TELETHON AIMS FOR $70,000

Chuck Martin and Suzanne Holland surveyed the administrative offices at the Easter Seals Society of Southeast Missouri and breathed a collective sigh of relief.

"We've now got some room to operate and give the kids in the building next to us the space they need to learn," Holland, director of children's programs, said.

"It's only been two weeks since we moved into this building," Martin, regional executive director of the Easter Seals of Southeast Missouri, said. "It just had to be done."

Holland could recall when only four children with disabilities benefited from the Early Learning Center. Since 1983, the center has grown from four children to 50.

Children come from area cities such as Charleston, New Madrid, Perryville, Patton, Cape Girardeau and Jackson.

Martin said, "We've always wanted to feel like our facility was big enough that we would never have to tell a family that we didn't have the room for their child. That's one of our goals."

Today's Easter Seals Telethon, which will be aired on KBSI-TV, is one of the keys to keeping the Southeast Missouri Early Learning Center and other programs alive and well.

Martin said the local chapter of Easter Seals will use each 25-minute segment from 6 to 11 p.m. during the Telethon to show the public what kind of programs are offered and how they benefit the children.

"We'll use five vignettes to show people what we do here," Martin said. "It's really the best chance we have of reaching out to the public and providing an external identity to the Easter Seals. If it weren't for this, we wouldn't have an outlet to do that."

The regional executive director wants people to see firsthand what his office provides.

"We'd love for people to see what the classrooms look like and what kind of equipment the children are working with," Martin said.

Holland said it made him feel good when a parent said the center looked like any other preschool classroom.

This year's telethon goal is to raise $70,000.

"What is probably unique about the way we raise money is that the people who help us are doing it with $15, $20 and $30 donations," Martin said. "This is truly a grassroots operation."

The Early Learning Center serves children at risk of developing a disability as well as those with a disability. Those at risk need services provided by a variety of professionals from the Department of Mental Health, Division of Family Services, Bureau of Special Health Care along with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

One of the more recent programs is known as Friday Night Out. Children who regularly attend the Early Learning Center are cared for from 6 to 11 p.m. while their parents take time for themselves.

"We've only been doing it for a year, but it's become a very successful program," Martin said. "We not only take care of children who attend here but their brothers and sisters get to interact with them as well."

The staff of 10 full-time and three part-time workers run an infant-parent training class for children from birth to 2 years old.

"This enables the parents to interact with their children while a professional teaches them various skills," Holland said.

There is also a toddler class for children 2 to 3 years old, a preschool class for children 3 to 6, as well as a computer resource center for children of any age.

Programs are designed to address needs, such as motor skills, self-help, safety, behavior and socialization as well as appropriate play and pre-academic skill areas.

The Early Learning Center accepts referrals from doctors, the Department of Mental Health, Bureau of Special Health Care, Division of Family Services and individuals.

Easter Seals telethon

The telethon will be aired today on KBSI-TV, Channel 23

Money raised is used to fund Easter Seals programs designed to help handicapped children with motor skills, self-help, safety, behaviour and socialization and other needs.

The Easter Seals' Early Learning Center accepts referrals from individuals, doctors, the Department of Mental Health, Bureau of Special Health Care, and Division of Family Services.