For parents like Erica DiVario, navigating the uncertainty of a child's path as an atypical learner can be challenging. Thankfully, Easterseals has given Erica something just as valuable as the services Gabriella receives: a genuine sense of belonging among its therapists, staff, and teachers.
“One of my mottos has always been, ‘presume competence,’” says Erica, whose daughter Gabriella has Down syndrome and autism and is a student in Easterseals’ inclusive preschool, the Friendship Academy.
“Just because Gabriella can’t have a back-and-forth conversation doesn’t mean that she doesn’t understand. Easterseals has the same motto—they see her for who she is,” she adds. “They recognize her strengths instead of her weaknesses. It’s been absolutely amazing to watch.”
Gabriella, who loves crafts—particularly painting—is thriving as an Easterseals student, according to her mom. She’s marking key developmental milestones, like learning her numbers and letters, and participates in classroom activities and routines, behaviors that have translated to her home life as well, according to Erica.
But for Erica, one of the most unexpected joys of Easterseals has been the community of support and inclusion she’s seen firsthand—and not just for Gabriella, but for parents like her, as well.
“I’m fully part of the team, that’s something special about Easterseals,” says Erica, recalling, for example, her own participation in Gabriella’s individual education plan (IEP). “Her teachers will ask me, ‘what do you think? What do you want her to work on?’ just another reminder that they see her for her strengths and want to enhance what she can do.”
In the Friendship Academy classroom, Gabriella isn't defined by what she needs—she's celebrated for what she brings. Learning alongside students of all abilities, she receives individualized support across school readiness, communication, motor development, and social-emotional learning, all within a community that starts from the same place Erica does: believing she can.
“I feel like it’s a school that’s made for her, and as a parent, I feel at ease knowing that she’s in a great place where everyone is capable of caring for her needs,” Erica says.
“On top of that, the inclusion model is so important, and it’s amazing to see typical children learning and playing with children with disabilities,” Erica says. “Last year there was a typical child who took Gabriella under her wing and it was so touching to see—kids, they don't know any different.”
As Erica and Gabriella prepare for summer, they have much to celebrate: growth in developmental and communication milestones, as well as progress in countless other areas that have transformed her life at home and school.
But ultimately, the true measure of success for Erica is much simpler.
“I want people to see her for who she is. I want her to be the best version of herself, and that’s come alive at Easterseals.”
