Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly identified Disability Pride Month. The error was corrected. (July 24, 2024)

FLORENCE, Ky. — July is Disability Pride Month.

In northern Kentucky, Easterseals Redwood is shining a spotlight on young children with special needs.

What You Need To Know

  • July is Disability Pride Month

  • Easterseals Redwood expanded to Florence almost a year ago, serving children and adults living with a disability

  • 42 million Americans are living with a disability. That's about 13% of non-institutionalized civilian population.

  • According to the CDC, Kentucky has more then 1 million adults with disabilities

Katrina Proud is the Director of Children Services with Easterseals Redwood and on an average day, she starts by playing with children in the day care. She said the best part is seeing their growth.

According to Proud, "Seeing them learn new skills. Some of the children come in and they at first, they don’t have the manual dexterity to hold one of these tools, and now they are.”

Proud has spent 25 years serving the families of children who live with special needs. She began her career in the classroom, but worked her way up to a management role.

Proud said, "It’s in my DNA to help children with special needs be involved in the community.”

Easterseals expanded to Florence nearly a year ago, offering services to children with and without disabilities. There are even programs for adults as well.

According to a 2021 Census Bureau data collection, there are about 42 million Americans living with a disability. That’s approximately 13% of non-institutionalized civilian population. Which is why staff at Easterseals Redwood says accessibility matters.

Proud said, "We serve children who we’re not supposed to talk, who are not supposed to walk, and we see them walking up and down our hallways and they’re saying, ‘Bye, Trina. Hi, Trina.’ That’s the miracles that we see every single day. And these children deserve the services to be able to do that on a daily basis.”

Baileigh Ostrbur struggled to find a facility that would take both of her children—only one has a learning disability. She said Easterseals made life easier and now she even works for the organization.

Ostrbur said, "Even my kids that don’t have a disability go here and I think [I] like them seeing kids with disabilities and [it] normalizes it.”

Proud agreed. She said, “I won’t stop until children with special needs have everything that they need and deserve, and that their families have everything that they need and deserve."

Fostering a world, where everyone can participate fully and equability.

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