April 19, 2011
ANNOUNCER:
ONE IN ONE HUNDRED AND TEN CHILDREN HAS AUTISM, BUT MOST AREN’T DIAGNOSED UNTIL AGE FIVE. TWENTY PERCENT OF FAMILIES HAVE CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL HEALTHCARE NEEDS, YET WE FAIL TO IDENTIFY ONE-AND-A HALF MILLION AT-RISK KIDS EACH YEAR. KNOWING THE SIGNS OF DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS ARE CRUCIAL. WHEN KIDS GET THE RIGHT TREATMENTS BEFORE AGE FIVE, THEY’RE READY TO START SCHOOL AND LEARN ALONGSIDE THEIR PEERS. EILEEN HOWARD BOONE, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNITY RELATIONS FOR CVS CAREMARK.
EILEEN HOWARD BOONE:
“We recognize the first five years of a child’s life are so important as they significantly shape a child’s future. Since 2006, through our CVS Caremark All Kids Can program, we have invested more than two million dollars to advance the work Easter Seals is doing in early intervention and autism services because we know what’s possible when kids get the support they need.”
ANNOUNCER:
EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES HAVE BEEN UNDER-FUNDED FOR YEARS, EVEN THOUGH THEY’RE INCREDIBLY EFFECTIVE. JOIN EASTER SEALS AND SPEAK OUT AT MAKE THE FIRST FIVE COUNT DOT ORG.
