See Easterseals affiliates across the country in the news. If you're interested in featuring an Easterseals affiliate, or would like to speak with a subject matter expert, please visit our Media Room for more information.
Easterseals Southern California — Judy Heumann, Renowned Disability Rights Activist, Conducts Book Club for Easterseals Read More
Easterseals DC MD VA — Esteemed broadcast journalist Judy Woodruff shares her support for Easterseals Read More
expand_lessexpand_moreMay
Easterseals Crossroads— He slowly lost 85% of his vision. Now an Indy father of 2 is spreading message of digital inclusionRead More
Easterseals Central Illinois — Easterseals teletherapy services provide connection, consistency during COVID-19 pandemicRead More
Easterseals DC MD VA — Bush Center: Helping corporate leaders and military families thrive during a pandemic.Read More
Easterseals National — Easterseals CEO Angela Williams launches "Conversations with Angela" with Whitney Mercilus, discussing issues around disability and nonprofit support during COVID-19, and former U.S Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy, about mental health.
Easterseals National — Community partners are the key to mitigating acute care demands. Read More
Easterseals National and Southern California — PSA: Celebrated actors with disabilities team with Easterseals on urgent, timely message. Read More
expand_lessexpand_moreApril
Easterseals Colorado— Colorado Parent: Staying Home with Disabilities.Read More
Easterseals National— Business Of Giving Radio Interview Highlights Easterseals' Impact During COVID-19.Read More
Easterseals National — Easterseals CEO Angela F. Williams named one of Crain's Notable Women Executives Over 50. Read More
Easterseals New Jersey — In the face of COVID-19, nonprofits that provide services to people with developmental disabilities face unique challenges. Read More
expand_lessexpand_moreMarch
Easterseals Michigan — Craig Sharum and Ruth Louwsma were part of a feature on The CW's Community Connect Program. Read More
Easterseals National — The Hill: "Americans with Disabilities Must be Counted in the 2020 Census" by Angela F. Williams. Read More
Easterseals Greater Houston — Comcast's eye controlled technology for their X1 cable platform was recently demonstrated for the clients and community served by Easterseals Greater Houston. Read More
Easterseals National — The Hill: "Preparation for Those Whose Job it is to Care" by Angela F. Williams. Read More
Easterseals Southern California — Easterseals Disability Film Challenge founder Nic Novicki guest stars on ABC's "The Good Doctor." Read More
Easterseals National— Wall Street Journal: "Coronavirus Threatens America's Nonprofits" by Angela F. Williams.Read More
Easterseals Southern California — In response to COVID-19, Easterseals Disability Film Challenge participants and ambassadors create a PSA urging people to do what they can to stop the spread of the virus. The PSA features multi-talented artists and celebrities in the disability community. Read More
Easterseals National — The Hill: "President Trump and Congress: Thank you for protecting the nation's most vulnerable populations" by Angela F. Williams. Read More
expand_lessexpand_moreFebruary
Easterseals Serving Greater Waterbury — Easterseals Serving Greater Waterbury has been able to expand their Center for Better Hearing to offer new technologies and hearing test equipment that better serve their community. Read More
Easterseals National — ABILITY Magazine Celebrates 100+ Years of Easterseals. President and CEO, Angela Williams, is interviewed. Read More
Easterseals Southern California — How Easterseals outfitted a smart home for residents with disabilities Read More
expand_lessexpand_moreJanuary
Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley — Dave Burrows, Vice President of Business Services for Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley, is featured in the Oscar-nominated documentary, American Factory. Read More
Easterseals Rehabilitation Center —New Easterseals ambassadors Sandy Ford and Ellie-Jane Pfingston share stories of staying independent and active despite struggles with cerebral palsy. Read More
expand_lessexpand_moreevent2019
expand_lessexpand_moreDecember
Easterseals National — Judy Shanley (Easterseals Director, National Center for Mobility Management) discusses how caregivers can get access to resources that will encourage ample mobility for their loved ones in their community. Read More
Easterseals Rehabilitation Center — Courier & Press, a USA Today affiliate, featured the story of Ellie-Jane Pfingston, a six year old client of Easterseals Rehabilitation Center in Evansville, IN. Just four months removed from a spinal surgery, Ellie graciously performed in a children's production of The Nutcracker. Read More
expand_lessexpand_moreNovember
Easterseals National — At an awards ceremony in New York City, Easterseals and its PR Agency, the Dalton Group, were recognized with PR News’ 2019 Elite Agency Award in the Government/NGO category for Easterseals’ 100th Anniversary Campaign. Read More
Easterseals New Jersey — Easterseals New Jersey honors a company with a special award for their inclusive and diverse workplace. Read More
Easterseals Southern California — The stars were out at the 40th Annual Media Access awards! This ceremony, in partnership with Easterseals, recognizes the disability community as "a robust, diverse, and integral part of our global fabric" and honors the pioneers that are advancing disability representation in film, television, and new media. Read More
Easterseals Greater Cincinnati — New program provides support for veterans suffering with PTSD and addiction, with support from CVS. Read More
expand_lessexpand_moreOctober
Easterseals Florida — Motivational speaker, Kyle Maynard, visits Easterseals Florida and is featured on Fox 13 in Tampa With President and CEO Sue Ventura. Read More
Easterseals National — HR Dive features Easterseals CEO Angela Williams' OpEd on the value of employing people with disabilities during National Disability Employment Awareness Month Read More
expand_lessexpand_moreSeptember
Easterseals Louisiana — New Orleans City Business has named Easterseals Louisiana as a 2019 Nonprofit Leader. Read More
Easterseals North Georgia — Easterseals North Georgia President and CEO Donna Davidson appeared on the nationally syndicated Coffee with America program on Saturday, September 14th, to talk about Easterseals children’s services as children nationwide head back to school. Watch Video
Easterseals Oregon — Carol Salter, Easterseals Oregon President and CEO, and Rebecca Brown, Comcast Director of Community Impact, were interviewed by John Erickson on K103 FM's morning radio show on September 12th. The interview informed listeners about Comcast's Internet Essentials Program and Easterseals Oregon's programs for older adult and veterans who are seeking employment. Internet Essentials provides discounted internet service and access to low-priced desktop or laptop computers for eligible applicants. Listen Here
Easterseals New Hampshire — After nearly 50 years of service, and more than 30 years as President and CEO of Easterseals New Hampshire, Larry Gammon announced his retirement. One of his Board Members, Brad Cook, recently wrote a reflection on Larry's career beginning as a special education teacher and retiring as one of the most respected leaders in Easterseals' history. Read More
Easterseals Southern California — Easterseals promotes inclusion and representation in the workforce throughout October on PR Week. Read More
Easterseals of Mahoning, Trumbull, and Columbiana Counties — Easterseals was visited by members of the San Francisco 49ers. The team was in town to play the Cincinnati Bengals and took advantage of a day off from practice to visit one of the service centers and to join in on some fun activities with the kids. Read More
Easterseals Houston — Cristen Reat, the founder of BridgingApps, was recently featured as one of three Houston innovators to know on the popular site, Innovation Map. Easterseals Greater Houston supported the app in 2011 and has integrated it into their AT therapeutic programs: Read More. Easterseals Greater Houston was also featured in the Houston Business Journal this week, discussing the benefits to having multiple Wi-Fi networks in their service centers - one for staff and business operations, and one for visiting clients and families. Read More
expand_lessexpand_moreAugust
Easterseals Central Illinois — Timber Pointe Outdoor Center's recreational camp was featured in a recent ABC News affiliate story. They're enjoying another summer of activity and gearing up for a September 28th Easterseals 100 Bike Ride! Read More
Easterseals Crossroads — President and CEO Patrick Sandy was interviewed by the Indianapolis Recorder about progress made since the ADA became law and opportunities for advances in technology and employer inclusion. Read More
Easterseals UCP North Carolina & Virginia — President and CEO Luanne Welch discusses a career dedicated to serving people with disabilities in a Triangle Business Journal Executive Voice article. Read More
Easterseals Oregon — President and CEO Carol Salter is quoted in a Comcast Oregon announcement that Comcast's discount internet access program, Internet Essentials, will expand eligibility to include all qualified low-income households in its service areas nationwide. Salter states, "Having an Internet connection at home is absolutely vital for low-income people living with disabilities." Read More
Easterseals Serving Chicagoland & Rockford — Rockford NBC affiliate WREX reported that the Easterseals Autism Program received a donation of $28,000 to help people with autism in the Rockford area. Hyundai on Perryville, LawnCare by Walter, and the Rockford IceHogs joined together to donate the money which Easterseals will use to reach more people with its diagnostic technology. Read More
expand_lessexpand_moreJuly
Easterseals DuPage & Fox Valley — The affiliate recently became a Neuro-Developmental Treatment (NDT) Center of Excellence and President and CEO Theresa Forthofer was appointed by Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker to serve on the 21-member Illinois Council on Women and Girls. Read More
Easterseals Southern California — President and CEO Mark Whitley's guest column on how disabilities are represented in Toy Story 4 is featured in Variety's July 3rd edition. Read More
Easterseals UCP North Carolina & Virginia — Camp Easterseals UCP celebrated the opening of its new adaptive playground with a ribbon cutting on June 30th. The playground was made possible by a donation from the Roanoke Women’s Foundation and volunteers from Pi Kappa Phi fraternity’s Ability Experience. Read More
Easterseals DuPage & Fox Valley — We are thrilled to announce that Easterseals DuPage & Fox Valley has been selected by the Chicago Bears as one of the ten recipients of the Bears100 Community All-Pros initiative! Read More
Easterseals New Hampshire — The affiliate's Autism Services program received a $15,000 grant from the Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation to purchase assistive technology for children with autism spectrum disorder in the areas of communication, social skills, self-care and academics. Read More
Easterseals Rehabilitation Center — The Evansville affiliate's driver training program launched 40 years ago, and they recently announced a new Chrysler minivan training vehicle equipped with a modified driving system and controls. Read More
expand_lessexpand_moreJune
Easterseals North Georgia — Voyage ATL interviewed Donna Davidson, President and CEO, about their children’s services including childhood mental health, inclusive childcare and early intervention programs. Read More
Easterseals Maine — Portland CBS affiliate WGME Channel 13 featured the state’s Veterans Count program and Maine’s Heroes Wall. Veterans Count services include employment counseling, emergency financial assistance, support for mental health and well-being, and deployment support. Over 200 veterans were assisted in 2018 through the program. Read More
Easterseals New Hampshire — Veterans Count received $10,000 in funding to assist veterans, service members, and their families from RagingBull.com Foundation on the 75th anniversary of D-Day on June 6th. Read More
expand_lessexpand_moreMay
Easterseals / Easterseals Thrive — Video games are a 'great equalizer' for people with disabilities. Read More
Easterseals in Chicago — Easterseals is not only still around — it’s big, important and based in Chicago. Read More
Easterseals Northern Ohio — Easterseals Northern Ohio is celebrating 100 years. Read More
Easterseals of New Jersey — Easterseals celebrates centennial enriching the lives of people with disabilities. Read More
expand_lessexpand_moreApril
Easterseals Central Illinois — Easterseals Central Illinois stages annual fashion show fundraiser for April. Read More
Easterseals — A Future Where Veterans are 100% Included and Empowered. Read More
Easterseals of Northeast Central Florida — Easterseals offer hope, support on Autism Awareness Day. Read More
Easterseals of New Jersey — Easterseals Opens In Hoboken: Services For Seniors, Special Needs. Read More
Easterseals Western and Central Pennsylvania — Community effort helps make disability-inclusive playground a reality in State College. Read More
Easterseals / Project SEARCH — Leaders from Intuit, Cisco, other companies promote disability inclusion at Jupiter conference. Read More
Easterseals — What is that orange light in the city? Buildings mark Easterseals' 100th. Read More
expand_lessexpand_moreMarch
Easterseals North Georgia — "Coffee with America" sits down with the CEO of Easterseals of North Georgia to discuss the organization's 100th anniversary. Watch
Easterseals Arkansas — Easterseals excitement: Yearly Fashion Event warmed hearts, produced smiles and raised funds. Read More
Easterseals-Goodwill Northern Rocky Mountain — The 'Respect Rally' gives people an opportunity to learn first hand about respect and acceptance by advocating for inclusion to end discrimination of individuals with intellectual disabilities. Read More
Easterseals New Hampshire — Larry Gammon has made a remarkable difference in the lives of many in New Hampshire. Read More
Easterseals Southern California — John Penotti and Phil Lord to mentor 2019 Easterseals Disability Film Challenge Winners. Read More
Easterseals Michigan — Easterseals first in U.S. to offer intergenerational trauma support. Read More
expand_lessexpand_moreFebruary
Easterseals New Jersey — Easterseals NJ helps celebrate national organization's 100th anniversary. Read More
National Aging and Disability Transportation Center / Easterseals — Database offers alternative-ride info for seniors, ADA clientele. Read More
Easterseals Southern California — Easterseals Southern California launches powerful ‘We Celebrate’ ad campaign celebrating disability inclusion and the organization’s 100th Anniversary. Read More
expand_lessexpand_moreJanuary
Easterseals — Easterseals President and CEO Angela Williams talks about veterans with disabilities and their families remaining a top priority for the organization. Read More
Easterseals Central Illinois — Blake Scribner celebrates 100-years of Easterseals in style. Read More
Easterseals Massachusetts — Dedham’s Matthew Jameson joins Easterseals float at Tournament of Roses parade. Read More
Easterseals Southern California — The Easterseals 2019 Rose Parade float is recognized for the “Leishman Public Spirit Award." Read More
Easterseals Southern California / Easterseals — Announcement of Easterseals’ participation in the 2019 Rose Parade. Read More
expand_lessexpand_moreevent2018
expand_lessexpand_moreDecember
Easterseals Midwest — Check out this recognition of Easterseals Midwest CEO Wendy Sullivan in the St. Louis Business Journal. Read More
Easterseals Arc – Old National Bank’s first Culinary Queens event in Fort Wayne on November 10th raised more than $254,000 for Easterseals Arc of Northeast Indiana. Learn More
Easterseals Rehabilitation Center – Evansville’s Easterseals Early Learning Center won a $10,000 prize for its family engagement efforts. Read More
expand_lessexpand_moreNovember
CENTURY 21® — Century 21 CEO Nick Bailey was interviewed about home ownership for people with disabilities. At the end of the piece, Nick talks about C21’s sole philanthropic partner Easterseals and how we will celebrate 40 years of partnership next year. Watch
Easterseals Southern California – Did you see the “Abilities Unlimited” advertorials on Variety’s website? Features include interviews with Millicent Simmonds, Nic Novicki, Mark Whitley, Fred Maahs and more! Read More
Easterseals Arkansas – In an article about parents of children with special needs, Easterseals Arkansas representative Karen Craig addressed the role parents play as advocates and caregivers. Learn More
Easterseals Serving Greater Cincinnati — Congratulations to Easterseals Serving Greater Cincinnati for their $250,000 award from the Citi Foundation in support of their YouthBuild program. Read More
Easterseals Western and Central Pennsylvania — The Thomas L Cline Foundation awarded a $77,000 grant to Easterseals Western and Central Pennsylvania for a new afterschool program to be held in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Along with serving a local need, this program will also work to reintroduce Easterseals services within Adams County.
Easterseals of Mahoning, Trumbull, and Columbiana — We were so thrilled to hear that the affiliate led a training for local law enforcement on best practices in effectively communicating with the deaf community. Learn More
Easterseals Greater Waterbury — This affiliate got a superb shoutout on their local Fox affiliate's "Coffee Cup Salute" segment. Check out Easterseals' feature here. Watch
Easterseals Southeastern Pennsylvania — Congratulations to the affiliate for receiving a $20,000 grant from the Comcast Foundation as part of the Comcast NBCUniversal Assistive Technology Grant Fund. Read More
Easterseals DuPage and Fox Valley — Easterseals clients were photographed by photography students from the College of DuPage. Their work was recently displayed at a reception to celebrate. Learn More
expand_lessexpand_moreOctober
Easterseals Michigan — Congratulations to Easterseals Michigan for being awarded a $2.5M grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration to be used for a new infant and early childhood mental health program. Read More
Easterseals Arc of Northeast Indiana — The Eric A. and Mary C. Baade Foundation awarded a $5,000 grant to Easterseals Arc. This award will be used for upgrades at the agency’s Broadway house, where Easterseals Arc provides supervised visitation for families referred by the Department of Child Services. The project will help create a comfortable, safe environment for the families. Learn More
Easterseals Alabama — The affiliate’s local Rotary Club pledged $10,000 in support of Easterseals Alabama’s recently opened community health clinic. Read More
Easterseals Southern Georgia — Check out this nice profile of Easterseals Southern Georgia’s new CEO, John McCain. Read More
Goodwill Easterseals-Miami Valley — Watch this in-depth feature a local news outlet ran of the affiliate. Watch
Easterseals Michigan — The affiliate’s “Over the Edge” event took place this weekend in Grand Rapids. 60 people participated raising more than $100,000. Learn More
Easterseals New Jersey — Hoboken’s Homelessness Task Force has worked out an agreement for the City to lease a piece of City property to Easterseals, for the annual rate of $1 to offer supportive employment services for adults with special needs and employment training and preparedness services for seniors looking to reenter the workforce. Read More
Easterseals Iowa — Watch this video about the affiliate’s adaptive obstacle course at Camp Sunnyside. Learn More
Easterseals Michigan — The affiliate is one of four Michigan community mental health centers selected as the state’s first Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, and will receive $4M in funding over the next to year. Read More
expand_lessexpand_moreSeptember
Easterseals DC MD VA — The affiliate has received a $21.8M grant to expand their Head Start programs for children age birth to five years from low-income families in Prince George County, Maryland. Learn More
Easterseals New Hampshire — The affiliate recently merged with The Homemakers Home Health Services of Rochester. The Homemakers services (in-home medical & non-medical care, as well as a facility-based adult day program) will now fall under the umbrella of Easterseals New Hampshire. Read More
Easterseals Michigan — As mentioned in a previous version of the Leadership Update, the affiliate is now an approved autism evaluation center by the Blue Care Network and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Check out this great write-up about the accomplishment. Learn More
Easterseals Central Illinois — An anonymous donor has pledged $4M to help build a new YMCA-Easterseals facility. Read More
Easterseals New York — The affiliate celebrated the grand opening of their New Kessler Center playground. Learn More
Easterseals Southeast Wisconsin — Read how a young man with autism was able to find a job in a lab through Project SEARCH. Read More
Easterseals Southern Georgia — Check out this lovely feature about President and CEO Beth English’s time with Easterseals and the impact she has made on her community. Read More
Easterseals New Jersey — A news crew from Univision dropped by one of the affiliate's locations yesterday to film a segment on their employment services. Watch
Easterseals Southern California — Advocates from Easterseals Southern California visited the offices of Assemblymember Chris Holden in Pasadena recently to thank the legislator and his staff for their tremendous work in securing $25 million in funding from the legislature that will allow developmental disability service providers to begin to bridge the gap between the new minimum wage requirements and service provider payment rates. Learn More
Easterseals New Hampshire — Watch Easterseals Community Based Services client Dave Jenne sing 'This Is Me' at the National Home & Community Based Service Conference. The affiliate won first prize in the Conference's video contest. Watch Now
Easterseals Serving Chicagoland and Rockford — Listen to a 30 second radio ad spot that the affiliate recorded with Huntington Bank in Chicago. The ad will run 164 times during the 8 week period, which started yesterday. The ads will run on WBBM and WXRT in Chicago. Listen
Easterseals Southern California — Check out this article in Shondaland written by disability rights activist and Easterseals Southern California ambassador Lora Glassman. Read More
Easterseals Bay Area — The affiliate recently opened their Kaleidoscope Community Adult Program to support individuals with developmental disabilities. Learn More
expand_lessexpand_moreAugust
Easterseals Northeast Central Florida — The affiliate is partnering with Dedicated Senior Medical Centers in Jacksonville, FL, to distribute enhanced-audio phones provided by the state to more than 500 hearing-impaired seniors. Read More
Easterseals Louisiana — Congratulations to President and CEO, Tracy Garner, for being awarded the 2018 Louisiana Association of Nonprofit Organizations (LANO) Force for Good Leadership Award. See More
Easterseals Serving Chicagoland and Rockford — Easterseals Academy at the affiliate recently completed a new accessible vocation garden. It features six ground-level cedar garden beds and four elevated wheelchair accessible garden bed tables. Learn More
Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley — Congratulations to the affiliate for being awarded an innovation grant from the United Way. The grants were awarded based on programs that "were innovative, promoted health, education and self sufficiency in the community and had the most impact in the community." Read More
Easterseals Michigan — Check out this photo of Aretha Franklin answering phones for an Easterseals Michigan telethon. Also be sure to check out this article in which Easterseals was mentioned about Aretha Franklin's performances in the nation's capitol. Learn More
Easterseals New Hampshire — Check out this spotlight on the impact of Easterseals New Hampshire’s care coordination program. Read More
Easterseals West Kentucky — Easterseals West Kentucky’s CEO Danny Caroll talked about the safeguards in place at their affiliate to protect donors’ dollars. Learn More
Easterseals DC MD VA — Congratulations to the affiliate for winning the 2018 Board Leadership Award from the Center for Nonprofit Advancement. “The award recognizes the role boards play in building and sustaining successful organizations.” Read More
Easterseals New Hampshire — Easterseals New Hampshire recently won first place in a video contest for the National Home & Community Based Service Conference. Check out their version of the song "This is Me" from The Greatest Showman, performed by Dave Jenne. Watch
Easterseals Southern Georgia — Watch this inspiring video from Easterseals Southern Georgia and Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen about disability and employment. Watch
expand_lessexpand_moreJuly
Easterseals Michigan — The affiliate, along with two Michigan townships, are joining forces to build an adaptive baseball field. Learn More
Easterseals National — Easterseals was featured on Upworthy as one of six nonprofits making sure freedom and justice are delivered to all Americans. Read More
Easterseals Washington — The Partners Group sponsored a staff appreciation event for the Camp Stand By Me staff at Easterseals Washington. Learn More
Easterseals Southern California — The Mighty wrote a feature story on how Easterseals is challenging filmmaking and the way in which it’s including people with disabilities with the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge. Read More
Easterseals Greater Houston — Check out this mention of the affiliate's BridgingApps program in an article about accessibility apps. Learn More
Easterseals Central Illinois — "A small center to prepare children with autism for kindergarten and first grade has opened and already is looking to expand in the fall." Read More
Easterseals Capper Foundation — Participants at the adult services program were honored with a celebration including fun awards, lunch and games. Learn More
Easterseals Southern California — The affiliate just received a $1.75M gift to expand their adult day services from the David and Molly Pyott Foundation, founded by Board Chair Molly Pyott and her husband, philanthropist and former CEO of Allergan David Pyott. Read More
Easterseals Arkansas — Easterseals Arkansas will now provide students with disabilities the opportunity to learn basic work skills. Learn More
expand_lessexpand_moreJune
Easterseals/Goodwill Rocky Mountain — CEO Michelle Belknap submitted this Letter to the Editor to the Montana Standard regarding a VA bill passage. Read More
Easterseals New Jersey — Read more about Easterseals New Jersey's "Play With Purpose" event, which raised more than $100,000 while educating the community about the importance of inclusion and accessible recreation. Learn More
Easterseals Arkansas — Twelve students with disabilities earned their diplomas from the University of Arkansas Little Rock. Learn more about the partnership between Easterseals and the University that helped these students achieve their dreams. Read More
Easterseals Rehabilitation Center — Speaking of graduation, check out this adorable video of the recent preschool graduation at the Indiana affiliate. Watch
Easterseals New Hampshire — The affiliate's Veterans Count program is now offering even more resources to veterans in the area. Learn More here and here
Easterseals Southern California — This affiliate was featured in a great video created by @WeAreTheMighty about Bob Hope's Legacy. Check it out
Easterseals Arc of Northeast Indiana — Check out this column written by Easterseals Arc of Northeast Indiana President and CEO Donna Elbrecht and the president of the Fort Wayne region for Old National Bank about disability and employment. Read More
Easterseals Greater Waterbury (CT) — See the recipients for post-secondary scholarships awarded by Easterseals to students with disabilities. Learn More
Easterseals DC MD VA — Vardly St. Preux was a veteran that became homeless due to mental illness, and because of Easterseals, was able to get back on his feet. Read More
Easterseals DC MD VA — Easterseals DC MD VA President and CEO Jonathan Horowitch joined other national leaders in the inaugural class of the Bush Institute's Stand-To Veteran Leadership program at the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas. Learn More
Easterseals Crossroads — Sam Schultz was a 25-year-old IUPUI graduate who suffered a serious brain injury that left her without the ability to walk, talk, and eat. With the help of Easterseals, she is on the road to recovery. Read More
expand_lessexpand_moreMay
Easterseals Southern California — Check out this feature of the Disability Film Challenge on CNN. Watch Now
Easterseals Rehabilitation Center — The wives of PGA Tour Players visited this affiliate to spend time with the children at their preschool and day care centers, and present a $1,500 check and books. Read More
Easterseals Michigan — The mother of a teen with autism shares what she wants others to know about interacting with people on the autism spectrum. Learn More
Easterseals Arc of Northeast Indiana — “More than 100 people representing 34 families with children or adults on the autism spectrum came to Fort Wayne International Airport for some flight training, sponsored by Easterseals Arc of Northeast Indiana.” Read More
Easterseals Greater Cincinnati — Participants in the affiliate’s YouthBuild program rallied together to make home repairs for a Vietnam veteran. Learn more
Easterseals Capper Foundation — This affiliate held an autism summit to discuss ways parents, relatives, caregivers and educators could support someone with autism. Read More
Easterseals Midwest — Read this thought leadership piece from the affiliate's Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer Tom Barry on fundraising and tax reform. Read More
Easterseals Blake Foundation — IDG's CIO announced Easterseals Blake Foundation as a recipient of the 2018 CIO 100. The 31st annual award program recognizes organizations around the world that exemplify the highest level of operational and strategic excellence in information technology (IT). Learn More
Easterseals Southern California — The votes are in! The winners of the Disability Film Challenge were announced with Carl Hansen's "Check Mate" taking the top prize. Read Variety's coverage
expand_lessexpand_moreApril
Easterseals Central Illinois — Learn more about the new space Easterseals Central Illinois will share with the YMCA to benefit the Bloomington-Normal community. Read More
Easterseals Western and Central Pennsylvania — This Autism Acceptance Month, check out how Easterseals Western and Central Pennsylvania is supporting people with autism and their families. Learn More
Easterseals Goodwill Miami Valley — Check out how Easterseals Goodwill Miami Valleyis partnering with a hotel call center to provide dozens of jobs for people with visual impairments. Read More
Easterseals Southern California — We thank Warner Bros. for their generous donation! Read More
Easter Seals DuPage & Fox Valley — President and CEO of Easter Seals DuPage & Fox Valley, Theresa Forthofer discusses the importance of adaptive apparel with USA Today. Read More
Easter Seals of Eastern Pennsylvania — Congratulations to this affiliate for being one of 52 organizations in Pennsylvania to receive a grant from the Comcast Foundation. This allowed them to fund the Interactive Metronome, "an assessment and training tool that improves neurotiming for patients across the therapy spectrum — such as those with ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Sensory Processing Disorder." Read More
Easterseals Midwest — A first-of-its kind program is helping young adults on the autism spectrum master the skills necessary to find a career path. Read More
Easterseals Rehabilitation Center — Congratulations to the affiliate for raising $119,465 at their local telethon. Learn More
Easterseals Southern California — Watch this feature of the Disability Film Challenge on Hollywood Minute. Watch
Easterseals Joliet Region — In eight hours, this affiliate raised $188,460 through its annual telethon. Read More
Easterseals Blake Foundation — This affiliate recently launched their behavioral health outpatient facility, offering a variety of treatments to people of all ages. Learn More
Easterseals Capper Foundation — Check out the affiliate's "An Evening as a Child" event. Read More
expand_lessexpand_moreMarch
Easterseals Southern Georgia — Executive Director Beth English announced her retirement from the affiliate, which will take place at the end of September. Read More
Easterseals DC MD VA — Dr. Tracy Neal-Walden, Senior Vice President and Director of the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Easterseals, will be a featured moderator at a prestigious event for the military and veteran community hosted by the National Academy of Sciences. Learn More
Easterseals Southern Georgia — Easterseals vocational participant Cody Slusher's visit to the Century 21 conference was featured in the Sylvester Local News. Check out the clips here and here.
Easterseals Southern California — "As part of a three-year partnership and inclusion awareness campaign focused on disability, ESSC will host special screenings of CinemAbility and participate in other promotional opportunities. Gold Pictures will showcase ESSC’s logo in all marketing efforts, highlight the nonprofit on its social media platforms and build relationships on behalf of ESSC with Hollywood leaders and celebrity influencers to further efforts to raise awareness within the entertainment industry." Read More
Easterseals Eastern Pennsylvania — Their Make the First Five Count program was featured in a televised segment by the regional news outlet. Watch the Video
Easterseals Maine — On March 29th, Easterseals Maine and Veterans Count will host their third annual Radiothon to benefit their Military and Veterans Services, through which they hope to raise $100K. Tune in on WGAN.com to check out this 12-hour event, which will feature local celebrities and government officials as well as (and most importantly) the veterans they serve.
Easterseals New Jersey — Check out this impact video Easterseals New Jersey produced to share how supporters helped them make a difference in the lives of over 9,000 individuals with disabilities and those who care about them. Watch the Video
Easterseals UCP North Carolina and Virginia — Did you know this affiliate offers services related to foster care? Watch this inspiring video to learn more. Watch the Video
Easterseals Southwest Human Development — Read the affiliate's wonderful spotlight on Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, including Harmony's story. Read More
Easterseals Iowa — This affiliate just launched their blog at the beginning of the year. Read a great post from a former camp counselor at their own Camp Sunnyside. Learn More
Easterseals Southern California — Check out this guest column in Variety, written by Nic Novicki and Mark Whitley, about disability representation in Hollywood. Read More
Easterseals Central Illinois — A wonderful success story of a young child with autism who receives services from this affiliate. Learn More
Easterseals Colorado — Check out the great work this affiliate is doing with their Disability Friendly Employers Program, which acts as a Better Business Bureau for businesses that employ people with disabilities. Read More
Easterseals-Goodwill Northern Rocky Mountain — This affiliate participated in a 'Spread the Word to End the Word' rally to bring attention to the harmful effects of the "R-word". Read More
Easterseals New Hampshire — Employee Stephanie Higgs, who works with the affiliate's Military and Veterans services, wrote a column titled "Appeal to employers: Local veterans in need of work" to connect veterans with employers. Learn More
Easterseals Eastern Pennsylvania — Congratulations to this affiliate for being one of 52 organizations in Pennsylvania to receive a grant from the Comcast Foundation. This allowed them to fund the Interactive Metronome, "an assessment and training tool that improves neurotiming for patients across the therapy spectrum — such as those with ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Sensory Processing Disorder." Read More
expand_lessexpand_moreFebruary
Easterseals New Jersey — Christine Dante, Assistant Vice President of Employment Services from Easterseals New Jersey, spoke with Comcast Newsmakers about hiring and accommodating people with disabilities. Watch the video
Easterseals Midwest — A wonderful feature story about Easterseals Midwest's community impact. Read More
Easterseals New Hampshire — LTC Partners pledged $50,000 to Easterseals New Hampshire's Veterans Count program. Learn More
Easterseals Central Illinois — Check out this success story featuring a young boy who is reaching his milestones with the help of Easterseals Central Illinois. Read More
Easterseals DC MD VA — Jon Horowitch wrote a great article on the key takeaways of the affiliate’s work with Carly Fiorina’s Unlocking Potential nonprofit to strengthen their leadership capacity. Read More
Easterseals Washington — This affiliate is creating a Technology Achievement Center at its adult services program with a grant from Comcast. Learn more about the Center
Easterseals of Southern Georgia — The affiliate’s Megan’s House is officially open! “The home provides quality respite care for children ages 0-17 who have developmental disabilities, a diagnosis of autism or who are medically fragile.” Read More
Easterseals Capital Region & Eastern Connecticut — This affiliate was awarded a $20,000 Comcast grant. Learn More
Easterseals Central Illinois — A wonderful success story about a young boy with autism. Read More
Easterseals Central Ohio — Congrats to this affiliate for receiving a 5 Star Step Up to Quality Rating from the State of Ohio!
Easterseals DC MD VA — The Kessler Foundation has awarded a second Signature Employment Grant to Easter Seals Serving DC|MD|VA to launch Easterseals Disability Staffing Network (EDSN, pronounced "Edison"). Learn More
Empowering Disabled Adults Through Community: Weekend Retreat at Easterseals Massachusetts
Thursday, July 25, 2024, 4:57 PM
By Grant Stoner Last month, Easterseals Massachusetts celebrated its annual mentorship retreat for y…
By Grant Stoner
Last month, Easterseals Massachusetts celebrated its annual mentorship retreat for young adults with disabilities. The Empowering You 2024 Mentorship Retreat featured activities and events like workshops emphasizing community building, handcrafted art, games, and several guest speakers. For disabled individuals living in Massachusetts, this annual event encouraged embracing your disabled identity, building support throughout your community, and, more importantly, the capability to confidently and comfortably empower oneself.
Empowering You is the culmination of efforts from Easterseals Massachusetts’ mentorship programs Thriveand Brothers Against Discrimination (B.A.D). While Thrive is specifically for disabled young women, and B.A.D for young men, both groups seek to help disabled members promote and advocate for themselves as confident disabled members of society. I spoke with Easterseals Massachusetts Youth Program Manager, Desi Forte, who explored this year’s mentorship retreat theme and its varying activities, the importance of accommodating numerous disabilities, and her hopes for the future.
What Is Empowering You?
Confidence and self-worth are important tools for any individual. Yet, for disabled people that may struggle to feel welcome in a society that can still pose numerous inaccessible barriers, as well as general notions of ableism, empowerment is crucial for daily living. While Thrive and B.A.D regularly develop programs to create and refine self-help skills, Forte explains it was important to have the annual retreat focus on the overall theme of empowerment.
“The focus of the program was really around empowering people with disabilities by creating these communities,” Forte said. “With the theme of Empowering You, we were trying to find an all-encompassing theme that was broad in terms of scope of what we could cover. Really emphasizing the point around empowerment because that’s what these programs were built to do.”
The annual mentorship retreat took place over a weekend to allow attendees time to engage with activities. Forte notes that the Friday and Saturday were primarily reserved for members of B.A.D, while Thrive members met on Saturday and Sunday, with intentional overlap on Saturday for both groups to connect with one another. Forte explains that approximately 18 attendees within each program stayed for the event, with ages ranging from 15 to adults in their 50s. Yet, despite the vast differences in age, the event provided activities for all to enjoy.
“There were activities around the theme of empowerment,” she said. “There was an art activity where individuals created prints just showing what empowerment means to them. There were speakers around leadership within the disability community and beyond, and how they can be leaders in their lives. There was a lot of structured down-time as a way for these community members to connectwith one another to build organic mentoring and empowering relationships from the different generational communities being able to connect with one another.”
Empowering Through Care
Each annual mentorship retreat brings attendees to new locations, and Empowering You was no different. Hosted at Bridgewater State University, members and volunteers were given access to the facilities of the college campus, including residential halls. While this was a great way to directly bring disabled individuals into local communities, it also provided its own logistical challenges.
For many disabled people, traveling, and especially staying overnight, can be a complex process. From transferring medical equipment to extensive care regimes, many disabled individuals do not have the luxury to temporarily bring their care to other areas. Thankfully, Forte notes that the event was able to comfortably and successfully accommodate everyone.
“One of the strongest positive outcomes we always see, is that because this was an overnight event, we were able to support [Personal Care Assistant] needs if that’s something participants need to be involved,” she said. “[We also provide] other needs they may have that may be a barrier for them to participate in other overnight events. Just getting a chance to be overnight, away from their everyday environment, is always a strong part of this program.”
Some attendees, as Forte explains, are experiencing their first overnight event. And for others, these retreats are something to look forward to annually, allowing disabled individuals to connect with peers, as well as comfortably and confidently spend significant time away from their home environment. Forte notes that one of the most common pieces of feedback after each event is the joy with being able to stay overnight. “The feedback that we’ve gotten many, many times, and this year especially, is just being able to be in the space is something that those involved don’t get the opportunity to do very often.”
Moving Forward
Empowering You was not the only event available this year. Forte notes that Easterseals Massachusetts consistently offers numerous events and retreats, both virtually and physically, for disabled attendees and mentors alike. For disabled individuals, these create opportunities to build not only self-confidence, but a sense of community, something crucial for marginalized groups like disabled people. And as each event draws to a close, Forte is hopeful that they will continue with new themes and places.
“The hopes for future events are to just keep them going and to keep them growing,” she said. “To be able to keep doing these and offering these opportunities. The only concerns are always around funding and making sure that that’s available to support these programs, and to support these opportunities.”
Empowering You more than embraced its theme. The intersections of different mentorship groups, community building, and creating necessary tools to empower oneself were felt across the college campus. For disabled individuals, finding a sense of belonging internally, as well as through a community, are crucial components of long-term care. Without community, disabled people may struggle to engage within a traditionally nondisabled society. And while these events continue, self-empowerment and connecting with others will provide even more opportunities for disabled individuals to develop a sense of belonging. And as Forte explains, these retreats and events are integral to the disabled community.
“As a person with a disability myself, I completely understand firsthand what being involved in these programs means,” she said. “And really, what it means for me to be able to give back to this community that means so much to me.”
Taking Charge of Your Story: Why Representation Matters
Tuesday, July 23, 2024, 11:35 AM
By Christina Gann The first time I ever encountered a queer narrative in a video game was The Last o…
By Christina Gann
The first time I ever encountered a queer narrative in a video game was The Last of Us in 2013. The main game was released in June during LGBTQIA Pride month but did not include an openly queer narrative released in the main story playthrough. It was a prequel, an add-on character story that you needed to purchase separately after the release of the main game. When I started up that game, I had no idea that the story they were going to include for the main character Ellie William would have such a profound impact on me. The story took you on a heartfelt journey with Ellie’s best friend Riley that concluded with Ellie’s first kiss … and she kissed *gasp* Riley?! … another girl!
I was over the moon. I couldn’t hold back my tears and felt a sense of connection to this story and to the world around me in that instance. I cried because I felt validated and connected to this storytelling even if I had never experienced a queer teen romance of my own. Ellie was me. Teen romances are universal, a part of the human experience. To look for companionship and emotional security in another person is an experience that surpasses color, sexuality, ability and telling stories that include these universal experiences with diversity and inclusion weaves a tapestry interconnecting us as humans.
As rare as the queer perspective is in video games, good representation of people with disabilities is even rarer. Rich, diverse stories of characters with disabilities are desperately needed in mainstream media. Accurate representation is key to destroying limiting beliefs about the lives of people with disabilities. Stereotypes and false beliefs created by misrepresentation give a false impression of what it’s like to live in the world with a disability, creating disconnect and isolation. Disability is still regularly served up as a trope to invoke fear in the horror genre in both video games and cinema. Sending a message that disabled people should invoke fear instead of celebrating the life of the individual and the way they approach the world in different ways. This needs to be replaced with characters and stories that resonate differences to be celebrated.
When I was a young adult, my family and I would go to medical conventions to learn new information and technologies that could help accommodate my needs while living with short gut syndrome. Short gut syndrome is so rare that these conventions were the only way that I ever got to see or meet other people who lived a similar experience to my own. I felt included, accepted and understood more there than anywhere else. Meeting all these young people like me who had the same challenges, the same desires, same hopes made me see that it was all possible if I was allowed to exist without the constraints and limitations put on me.
Seeing representation of yourself is healing, especially when you exist outside the boundaries of the status quo. To be able to relate and identify with the rest of the world is profoundly interconnecting. Everyone wants to feel seen, everyone thirsts to be understood and accepted as they are. When we tell stories with accurate representation, we create an understanding, and through understanding, we create unity. The stories we tell, the way in which we represent ourselves to each other is so vital to the way in which we relate to each other face to face.
We believe what we see and this becomes our reality. I was taught at a very young age that being different meant danger. That being disabled meant that you were limited in what was possible. That accepting disability meant accepting defeat. I grew up as a witness to a world that mistreated, misrepresented and abandoned the disabled. I struggled to relate what I saw to how I felt growing up disabled. I didn’t feel like I was limited but that the world was not made for people like me. I remember going into my school counselor’s office and being told what I was capable of achieving. What was possible and what was not going to happen for me given the limitations she created for me out of assumptions fueled by societal views. I was force fed my limitations on a platter with no exceptions. Without allowing me to determine my path and how I would approach life in my own unique way. Without giving me a chance to thrive.
I went on to dismantle every limit put in front of me. I have done things I was told were impossible.
Someone told my story, someone else limited my potential and capabilities without my permission. No one should have their story stolen or misrepresented. Misrepresentation creates false images and harmful stereotypes of people and their lived experiences. We are still fighting for accurate representation at the intersection of queer and disabled. To have a hand in telling our own stories is vital to diverse and suitable representation that changes how we are viewed and treated in the world.
When we leave room for all stories to be told, we open the door to alternate reality, one that aligns with our humanity, compassion and understanding. No one should have their story or their potential snatched away. We all deserve the chance to thrive and live out loud and proud of all that makes us who we are. Diversity, accurate representation and inclusion bridges the gap between what we think we know about each other and what connects us to each other, including us all in the conversation.
Advocacy makes our stories and existence visible and we are infused back into the pack as one community supporting one another through our individual experiences. When you are ready, tell your story as loudly as you can because I assure you, someone out there needs it so that they can have the courage to tell their own.
Christina Gann is a content creator, artist, and scientist based in Colorado. They love horror movies, gaming with friends, and their dog, Oreo. You can follow Christina on Twitch, TikTok, Instagram, and X.
Disability Pride, Queer Pride, and the Medical Model
Thursday, July 18, 2024, 12:27 PM
By Mids Meinberg As we enter into Disability Pride Month, I believe it is important to think about t…
By Mids Meinberg
As we enter into Disability Pride Month, I believe it is important to think about the ways that disability and queer rights have similar struggles. In particular, both have a history of navigating the divide between the medical and social models.
The medical model is the more traditional model for thinking about both disability and queerness. Essentially, it proposes that these are medical conditions that require treatment and, ideally, a cure. The social model, in contrast, proposes that disability and queerness are both identities, which exist to be embraced — not erased.
Psychology is a relatively young science, but in its foundational texts, homosexuality is described as a mental pathology. Within the first DSM, released in 1952, homosexuality is placed in the same category as pedophilia and sadism. The DSM-II, originally released in 1968, kept homosexuality as a mental illness, but only during the first six printings. (Psychiatry.org)
Between the sixth and seventh printing, the gay liberation movement had begun in earnest, spurned by the famous Stonewall riots that led to the creation of queer Pride. As the movement gathered strength, it led to the seventh printing (in 1973), revising the description of homosexuality to no longer describe it alone as a psychiatric disorder. It did, however, maintain that a person with homosexual desires was a person who needed treatment.
This would remain the stance of the DSM until the DSM-5, released in 2013.
While queer Pride began in 1970, starting on the anniversary of the Stonewall riots, Disability Pride did not begin until 1990, in celebration of the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. It did not begin to have widespread celebration until the early 2010s, and is still not nationally recognized.
Despite the successes of the struggle for the rights of both disabled and queer people, there is still much to go to assure full equality for both groups. The medical model is still in common practice for many disabilities, and indeed is held by some disabled people as well. Our society creates barriers for disabled people despite the laws passed like the ADA, preventing disabled people from being able to live their lives to the fullest. And while the blame lies on these barriers, disabled people are constantly told that it is their disability at fault.
Queer people have resisted the medical model since it was first applied to them, and efforts to pathologize queerness have always been rooted in discrimination and hatred towards queer people. Despite this rejection of the medical model, some queer people do require medical technology in order to best fit their desired identities, which is most visible in trans people.
While it is entirely possible to transition one’s gender without the use of any medical tools, options like HRT, gender-affirmation surgery, and facial remodeling are very useful in helping a trans person to fully identify as their true gender. This use of medicine does not mean that the medical model applies to trans people, though.
Meinberg
I use medicine to help ameliorate my depression and anxiety, but this does not mean that my depression and anxiety are inherently medical issues. If I lived in a society that was more accommodating of depressed people or anxious people, I might require less medication. But even if I chose to continue using medication, that is merely my choice in how to best navigate my neurodivergence so that I can truly be myself.
I would never want to be cured completely of my depression. For all of the troubles it has caused me, it is still a part of me and a part I am deeply proud of how it has helped to shape me into becoming a better person. The idea that I would be better off if I had never had depression is simply incorrect. Some depressed people feel differently though, and that is a valid perspective to have. There is no denying, though, the transformative effect of having a disability.
Similarly, there are some trans people who wish they were assigned the correct gender at birth. Transitioning is difficult due to large social barriers and lack of affordable access to necessary treatments, and being assigned the correct gender at birth is much easier. However, nearly all transpeople are happy that they have transitioned and the important part is that they have become who they wish to be. (Gender GP) In addition, for many trans people I know, their transition is an important part of their identity — not simply being the right gender, but being a trans person of the right gender.
This is because these trans people are able to find community together via their transness and are able to develop new models of looking at their gender via the lens of being trans, much in the same way that people with queer sexualities look at relationships differently and are able to form different kinds of romantic and sexual bonds because they are not the default.
As disabled people, we can apply many of these lessons that queer people have learned to our own struggles and our own identities and learn how best to create a space in the world for us. The social model recognizes that disability is a part of disabled people’s lives and it changes us, not necessarily for better or for worse, but into who we truly are. Even if I were to no longer experience any symptoms of depression, I would still have been shaped by that depression and I cannot write it off of my identity.
An ableist society seeks to shame us for our disabilities, seeking to reinstate the ugly laws and push us away from visibility, to pretend like we don’t exist – and that when we do exist, our disabilities are problems to be solved. For a very long time, this was also the case for queer people; society wished for queer people to be put back into the closet, to be denied their existence and their rights. But like queer people, disabled people have continued to fight, and so long as we have pride in our hearts and know that we deserve to exist, to be seen, to be counted as equals no matter what society has to say, we will push forward into a better tomorrow.
Happy Disability Pride, everyone.
Mids Meinberg is a writer and game designer working out of New Jersey. They have an AA in Creative Writing from Brookdale Community College.
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