April is Autism Awareness Month:

Our Easterseals is at the Forefront!

EarliPoint Coming Soon!

Our Easterseals becomes the first in the state to Pilot this Revolutionary Autism Diagnostic Tool

EarliPoint™ Evaluation can aid in identifying Autism Spectrum Disorder(ASD) in children as young as 16 months

Easterseals Capital Region & Eastern Connecticut is proud to announce that it is the first provider in the state to offer the EarliPoint™ Evaluation to identify autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children as young as 16 months.

Developed by EarliTec Diagnostics, this innovative and FDA-authorized diagnostic tool captures a child’s social-visual engagement patterns imperceptible to the human eye, facilitating faster and more objective diagnoses of ASD compared to traditional methods. “This innovative technology, combined with a child’s developmental history and clinical assessment, allows us to quickly identify young children with and at-risk for autism,” said Dr. Nicole M. Barcelos, Psy.D., Director of Clinical Services at Easterseals Capital Region & Eastern CT. “Early identification is crucial for timely access to services and tailored care plans.”

View Full Press Release

PEERS 2025: Spring Session

Registration NOW OPEN

We are currently accepting applications for our Spring Session,

which will run for 8 weeks in person on Wednesday afternoons.

M&J Video Games & Collectibles

John Kelleher, the owner of M&J Video Games & Collectibles, has been an extremely welcoming community partner, generously opening his business to support Easterseals' Trial Work Experiences through our Career Development Services Program.

Through this collaboration, participants gain hands-on exposure to the various tasks involved in running a small retail collectible and gaming business. This experience not only helps identify their strengths but also uncovers potential barriers to employment, allowing for the development of adaptive strategies to enhance their success in the workforce.

John's dedication to providing a supportive and inclusive environment has made a meaningful impact, equipping participants with valuable skills and confidence for future employment opportunities.

We Had a BALL at the Crystal Ball!

Crystal Ball 2025 was a tremendous success with nearly $470,000 in gross revenue generated with donations still coming in!

Wendy Archer, Chief Marketing & Philanthropy Officer looks back on the last year of planning: “The success of our largest Easterseals’ fundraiser of the year is driven by a roster of dedicated supporters –our amazing Crystal Ball Planning Committee, our generous sponsors and donors, guest speakers, event squad, Board of Directors, volunteers, participants, and staff all coming together to support our mission. Thank you to each one of you for the part you played!”

To our incredible sponsors both current & new-- your support of our Easterseals veterans’ and disability programs makes a significant impact!

Gratitude for Our Guest Speakers & Crystal Ball Committee!

A heartfelt thank you to our incredible guest speakers whose voices made a profound impact at the 2025 Easterseals Crystal Ball. Your words inspired, uplifted, and reminded us all why our mission matters. Your stories and insights brought our cause to life in a powerful way, and we are so grateful for your presence.

A special thank you as well to our Crystal Ball Committee—the dedicated individuals who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make this event a success. Your passion, creativity, and commitment ensured an unforgettable evening, and we simply couldn’t have done it without you.

Check out our Facebook Photo Album from Hartford's Event of the Year-

The Easterseals "Spring Fling" Crystal Ball- Where Teamwork Comes Alive!

Event Photos

Easterseals Crystal Ball Event Squad

It Takes A Team!

The success of the 2025 Easterseals Crystal Ball would not have been possible without the dedication, passion, and teamwork of our incredible Event Squad!

It truly takes a team to make an event of this magnitude come to life, and we are beyond grateful for each and every one of you who contributed your time and talents.

FORE our Easterseals- Birdies for Charity 2025!

Now through June 22, 2025

Donate NOW to increase your impact!

Donate Now!

Have you heard? Easterseals Capital Region & Eastern Connecticut has become a member of the Birdies for Charity program! We are excited to announce our 2025 partnership with the Travelers Championship. This unique program allows nonprofits to raise funds easily while receiving a 15% bonus on every dollar raised, thanks to the support of Webster Bank.

We have secured some giving circle fundraising volunteers already! Are you interested in hosting a fundraiser with your golf, tennis, or pickle ball crew? Please contact Wendy Archer, Chief Marketing & Philanthropy Officer at warcher@escrec.org for support materials.

Did you catch us In The News?

Easterseals Capital Region & Eastern Connecticut has been making headlines! We were recently featured on NBC Connecticut’s Saturday Morning News with Taylor Kinzler, WTNH News 8’s This Week in Connecticut with Dennis House, and in the Hartford Courant. These segments and articles highlighted our mission and the excitement surrounding the 2025 Easterseals Crystal Ball.

You can watch the WTNH feature here.

We are grateful for these opportunities to share our work supporting individuals with disabilities and veterans. Thank you to our media partners for helping spread the word!

Featured Open Positions at our Easterseals

Apply Here Today

Do you want to have a leading role at our life-changing Easterseals? Our organization is growing and we are launching critical, cutting edge services to our community.

Position: Child Psychologist

Type: Part-Time or Full-Time

Department: Medical Rehabilitation

Position: Career Development Specialist

Type: Full-Time

Department: Career Development

Easterseals VRP Broadcasting Students Prepare for Crystal Ball

Easterseals Veterans Rally Point hosts a weekly Broadcasting class to teach students the skills needed for broadcasting, podcasting, reporting, and storytelling in a Comcast NBC Universal sponsored Broadcasting Studio at Veterans Rally Point.

In this video, Co-Facilitators, Ryan Landry, Associate Director of Military Services, and Dave Stevens, Disability Advocate and Easterseals Board Member prepared students to conduct stakeholder interviews at the 2025 Spring Fling Crystal Ball: Where Teamwork Comes Alive.

A Mardi-Gras Celebration in

Adult Day Support

Our Easterseals Norwich Adult Day Support participants were busy this week preparing for and participating in their annual Mardi-Gras celebration.

Art enrichment activities, including making colorful masks and pictures, were proudly displayed as part of a parade through the halls of the facility while onlookers cheered and showed appreciation for their work.

View the video here!

Rebuilding Minds. Bodies. Lives.

Exclusively for Service Members, Veterans, and their families.

Important Dates & Updates

April is: Month of the Military Child

April 5th: Gold Star Spouses Day

April 10th: Meals for Military Dinner, 4pm (Registration Required: HERE)

April 12: Veteran and Military Appreciation Day by Greater Windsor Vets Council: Info HERE

April 14th: Air Force Reserve Birthday

April 23rd: Army Reserve Birthday

April 26th: Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser; 9-11am @ VRP; $10/pp (after breakfast - head down to VFW 594!)

April 26th: Vietnam Veterans Remembrance Day Event; 1pm @ VFW Post 594 in Norwich

April 30th: Cooking Class w/ Hazel (registration required: HERE)

SAVE THE DATE: Be on the lookout for our next

Meals for Military: Women Warriors!

June 12th, 2025

Click for VRP Programs Schedule

Employment Programs at VRP

Professional Workforce Readiness at VRP

Enrollment is still open for the Professional Workforce Readiness (PWR) Program at Veterans Rally Point (VRP)! This dynamic program is designed to help you gain the tools, strategies, and connections needed to launch or elevate your career. The PWR Program emphasizes the importance of networking—connecting you with veteran-friendly employers, tapping into mentorship opportunities, and strengthening your LinkedIn presence. You’ll also learn how to tailor your resume to specific job descriptions, highlighting your accomplishments rather than just your responsibilities. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to take the next step in your professional journey—join today!

Computer 101

Boost Your Digital Skills with Computer 101 at Veterans Rally Point! Join Willow Clauson every Monday from 9:30–10:30 AM for a flexible, open-format class designed to help you build confidence with technology. Whether you want to work independently or receive one-on-one guidance, this class is tailored to your needs. Willow will focus on helping participants set up and navigate ID.me accounts, a secure platform that protects veteran data and benefits from identity theft and fraud. Having an ID.me account is essential for accessing VA services, military discounts, and other online resources safely. Whether you're new to computers or just need a little support, this class provides a stress-free environment to improve your digital skills. Drop in and take control of your online security and digital access!

Questions? Email tcranfill@escrec.org

New Yoga Classes!

Beginning the week of April 28th

Unwind and restore with free yoga classes at Veterans Rally Point! Join Sonja for two unique sessions each week, designed to support your well-being and resilience. Yoga Nidra (Mondays, 5–6 PM) is a guided meditation practice that promotes deep relaxation, mindfulness, and stress relief. This class can be done on a mat or from a chair. Vinyasa Yoga (Thursdays, 4–5 PM) is a dynamic flow practice that connects breath with movement, improving flexibility, balance, and strength. Whether you're looking to restore inner peace or energize your body, these classes provide a welcoming space to cultivate mindfulness and healing. No experience necessary—just bring comfortable clothing and an open mind. Join us at Veterans Rally Point and discover the power of yoga for relaxation, resilience, and renewal! Email any questions to tcranfill@escrec.org or call (860) 859-4148.

Easterseals VRP Kitchen is Cooking Things UP!

Grab-N-Go meals are $12 each and proceeds support all VRP programming, offered to our members at no cost. Meals are available for purchase every Tuesday from our VRP facility, located at 24 Stott Avenue, Norwich, CT, and are open to the public for purchase. Gluten Free options are available. For more info: rlandry@escrec.org

Pasta dinners are available for purchase the 1st Friday of every month at $10 each, and you can choose to dine-in or take-out these delicious meals. Proceeds support all VRP programming offered to our members at no cost. Gluten Free options are available. For more info: rlandry@escrec.org

VRP PEER MEETUP

Peer MeetUp: Join Us

Peer Meetup is a weekly opportunity to connect and share personal stories and experiences with the Easterseals VRP community or listen to invited guest speakers on various topics. Held every Wednesday from 5pm-6:15pm in the VRP Community Room. No registration required. Hot meal served.

If you’d like to bring a dessert or drink to share with the group, you are welcome to! Please come, listen and learn, and meet some new friends. Email Director of Military Services, Lori Marriott, HERE.

April 9th: Jacob Hagelberg, US Navy Vet and New England folk musician who specializes in Irish Folk Music on the accordion. Jacob served as a sonar technician aboard the USS Delaware and will share his life story.

April 16th: Joe Direnzo, USCG Veteran and Director at USCG Research and Development Center in New London will tell us about Coast Guard drug shipment seizures he participated in.

April 23rd: TBD

April 30th: Barbara Boiselle, LPN, currently works at two different Senior Centers in the area and volunteers her time to present health issues to community organizations.

VRP Behavioral Health Program

Peer Support ★ Counseling ★ Case Management ★ Benefit Assistance

Veteran & Family Support Group

Thursdays, 10am

Beginning April 10th

Spouse Support Group

Wednesdays, 11am

Beginning April 9th

Confidential Support for Veterans at Veterans Rally Point

We are committed to providing private, secure, and individualized support for veterans in need. Our Behavioral Health program now offers a direct, confidential phone line at (860) 859-4151 and a secure email at behavioralhealth@escrec.org ensuring you can connect with our professional team discreetly and easily.

Our dedicated case managers are here to assist eligible veterans with housing, employment, healthcare, and other essential resources, helping you navigate benefits and overcome personal challenges. If you or a veteran you know could benefit from personalized, one-on-one support, reach out today to take the next step toward stability and well-being.

More Info HERE