When you register for Walk With Me, you won't just receive the typical race number, wristband or t-shirt. You will be partnered with an Easter Seals honorary ambassador, a person with a disability who has benefited from Easter Seals services. You'll get to know your ambassador through photos and personal stories. And on event day, you'll even have the chance to meet your honorary ambassador!

Walk with Austin

Austin is all boy all the time!  Luckily for his mom, he is learning to follow directions in therapy at Easter Seals.  Austin attends A Child’s Place Preschool and has received speech, physical and occupational therapy at Easter Seals for three years. This once premature baby has already met many goals including learning to run and jump, counting and saying his colors, and feeding himself.   His next set of goals includes using stairs, brushing his teeth and dressing himself.   Austin loves books, dancing swinging, cars and slides.

Walk with Codie

Three and a half year old Codie is always on the go.  Next on his list of goals in physical therapy is to go up and down stairs.  Then there’s really no stopping him!  Codie has been coming to Easter Seals for PT for almost two years, and is making great progress.  Codie loves the color green, all things “Star Wars,” playing with cars and playing outside with his friends.

Walk with Ashley

Ashley is the 2009 Teen Representative, and has a great story to share.  She is now a high school graduate with plans to go to college to become a counselor for troubled youth.  A car accident about five years ago left her paralyzed from the waist down and with limited use of her arms.  With determination and a new respect for her own life, Ashley is doing things again she never thought would be possible.  At the Easter Seals Children’s Rehabilitation Center, Ashley receives physical, occupational and speech therapy to increase her independence and skills in all areas of her life. Ashley often travels to area high schools to share her story and encourage other students to make responsible choices.

Walk with Gabby

Notice Gabby’s outfit—she was able to dress herself today because of occupational therapy she receives at Easter Seals.   Gabby’s making great progress with her verbal communication and her next goal is learning to write.   She’s worked so hard in physical therapy that she no longer needs braces with her shoes.   This four year old is a recent graduate of A Child’s Place Preschool and will be ready to start kindergarten in the fall.  Gabby loves singing and dancing and playing hide-and-go-seek with her friends.

Walk with Jack

Two-year-old Jack is beaming with pride!  And for good reason, he’s learned so many new things at A Child’s Place preschool.  Jack receives physical, occupational and speech therapy at Easter Seals and developmental therapy right in his classroom.  He’s met many goals including learning to communicate with sign language.   His favorite words to sign are “eat” and “more.”  Jack has also learned to walk independently, and loves his mobility.  He’s now able to keep up with his big brother and play with his friends.

Walk with John H.

You can almost see the surprises John has in store for his parents behind those big, brown eyes.  Born with multiple disabilities, he came into this world facing life threatening challenges.  Today, as a result of intervention, support services and continued speech and occupational therapy through the Easter Seals Infant Monitoring Program, John is triumphing in every aspect of his life, including recently testing-out of physical therapy.  John  will begin at A Child’s Place preschool in the fall.

Walk with John W.

For an adult with a disability, life becomes very uncertain when your parents pass away.  Where will you live, who will take care of you?  For John and his family, these questions and many others have been answered by Easter Seals.  Since 1991, John has been receiving pre-vocational training and support services through the Easter Seals Adult Services Center.  He also serves on the Consumer Advisory Council of the Center as an advocate for his peers.  At the end of each day, he proudly shares his accomplishments in money management, meal preparation and exercise for diabetics and current event studies with his brother.

Walk with JP

For an Oreo, JP will do just about anything.  In addition to attending A Child’s Place preschool, JP’s been receiving speech, occupational and physical therapy since he was just a baby.  He’s making great progress and getting lots of Oreos!  He’s mastered walking and running and has moved on to learning to ride a bicycle.  JP loves being outside on the playground, and most often you’ll find him on the slide or in the sand box.

Walk with Lucas

Four-year-old Lucas has an interesting talent.  He can count to 10 in three languages: English, Spanish and Japanese.  Lucas can also read more than 100 sight words.  As you can tell, he is doing very well at A Child’s Place preschool.  Lucas also receives speech, occupational and behavioral therapy to work on sensory issues associated with Autism.  He’s learned to dress himself and is working on potty training and taking the stairs by himself.  Lucas loves swimming, reading and watching the Wiggles.

Walk with Mila

Mila is a big help in her class at A Child’s Place Preschool.  Her favorite days are when she gets to be Music Helper to pick the song they’ll sing and Weather Helper to determine what the sky looks like that day.   She began at the preschool when she was a year old, but started coming to Easter Seals at 5 months to receive physical, speech and occupational therapy.  She’s met many goals in that time including walking, jumping, signing, and talking.  Mila also learned to make bead necklaces in OT.  Mila loves reading books and her favorites are “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom” and “Snowy Day.”

Walk with Ramsey

Ramsey’s bubbly, bright personality can be credited in part to therapy she received at Easter Seals.  She began speech therapy at Easter Seals when she was two because she hadn’t yet started to speak.   Ramsey excelled in both speech and occupational therapy and at A Child’s Place Preschool where she learned to do many things independently.  Ramsey is the 2009 Youth Representative and has become such a little lady since her preschool days.  She spent much of her summer at different camps learning new things and playing with her friends.

Walk with Zikoria

Three-year-old Zikoria is making excellent progress in physical, speech and occupational therapy at Easter Seals.  She’s met many goals including learning to communicate with a touch talker device, rolling from side to side, and pulling herself out of her chair with assistance.  She’s beginning to work on walking now, and loves her new sense of independence.  Zikoria loves to paint, take a ride in the car, give high fives, and sing.