Easterseals asks DeKalb County for $45,000 to support local disability services

Caitlin Shidler, senior director of development for Easterseals Indiana, presented a $45,000 funding request to DeKalb County commissioners on April 27 for services delivered in northeast Indiana that include transportation to day services in Angola, pre‑employment training (a mini certificate with Trine University), job‑shadowing partnerships with local businesses, and digital‑literacy and virtual‑reality job‑training modules.

Shidler said the request mirrors past years' asks and highlighted that the funds would help low‑income participants access day programs and training they could not otherwise afford; transportation to Angola and the ES gaming training modules were singled out as major uses. Commissioners took the presentation under advisement; the board noted that budget decisions are made during budget season and no appropriation was made at the April meeting.

Why this matters: The funding supports county residents with disabilities who rely on transportation and specialized training to access employment and day programs. Commissioners asked clarifying questions about timing and whether the request would be processed during the county's formal budget process.

Next step: Staff will include the request in upcoming budget deliberations; commissioners requested further documentation about program details and funding impact before any appropriation.