The Easter Seals Charges Atlanta to Make the First Five (Years of Life) Count for All Kids

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:

Lenora Bowler

the elle nora agency

Phone: 404-840-0516

Email: Lenora@theellenoraagency.com

The Easter Seals Charges Atlanta to Make the First Five (Years of Life) Count for All Kids

June 19, 2012 (ATLANTA, GA) – As Georgia officials are weighing in on early education budget cuts, Easter Seals North Georgia has launched Make the First Five Count, a national awareness and advocacy effort designed to give children at risk of developmental delays, autism or other disabilities the right support they need to be school-ready and build a foundation for a lifetime of learning.

“The first five years are the most critical years of every child’s life,” says Donna Davidson, president and chief executive officer of Easter Seals North Georgia. “As parents, we have to take the proper precautions to ensure our children are reaching their developmental milestones.”

Every year, more than one million children with unidentified disabilities and delays enter school with learning and health issues that put them far behind their peers. It is because of this startling statistic that all parents and caregivers should take advantage of the free online Ages & Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) so parents can see their child’s developmental progress. The ASQ is designed to screen children, from birth to five years old, to detect early signs of developmental delays.

In effort to keep all parents informed, Easter Seals urges the community to sign an online petition so government officials can take action by providing additional funding for early education and detection services.

For more information about Make the First Five Count, Ages & Stages Questionnaire or to sign the petition, please visit www.makethefirstfivecount.org. For interview opportunities please contact Lenora Bowler at Lenora@theellenoraagency.com or 404-840-0516.

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