Printer-friendly versionSend to friend

Easter Seals Southeast Wisconsin

Congratulations to the following staff members recognized by their peers and colleagues as representing the Values (Welcoming, Integrity, Humility, Respect, & Determination) our agency strives to live by.

Our Living Our Values Award Recipients

Lynn Harsh, Birth to 3

 (From the Nomination submitted for Lynn)

Lynn worked with a family of a child with impaired mobility.  In order to help that family find a way to be able to participate in more community outings like a trip to the mall, the park or even a walk around the block,  she worked with the family to secure and than adapt a wagon that could be used for their child.

She helped another family increase their ability to participate in regular community activities by showing a family how to adapt a tricycle and a parent’s bicycle so that the family could participate in activities that many other families with typically developing children do without thought.

She has provided families with maps of county parks, found ways to secure passes to the Betty Brinn Museum, worked with a local YMCA in order to be able to use their zero depth entry pool for therapy and encouraged families to met her at local parks so that she could help them help their child develop by engaging in activities that other typically developing children would do.

All of these activities demonstrate her commitment to the values that we hold as well as her dedication to providing increased opportunities for inclusion.

Susan Koch, Waukesha Center

(From the Nomination submitted for Susan)

There are numerous examples of Susan’s dedication. One example that I can share is a common occurrence on worker payday. One of our participants, I’ll call him Bill W, lost his paycheck. He was very upset and had returned to the WTC to see if he could retrace his steps and fine the check. After looking for about a half hour, he approached the receptionist requesting her help. Susan overheard his dilemma and came out to the reception area. This occurred at a time when our receptionist was new to her position and had limited experience working with this common occurrence.

Susan spoke with the participant and offered Bill a replacement check. She spent extra time with Bill to de-escalate his anxious behavior and to ensure he left with a replacement pay check. After working through the situation with Bill she spent time with our new receptionist to in order to process this situation and provide instruction and support. Susan ‘s in depth knowledge of our participants is extremely valuable and effective.

Congratulations to our Janet Tamblyn Mission Excellence Award Recipients

Susan Klawien, Adult Day Services, Kenosha Center

Michelle Schaefer, VP of Programs

The Janet Tamblyn Mission Excellence Award is “given to those staff members who have provided over a decade of service to Easter Seals and made significant contributions and sacrifices for the advancement of the Easter Seals mission and vision.” The award is named after Janet Tamblyn, a staff member that epitomizes a sustained commitment to the development of Easter Seals programs and services.

Susan was pivotal in the expansion of Easter Seals services both at our Wil-O-Way Recreation Centers and her work this year in starting and growing our Adult Day Center in the Kenosha YMCA.  Susan is a wonderful staff member that builds relationships across the community.

Michelle has been instrumental in her time with Easter Seals in starting our After-School programs and respite camps, growing services in Autism and leading the effort to establish our Adult Day in Kenosha.