower. The two leaves touch to form a letter "V" at the base of the paper. Use the paint brush, dipped in the green paint, to paint a stem. Begin at the space where the two base leaves meet/overlap and simply paint a straight line up about 1/2 to 3/4 of the paper (leaving enough room for the flower and the bees). Use your finger to paint a light-yellow circle about 1 inch up from the top of the stem. Use your finger to paint each petal (about 1 - 1/2 inch long) around the circle to form the flower. Use as many petals as you'd like. In this video, Ms. Viktoria uses 14 petals to make her flower. Next, finger paint a slightly smaller dark yellow circle on top of the light yellow circle of the flower. Your flower is complete! Now it's time to paint the bees. Using your finger, paint 2 yellow bumble bee bodies. These should be oval in shape. Next, take your paint brush and paint three black lines across each of the bees to create the bumble bee stripes. Using the paint brush again, paint with a dark yellow color to create the antennas of the bees. Get creative with this! Clean your brush and paint 2 wings on each bee using white paint. These wings will be teardrop shaped. Finally, paint a white eye on each bee. Now that you know how to create this flower, go ahead and create a whole garden of flowers using your imagination. Feel free to add ladybugs and butterflies or whatever else you want in your beautiful garden. See you in our next video!

ESSWFL Art Activity: Flower & Bumble Bee Painting
Apr 17, 2020
Karaoke - April 16, 2020 It's Karaoke time for all our Easterseals Happiness House friends! Enjoy one of our all-time favorite karaoke songs, Thank You For Being A Friend (Golden Girls Theme Song), performed by our very own Mr. Greg!

Karaoke - April 16, 2020
Apr 16, 2020
ESSWFL Art Activity: Blooming Tree Join our art instructor, Ms. Viktoria Bridgeford, as she guides us through a fun art project using items you most likely have in your home. This easy to create project only uses a few supplies to create either a blooming tree branch or a beautiful greeting card to send to your favorite friend. Have fun and keep an eye out for more art projects in the coming days. We just can't keep Ms. Viktoria from coming up with fun projects! :) Supplies needed: -coffee filters -pencil -scissors -glue -ground coffee -small tree branch/stick -piece of construction paper (if creating the card) -marker (if creating the card) Directions: Take one coffee filter and fold it in half. Then fold it in half again, and then a third time. Take a small round item and trace a circle on the folded filter (see video for size reference) and cut it out with the scissors, creating 8 small circles. Lay out the individual circles in front of you. Place several circles on top of one another to make the cutting time shorter. Fold the circle in half, then in half again, and finally in half a third time (just like the original coffee filter). Free-hand sketch a rounded top on the wide part of the folded filter so that it resembles an ice cream cone. Cut off the rounded edge to create small flower-shaped pieces and lay them out. Complete this same process with the remaining coffee filter circles until they are all shaped like flowers. Feel free to create as many flower blossoms as you'd like, simply duplicate this process before moving on to the next steps. Now, place a drop of glue in the center of half of the flowers. and place another flower (without glue) on top to create a flower with more petals. Note: place the top flower so that it does not line-up with the flower below to give the appearance of more petals. Do this for all the flowers. Put some coffee grounds onto a plate or in a small dish. Place a drop of glue in the center of each new flower and add coffee grounds to create a textured center to each flower. Finally, place a drop of glue on the branch/stick wherever you'd like to place a beautiful flower. Complete this process for each of the flowers you've created. Let it dry and place it in a sturdy vase so you can enjoy your creation. To create the greeting card, use the same process to create the blossoms. Take a piece of construction paper or card stock and fold it in half to create the card. Take a marker and draw out the lines to create a tree branch (follow Ms. Viktoria's example if you need help). Place a drop of glue on the branches where ever you'd like to place a flower blossom to stick the flowers on the card. Let it dry thoroughly and give it to someone special as a celebration of Spring!

ESSWFL Art Activity: Blooming Tree
Apr 13, 2020
Farmer Mike reads "Why Cowboys Sleep with Their Boots On" Join Farmer Mike Ingram as he reads one of his favorite books, Why Cowboys Sleep with Their Boots On, by Laurie Knowlton. Farmer Mike is joined by Rosie the Hen and his wife of 32 years, Ms. Diane Ingram, Director of the Manatee County Agricultural Museum. Hear him read this amazing story and learn more about the corral and cistern on his amazing farm. Videos like this are part of the Easterseals Happiness House virtual school experience for those attending The Lily School for Child Development and The Easterseals ABA Academy. Learn more about Easterseals Happiness House and the programs we offer at https://www.easterseals-swfl.org

Farmer Mike reads "Why Cowboys Sleep with Their Boots On"
Apr 13, 2020
The Lily School One-Year-Old Classroom - Teacher Highlight! Our one-year-old classroom is full of fun, exploration, and important opportunities to learn and grow! Catch a glimpse into the daily life of these amazing teachers. See them in action as they help abilities shine for the little ones in the classroom. We are grateful for the hard work and dedication that Ms. Genna, Ms. Tinsley, and Ms. Ashley put forth each and every day. Every staff member at Easterseals works hard to provide those we serve with the very best of care, and it is our pleasure to feature our one-year-old classroom staff in this Staff Highlight. We love our team! #abilitiesshining #teamwork #classroommanagement

The Lily School One-Year-Old Classroom - Teacher Highlight!
Jan 8, 2020
Dynasty Dance Parent Performance May, 2019 Our K-1 class and our 2nd-3rd grade class worked together with Dynasty Dance Club to create our 2019 Parent Performance. Our students danced for their parents in this end-of-year production on Thursday, May 24th in our Multipurpose Room. As a special treat, we enjoyed beautiful guest performances by the Dynasty Dance Stars. Together all our abilities were shining so bright!

Dynasty Dance Parent Performance May, 2019
Oct 3, 2019
Keith's New Adaptive Bike from Amtryke Meet Keith! Keith just received his brand new adaptive bike from AmTryke. Now he's going places! Keith isn't able to ride a regular bike due to his seizures, but his specially designed bike gives him the freedom to ride and stay safe. Keith's new bike was funded by AmTryke and designed by Sarah Gardner, a Physical Therapy Assistant at Easterseals, along with Keith's mother. Keith is super excited to finally have his bike, and we are so grateful to AmTryke for helping make this possible.

Keith's New Adaptive Bike from Amtryke
Oct 3, 2019
Easterseals VIP Academy students visit Mi Pueblo Restaurant Thanks to the kindness of Bonifacio Caro, Co-Owner of Mi Pueblo Restaurant, our Easterseals VIP Academy students received a great treat! Mr. Caro had seen our students working diligently at Publix for some time now, and he wanted to show his gratitude for their efforts to serve others. Easterseals Happiness House would like to thank Bonifacio Caro and the entire crew at Mi Pueblo restaurant in Sarasota, Florida. Your act of kindness won't soon be forgotten. Your kindness really matters. Thanks!

Easterseals VIP Academy students visit Mi Pueblo Restaurant
Oct 2, 2019
The Lily School Open House 2019 As the 2019/2020 school year begins, take a moment to check out the fun and informative Open House Event that took place at the Lily School for Child Development. Children and their families had the opportunity to meet the Lily School teachers and see their new classrooms. They even got to meet the famous "Chef Garfield"! What a great way to start the school year!

The Lily School Open House 2019
Aug 12, 2019
Dynasty Dance Parent Performance May, 2019 Our K-1 class and our 2nd-3rd grade class worked together with Dynasty Dance Club to create our 2019 Parent Performance. Our students danced for their parents in this end-of-year production on Thursday, May 24th in our Multipurpose Room. As a special treat, we enjoyed beautiful guest performances by the Dynasty Dance Stars. Together all our abilities were shining so bright!

Dynasty Dance Parent Performance May, 2019
May 25, 2019
Dynasty Dance Rehearsal Sneak Peek! Check out behind the scenes footage of our Dynasty Dance rehearsal. It's a sneak peek at what we'll be performing for our parents on May 23, 2019! We've come a long way, baby!

Dynasty Dance Rehearsal Sneak Peek!
May 15, 2019
Fox Racing - Therapy Made FUN! Damon's expressing his inner "fox" during our Spring Spirit Week. Check out how his therapist brings it all together to create a fun therapeutic "fox race"!

Fox Racing - Therapy Made FUN!
May 14, 2019
Mrs Gigglebelly's Visit 2019 It happened again! Mrs. Gigglebelly came for a tea party at Easterseals Happiness House on Wednesday, April 24, 2019. We enjoyed getting dressed up for her arrival and celebrated with cookies and tea. Once she arrived, she read us her very own story, "Mrs. Gigglebelly is Coming for Tea," by Donna Guthrie. On April 23rd our students had the unique experience of participating in a video chat with the author, allowing for a wonderfully enriching experience for everyone. Special thanks to our K-1 Lead Teacher, Ms. Theresa Collins for organizing this annual event.

Mrs Gigglebelly's Visit 2019
May 1, 2019
2019 April Kids Night Out - Our Annual Easter Egg Hunt! Our Family Support Services Annual Easter Egg Hunt was truly EGG-ceptional! Thanks to our incredible staff, volunteers and partners, the children enjoyed an incredible day of fun, belonging, and Easter eggs! Learn more about how our Family Support Services Program supports children with disabilities and their families on our website at easterseals-swfl.org or by calling us at 941.355.7637. Looking for a great place to volunteer? Why not consider volunteering here at Easterseals Happiness House? We have Kid's Night Out every month and we welcome you to join us.

2019 April Kids Night Out - Our Annual Easter Egg Hunt!
Apr 15, 2019
Easterseals Happiness House Art and Therapy Program Highlights Thanks to Sarasota Ford, Easterseals Happiness House is able to showcase our incredible Art and Therapy Programs with this video. Watch and see some of what we are doing to help those with disabilities in our community.

Easterseals Happiness House Art and Therapy Program Highlights
Mar 22, 2019
Art for Autism Through Partnerships Easterseals Southwest Florida, a.k.a. the Happiness House, is helping abilities shine in our local 5-County area. Our Abilities Shining Luncheon 2019 is focusing on Art for Autism Through Partnerships. Special thanks to Sarasota Ford for creating this amazing video to help us share how our programs are making a difference in the lives of children and adults with disabilities. Learn more about us and our mission at https://www.easterseals-swfl.org.

Art for Autism Through Partnerships
Mar 3, 2019
Share Kindness - Abilities Shining Luncheon 2019 How To Be Kind, a book by Cara Frost-Sharratt, serves as a great reminder of how kindness can change the world. It illustrates many different ways to show kindness in a way that positively impacts others. So, why not use that kindness to help the incredible individuals who attend Easterseals Happiness House in Sarasota, Florida? Our biggest fundraiser of the year is happening Tuesday, March 5th at Michael's On East in Sarasota, Florida. Won't you consider supporting our mission? Visit our online bidding site even before the event begins to purchase "Gifts from the Heart" which will enable you to donate money that will help children and adults with disabilities in our local community. Will you consider donating so a child can receive therapy, so a high school student can attend summer camp, or even so an adult can have the tools needed to create artwork which can generate them some much-needed income? There are a whole list of ways to donate in an area that truly fills your heart with joy. Click here to visit our bidding site: https://qtego.net/qlink/easterseals

Share Kindness - Abilities Shining Luncheon 2019
Feb 27, 2019
Selby Gardens & Embracing Our Differences Field Trip

Selby Gardens & Embracing Our Differences Field Trip
Feb 21, 2019
Ginger's Christmas Shoes She did it again! Ginger Judge surprised our Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd & 3rd grade classrooms with NEW SHOES for the holidays. Easterseals Happiness House is so happy to have Ginger's love and support. We sure hope she knows how much we love her TOO! Thank you, Ginger! Your kindness means the world to Easterseals.

Ginger's Christmas Shoes
Dec 17, 2018
Children's Holiday Party 2018 Our 2018 Children's Holiday Party was a blast! Together we enjoyed a visit from Santa, holiday gifts, fluffy llamas, yummy food, and all-around holiday fun! Special thanks to those who made this event possible, including Ginger Judge, Gerret Copeland Jr., Trailer Estates, Servants of Christ Outreach and the amazing Easterseals volunteers! Happy Holidays everyone!

Children's Holiday Party 2018
Dec 16, 2018
Easterseals Southwest Florida's Family Support Services The Family Support Services program at Easterseals Happiness House, formerly known as Project Rainbow, provides families of children with disabilities an opportunity to receive the much-needed support they need. Family Support Services provides in-home respite and center-based respite (known as Kid's Night Out) which provides a break for families and gives children a chance to have fun and make new friends in a safe, healthy environment. FSS also hosts a parent support group called Cope with Hope and is introducing a new program in January 2019 called Food Matters. Learn more about getting your family involved. Contact Chris Collins at ccollins@easterseals-swfl.org, call 941.355.7673, or visit us online at easterseals-swfl.org.

Easterseals Southwest Florida's Family Support Services
Nov 8, 2018
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