For 100 years, Easterseals Iowa has helped Iowans with disabilities achieve greater independence through Camp Sunnyside, employment services, respite care, brain health programs, inclusive childcare, and assistive technology.
One of Easterseals Iowa’s most impactful areas of work is employment support.
For many people with disabilities, finding meaningful employment requires more than submitting a resumé. Job seekers may need coaching, transportation planning, interview preparation, workplace accommodations, or ongoing support after being hired.
Easterseals Iowa’s employment specialists help participants navigate those challenges and build long-term success in the workplace.
“Employment is about much more than a paycheck. For many people we serve, having a job means greater independence, confidence, purpose, and connection to their community.”
— Allison Daniels, Chief Development Officer with Easterseals Iowa
The organization’s philosophy is simple: meaningful work creates independence. A paycheck provides financial stability, but employment also builds confidence, social connection, and opportunities for personal growth.
Every successful placement represents another Iowan gaining greater control over their future.
What Makes Camp Sunnyside Special?
Located just north of Des Moines, Camp Sunnyside serves as Easterseals Iowa’s flagship campus and one of the organization’s most visible symbols of inclusion.
The 80-acre property features:
- Accessible cabins
- Lake activities
- Trails and outdoor recreation
- Overnight camps
- Day camps
- Respite weekends
- Child development services
- Specialized program facilities
For generations, Camp Sunnyside has offered children and adults with disabilities the opportunity to experience adventure, independence, and friendship in an environment designed around accessibility.
Summer camp sessions provide adapted activities for individuals with a wide range of abilities and medical needs. Campers may swim, fish, ride horses, zip line, participate in arts activities, and spend time around the campfire, often in ways they cannot experience elsewhere.
The impact of thoughtful accessibility becomes evident in countless small moments. When new fully accessible cabins were built through community partnerships, staff immediately recognized how dramatically the improvements would enhance camper experiences and dignity.
For many families, Camp Sunnyside is more than a recreational destination. It is a place where loved ones gain confidence, develop skills, and experience greater independence.
Why Respite Care Changes Lives for Iowa Families
One of Easterseals Iowa’s most transformative services often receives the least public attention.
Respite care provides temporary support for individuals with disabilities while allowing caregivers an opportunity to recharge physically and emotionally.
Every other weekend, families bring loved ones to Camp Sunnyside for respite camp experiences. While participants enjoy recreational activities, social engagement, and supervised support, caregivers can rest, attend family events, spend time with other children, or simply enjoy a quiet evening at home.
For many families, these weekends provide something they have not experienced in years: uninterrupted time.
“Families often tell us that respite care changed their lives. Sometimes the greatest gift we can provide is the opportunity for a caregiver to rest, recharge, and simply be a parent, spouse, or sibling again.”
— Allison Daniels
What may seem like a simple weekend away can significantly improve caregiver well-being, family relationships, and long-term sustainability for households providing around-the-clock care.
How Inclusive Childcare Creates Better Outcomes for Everyone
The Easterseals Iowa Child Development Center extends the organization’s philosophy of inclusion to children as young as six weeks old. Unlike traditional segregated environments, the center brings together children with and without disabilities in the same classrooms, allowing them to learn, play, and grow alongside one another.
In 2021, community partners, including Hubbell Realty Company and numerous trade partners, helped expand the center through the fifth Hubbell Extreme Build. The expansion increased capacity from approximately 60 children to 128. Demand quickly exceeded expectations.
The center reached capacity within months and continues to experience significant waitlists, reflecting the broader childcare shortages affecting many Iowa communities.
What makes the center unique is its focus on everyday inclusion. Children form friendships based on shared experiences rather than differences. Parents can enroll siblings in one accessible location. Educators create environments where every child participates and belongs.
These early experiences help build understanding, empathy, and confidence for all children involved.
How Easterseals Iowa Supports Brain Health and Mental Wellness
In recent years, Easterseals Iowa has expanded its brain health services to address a growing need among individuals with disabilities and their families. Accessing quality mental health care can be difficult for anyone. For individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities, the challenge is often even greater.
Easterseals Iowa responded by developing brain health programs that offer:
- Individual counseling
- Group therapy
- Family support
- Crisis stabilization services
- Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)
These services are intentionally accessible and designed for individuals who may not find appropriate support elsewhere.
As demand continues to grow, Easterseals Iowa is planning additional dedicated space to expand these services and reach more Iowans in need.
What Is Assistive Technology and Why Does It Matter?
Assistive technology often serves as a bridge between limitations and independence.
Through its Assistive Technology Program, Easterseals Iowa helps individuals identify tools that improve daily living, communication, learning, employment, and mobility.
The program includes a demonstration center and lending library where Iowans can borrow equipment and test devices before making purchasing decisions.
Examples include:
- Speech-generating devices
- Communication tools
- Adaptive utensils
- Mobility supports
- Technology for workplace accessibility
- Learning and educational devices
This “try before you buy” approach helps families, educators, employers, and individuals make informed decisions while avoiding costly mistakes.
Because demand continues to increase, Easterseals Iowa is actively working toward building a larger, more accessible space dedicated specifically to assistive technology services.
How Community Partnerships Expand Disability Services Across Iowa
The continued success of Easterseals Iowa depends on strong community support. Over the years, corporate partners, volunteers, individual donors, and community organizations have helped fund critical improvements throughout Camp Sunnyside and beyond. Hubbell Realty Company’s partnership with Easterseals Iowa includes participation in Extreme Build projects that have improved accessibility and expanded opportunities for children and families.
These projects demonstrate how local partnerships create tangible outcomes, from increased childcare capacity to modernized camp facilities. Other fundraising efforts and volunteer initiatives support future goals, including:
- Replacing the Camp Sunnyside health center
- Rebuilding the horse barn
- Updating playgrounds and accessibility features
- Expanding brain health facilities
- Modernizing assistive technology spaces
Just as importantly, funds raised in Iowa remain in Iowa, directly benefiting local individuals and families.
Looking Ahead to Easterseals Iowa’s Next 100 Years
While the centennial celebration honors a century of service, Easterseals Iowa remains focused on the future. Growing demand for disability services, caregiver support, mental health resources, childcare, and assistive technology means there is still significant work ahead.
The organization’s next chapter will focus on expanding access, modernizing facilities, and ensuring every Iowan has the opportunity to participate fully in community life.
For supporters, businesses, and community members, the opportunity to get involved is simple: visit Camp Sunnyside, volunteer, make a donation, sponsor a program, or learn more about the people whose lives are changed every day through Easterseals Iowa.
After 100 years, the mission remains unchanged: helping Iowans with disabilities live with greater independence, dignity, opportunity, and hope.
Consider volunteering today as a company or as an individual!
What is Easterseals Iowa?
Easterseals Iowa is a nonprofit organization that provides disability services, employment support, respite care, brain health services, assistive technology, inclusive childcare, and recreation programs for more than 3,000 Iowans each year.
What is Camp Sunnyside?
Camp Sunnyside is Easterseals Iowa’s 80-acre accessible campus near Des Moines that offers overnight camps, day camps, respite care, childcare programs, and recreational opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
Does Easterseals Iowa offer employment services?
Yes. Easterseals Iowa provides employment coaching, workforce development, job readiness training, workplace support, and ongoing employment services for people with disabilities.
What is respite care?
Respite care provides temporary support for individuals with disabilities while allowing caregivers time to rest, recharge, and focus on personal or family needs.
How can individuals and businesses support Easterseals Iowa?
Supporters can donate, volunteer, sponsor events, organize workplace volunteer days, participate in fundraising events, or become community partners.
