Easterseals Colorado Perseveres Through Pandemic to Help NoCo Community

Similarly to the plight of small businesses, the pandemic has not been kind to Northern Colorado's local non-profits.

However, this hasn't stopped them from helping the NoCo community.

Easterseals Colorado is one of these non-profits. Despite financial hardships and logistical challenges, the organization is continuing to serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

"Prior to the pandemic, our services were community-based and socialization. Those two things have really changed with the pandemic," said Katie Dockery, Vice President of Easterseals Colorado's Northern Colorado Services, in our "Tuned In to NoCo" interview. "We've had to completely change our services to the needs of our clients."

Day programs, which propel Easterseals' clients into the worlds of volunteering, local business, local culture and more, make up a large part of Northern Colorado Services.

Although elements of the programs have shifted to small groups, virtual sessions, or even mailed activities, the challenges of the pandemic have not lessened their impact.

"Our classes help with independence. Those really help give our participants the knowledge, through repetition, to be able to do...tasks by themselves," said Dockery, reminiscing about a client who used the skills she learned in her day programs to not only make friends, but also to secure a job at a local hotel.

But these programs would not be possible without the help of the public. While social distancing requirements have put volunteering on pause, donations are still a great way to support the organization. 

Learn more about how Easterseals Colorado is continuing to serve the NoCo community throughout the pandemic by listening to the full "Tuned In to NoCo" interview with Katie Dockery below.