BLOOMINGTON - Fewer than half of children with cerebral palsy in Central Illinois are getting the services they need, according to Easter Seals, which wants to expand its program to meet the need.

Easter Seals announced Tuesday plans for The Ray and Kathy LaHood Center for Cerebral Palsy to expand and improve coordination of services for children with cerebral palsy and their families. Named for the retiring Republican congressman from Peoria and his wife, the center would be based at Easter Seals in Peoria but would provide services at Easter Seals in Decatur and Bloomington, said Steve Thompson, Easter Seals president and chief executive officer.

"There are more than 1,000 children with cerebral palsy in Central Illinois, and we're seeing less than half of them," Thompson said. Some families are taking their children out of Central Illinois for diagnosis and treatment of the neurological disorder that affects body movement, said Easter Seals spokeswoman Norma Rossi.

The center, Thompson said, would provide diagnosis and treatment for more children, would include new therapy equipment, a cerebral palsy database for Central Illinois, increased staffing, parent support and research with the University of Illinois College of Medicine, Children's Hospital of Illinois and Bradley University.

About $1 million is needed to create the center, and $309,500 has been raised, Thompson said. Easter Seals hopes to raise more money at its annual tribute dinner Oct. 17, when Ray LaHood will be honored at Peoria Civic Center. A center timetable will be announced after the dinner.

State Farm Insurance Cos. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Ed Rust and Illinois State University President Al Bowman are McLean County co-chairmen of the initiative.

pswiech@pantagraph.com