Document text
67 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, September 16, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend August 24, 2004 Beth Hauser, 41, wants her disabled son, Drew, 11, to have the chance to interact with �regular kids� as part of an after-school program at YMCA. But funding problems may cut the program off this fall. Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell Sealed shut? An after-school Easter Seals program that helps disabled Rogue Valley kids find new friends faces a budget crunch By JONEL ALECCIA Mail Tribune If Beth Hauser needed proof that an Easter Seals after-school program was good for her disabled son, she got it at the grocery store. That’s where the Medford mother of Drew, 11, discovered another young boy shyly approaching her shopping cart. "He said, ‘Can I say ‘hi’ to Drew?’ " recalls Hauser, 41. "He said, ‘My name’s Michael and I know Drew from after school.’ " That small encounter spoke volumes to Hauser, who has struggled to find "regular" friends and thoughtful care for her son, who has cerebral palsy, autism and Crohn’s Disease. And it’s the image that lingers as Hauser and others ponder the possibility that funding problems could end the Rogue Valley Easter Seals After School Recreation and Respite Program this fall. Advertisement "I have to be honest," Hauser says. "I don’t know what we’re going to do without it." Local organizers for Easter Seals say they must raise $37,000 or shut the doors on the 3-year-old program that has served up to 20 children a year. "I just got to a point where unless someone steps forward, we just simply cannot afford to subsidize it," said David Cheveallier, the chief executive in the agency’s Portland office. In the past, the program has been supported by grants, including awards from several prominent local funders. But Cheveallier said donations have dwindled in recent months. "We didn’t get the positive responses from the grants we’ve submitted," he said. "We’ve talked to a number of people about the program, but the competition for those dollars is so significant." In some cases, budget cuts to the funders themselves have restricted grants. The Jackson County Commission on Children and Families had previously offered Easter Seals money, but resources for children in the age range covered by the program — 8 to 12 — were slashed by 40 percent. "There was nothing wrong with that program," said Carin Niebuhr, who heads the commission. "We just had some really hard choices to make." For the kids who participate and their families, the investment is priceless. Drew Hauser has been enrolled in the program since its first year. That’s when his family, which includes sister Emily, 14, moved to the Rogue Valley from Chicago for dad Dann Hauser’s job. The Easter Seals program provides two kinds of aid, Drew’s parents say. First, it provides trained, caring staff to tend to disabled children from about 3 to 6 p.m. on weekdays. The timing is crucial because it offers care beyond school hours, allowing parents to work traditional shifts, increasing employment options. The kind of care provided is equally important, family members note. "With a nonverbal person, finding someone who is willing to diaper and help with feeding is wonderful," says Beth Hauser, a teacher. Equally important, however, is the way the program integrates disabled children with their able-bodied counterparts. The Easter Seals program operates within the regular after-school sessions offered by the Rogue Valley Family YMCA. "They love him; they treat him like a regular kid," Beth Hauser observes. "And I like for him to have contact with regular kids." Drew will attend a special education class as a Hedrick Middle School sixth-grader this fall, his mother says. Since he’s been in the after-school program, Drew has become much more social, his mother says. The Hausers typically pay $7 an hour for Drew’s care, but other families pay less or no fee at all, depending on their financial circumstances. As the school year approaches, Cheveallier and local organizers say they’ll stretch community donations to keep the program. "We’ve got it down," he says. "We’ve got costs down to what is the absolute minimum we can do and still run a quality program." For information, call 842-2199 or 503-228-5108, Extension 312. Reach reporter JoNel Aleccia at 776-4465, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities