Easterseals Southern California has been bustling with impactful activities and meaningful advocacy. From volunteer events and high-level legislative meetings to celebrating achievements in disability inclusion through film, there’s always something exciting happening.

Dive into the latest events and initiatives making a difference at Easterseals.

Volunteers Spread Joy at Easterseals Senior Day Services in Brea

Rexford Industrial and their dedicated volunteers spent the day at our Adult & Senior Day Services center in Brea, CA recently. It was an event full of flower-arranging, painting, eating, and enjoying each other’s company. During a special “Sharing Session,” the participants and volunteers at Brea talked about people and events that inspired them. It was a great way to spread joy and also honor Older Americans Month. Thank you, Rexford Industrial!

Easterseals Advocates for Medicaid in Washington D.C.

Easterseals Southern California leaders, board members, and disability advocates traveled to Washington, D.C. to speak directly with legislators about the critical importance of protecting Medicaid. Our delegation—including Easterseals SoCal CEO Mark Whitley; advocates Tiffany Yu, Emily Ladau, and Andrea Jennings; and ESSC Board leaders—met with 29 Congressional offices, representing all but three of ESSC’s federal Congressional districts and both of California’s Senators.

Together, we addressed key concerns about Medicaid access and emphasized the need for bipartisan support. We also shared personal stories to highlight how proposed cuts would severely impact people with disabilities—limiting access to essential services and putting vital support systems at risk for individuals striving to live, work, and thrive in their communities. We’re proud to stand up for accessibility and equity at the national level. Advocacy is how we drive lasting impact. Take action with Easterseals and let your voice be heard. 

Easterseals Disability Film Challenge Announces 2025 Winners

The 12^th annual Easterseals Disability Film Challenge Awards Show was held on Thursday, May 8 at Sony Pictures Studios, where hundreds gathered to celebrate disability inclusion in film. Prior to the Awards Show, film challenge participants and celebrities walked the “orange carpet” for photo ops and interviews with media outlets. Awards presented for this year’s “Thriller and Suspense” theme included:

• Best Actor: Dashiell Meier
• Best Director: Shane Hillier
• Best Awareness Campaign: Anna Pakman
• Best Writer: Steve Way and Danny Kurtzman
• Best Editor: Lily Drummond
• Best Film: Lee Cleaveland

To see more highlights from the event, watch the video below and visit the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge website to watch the 2025 film entries.

Recognizing Mental Health Awareness at the NAMI Walk

In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, Easterseals was proud to sponsor and host a booth at the 2025 National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Walk – Greater Los Angeles County Mental Health Festival, marking our first time participating in this impactful event!

Held at the Los Angeles State Historic Park, the festival brought together nearly 2,000 attendees for a day of connection, community, and advocacy. With live music, engaging activities, and meaningful conversations, we joined fellow supporters to raise awareness and help break the stigma surrounding mental health.

Reimagining Hollywood at the Cannes Film Festival

Easterseals SoCal partnered with the American Pavilion at the Cannes Film Festival to discuss our Reimagining Hollywood: A New Lens on Disability Report. Our panel featured Nic Novicki, CEO and Founder of the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge, and Nancy Weintraub, Chief Advancement Officer at Easterseals Southern California, and was moderated by Keith Simanton, Managing Editor of IMDPro. We took a deep dive into the state of disability inclusion in entertainment – progress, wins, and the path ahead – focused on advancing authentic representation on and off screen.

Stay In the Know 

Learn more about what we’re doing at Easterseals on our website, and be sure to follow us on social media to stay up-to-date on the latest happenings across our service lines:  

• Facebook: @EastersealsSoCal 

• Instagram: @EastersealsSoCal 

• TikTok: @EastersealsSoCal 

• Bluesky: @eastersealssocal.bsky.social 

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/easterseals-southern-california/ 

• YouTube: @EastersealsSouthernCalifornia 

The post Easterseals On the Move: Recent Happenings and Initiatives appeared first on Easterseals Southern California Blog.

Mattering means feeling valued, respected, and having a sense of influence. Whether at home, at work, or in the community, people need to feel heard, appreciated, and capable. In the Autism Services department at Easterseals, we’ve seen first-hand how engaging in meaningful activities boosts wellbeing, motivation, resilience, and social connections. 

In January 2025, Easterseals Southern California’s Autism Therapy Services team launched an exciting initiative centered around the PERMA+ model, which is based in positive psychology, the scientific study of what makes life most worth living (Peterson, 2008). The PERMA+ model highlights six essential elements that contribute to overall well-being:  

• Positive Emotions  

• Engagement 

• Relationships  

• Meaning (Mattering) 

• Accomplishment (Achievements) 

• Health 

Each one plays a vital role in enhancing an individual’s wellness, and we are committed to embedding this model into our therapy services. 

During the month of May, we will focus on exploring the ‘M’ of PERMA+, which revolves around Mattering/Meaning, by implementing strategies and resources for staff and participants.    

We invite you to discover activities that will bring value and meaning to your own life whether you’re a caregiver, therapist, or participant, as well as how you can show others that they matter. 

How you can find meaning in everyday life: 

• Career and Professional Growth: Find purpose through meaningful work, career development, and contributing to organizational goals. 

• Creative Pursuits: Explore hobbies, artistic endeavors, and creative expressions that bring you joy and personal fulfilment.  

• Volunteerism and Service: Engage in community service, volunteering, and philanthropy to make a positive impact on society.  

• Personal Development: Pursue education, learn new skills, and seek personal growth initiatives that align with your personal aspirations.  

• Family and Relationships: Invest time and effort in nurturing meaningful relationships with loved ones and support their growth and well-being.  

Use your creativity to create a “mattering wall” or collage for others to share their thoughts on who matters to them and what makes them feel like they matter.

Simple activities you can do to show someone they matter:  

Whether at home or at work, there are plenty of simple ways to show others that they matter. Below, we share some practical ways Easterseals Autism Services has implemented mattering activities that you can also use anywhere:  

• Write a thank you card for a parent, therapist, or teacher who made you feel like you matter.  

• Complete a small task of appreciation at home or at work for someone else, such as delivering an item, watering a plant, doing the dishes, sharing a snack, or picking up a cluttered space. 

• Create a “mattering wall” or collage for others to share their thoughts on who matters to them and what makes them feel like they matter.  

• Make a simple no-sew fleece blanket as a gift for someone, whether they’re a friend, parent, or a person in need.  

We hope these ideas inspire you to show others that they matter and remind you of your own importance every day.  

Learn more about Easterseals Southern California’s Autism Services by visiting our website.  

The post The Importance of Being Seen: Why ‘Mattering’ is Vital for Mental Health in the Autism Community  appeared first on Easterseals Southern California Blog.

As we approach the one-year anniversary of our multi-media PSA campaign ‘Disability is Not a Dirty Word,’ Easterseals Southern California is pleased to announce the release of new content. This includes updated billboards, impactful commercials, and a newly launched merchandise store. Through the continuation of this campaign, we remain committed to boldly promoting Disability Pride throughout Southern California. 

Out and About  

Whether you’re scrolling your phone, watching TV, or driving down the freeway, it’s likely you’ve seen our latest PSA content proclaiming that disability is NOT a dirty word! And if you haven’t seen it yet, follow us on social media using the links below to see refreshed videos featuring authentic stories of disability inclusion.  

The New Merch Store is Open!  

The redesigned online store featuring ‘Disability is Not a Dirty Word’ merch has expanded into hats, backpacks, polo shirts and more. Plus, you or your organization can do a bulk order of 50 items or more to get great pricing.  Check out the new store here!  

Tag Us on Social Media!  

When you wear your Disability Pride merch or come across a billboard or commercial, let us know! Tag Easterseals Southern California on social media and we will feature your post on our pages:  

• Facebook: @EastersealsSoCal 

• Instagram: @EastersealsSoCal 

• TikTok: @EastersealsSoCal 

• Bluesky: @eastersealssocal.bsky.social 

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/easterseals-southern-california/ 

• YouTube: @EastersealsSouthernCalifornia 

Learn more about our ‘Disability is Not a Dirty Word’ campaign by visiting DisabilityPride.com.  

Watch one of our newest videos, featuring Nik Sanchez 

The post What’s New with the ‘Disability is Not a Dirty Word’ Campaign? appeared first on Easterseals Southern California Blog.

It all started with a giant spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel.

“This was during the pandemic,” says Sabrina Pascual, now Director of the Virtual Community for Easterseals Southern California. “Since people couldn’t come to our sites, our various Adult Day Services (ADS) locations started planning their own online programming.”

For example, the ADS site in Van Nuys would host a webinar about cooking, while the West Covina site created a one-hour online event about painting.

Sabrina set up a spreadsheet to share this information throughout the organization. She listed all the remote activities, provided links, and emailed the file to the ADS sites every week. That way, people at various locations could join each other’s programs.

The spreadsheet kept growing and was becoming unwieldy, so Sabrina and her colleagues decided to move everything to an online platform. They didn’t realize it at the time, but that’s when the Virtual Community was born.

A Quick Fix Becomes a Permanent Resource

In the beginning, the website was simply a way to organize and promote all the different online activities happening across Easterseals ADS sites.

But as people began returning to on-site programming, it was clear that the virtual community remained valuable. Many had formed friendships through the site, people enjoyed the variety of offerings, and if participants were sick or couldn’t attend in-person for other reasons, it was an easy way for them to stay engaged.

In response, Sabrina and her team started building something more permanent:

• They created an Advisory Committee that included participants, to help organize and plan the weekly schedule of events.
• They added more resources to the site.
• They hired virtual coaches to help lead some activities—and other activities are taught by participants themselves.

They also made sure to prioritize accessibility. For example, the site:

• Does not require email addresses to log in. Instead, it uses a system of access codes.
• Uses alt text for images (text explanations of a visual, for the visually impaired).
• Uses navigation arrows throughout the site to reduce the need for scrolling.
• Is fully translatable into many languages, and they continue to add more languages.

Now, five years after the pandemic, the site is a robust and dynamic destination for around 300 people every month. What began as a social-distancing quick-fix has transformed into a thriving online community.

From Gaming Advice to Animal Facts

During the week, the Virtual Community hosts two events almost every hour, for a total of approximately 60 events per week. It covers a wide range of topics that are driven by participants’ interests, including:

• Music Enjoyment
• Pictionary
• Mysteries of the Ocean
• Karaoke
• Video Game Nostalgia
• Magician Secrets Revealed
• Theme Parks Around the World
• And so much more

There is also an Open Discussion Room from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. every weekday, where people can just drop in to chat, share information they’ve learned from other Virtual Community activities, talk about current events, and more.

Benefits Beyond the Content 

The events are engaging and popular, but they’re not the only benefit.

Through the Virtual Community, participants have learned more about how to use tech devices and navigate online spaces. It’s become a way to bridge the technology knowledge gap in the disability community.

People have also gained new skills and confidence as they lead activities or discussions.

And then there are the relationships. Since the beginning, the Virtual Community has helped foster connections across different locations, enhancing everyone’s sense of unity and belonging. This was evident during the January wildfires in Southern California, when some in-person services were suspended for safety, but people could still meet online and stay engaged and connected.

What’s Next

The Virtual Community has become an exciting project within Easterseals Southern California, and Sabrina and her team continue to find ways to make it a vibrant space for participants.

Going forward, the team is exploring ways to extend the community beyond Easterseals to California Regional Centers so that people outside the organization can join in. Expanding this unique resource could be invaluable to individuals and programs throughout California, creating access to services and true community for the people who need it most.

“The Virtual Community is transforming the way people in Adult Day Services connect and learn,” says Sabrina. “It’s something we couldn’t have imagined in the beginning. But throughout this journey, we’ve let participant input guide us. Now we have a fun and lively space with so much interesting content—and it keeps getting better.”

To learn more about the Virtual Community and how you can get involved, visit our website. You can also check out the Virtual Community here.

The post Connecting and Thriving: Inside Easterseals Adult Day Services Virtual Community appeared first on Easterseals Southern California Blog.

Hollywood’s journey toward portraying authentic disability representation has faced challenges, from miscasting to harmful stereotypes. However, a growing number of films are prioritizing lived experiences, casting disabled actors, and crafting narratives that celebrate diversity without reducing characters to clichés. Below, we highlight productions that exemplify progress, offering nuanced portrayals that resonate with audiences and set new standards for disability in media.  

A Quiet Place (2018) 

A post-apocalyptic thriller directed by John Krasinski; A Quiet Place follows a family surviving in silence to evade deadly creatures that hunt by sound.  

Featuring deaf actress Millicent Simmonds as Regan Abbott, this thriller integrates her deafness into the story in a meaningful way. The use of American Sign Language (ASL) and Simmonds’ lived experience brings authenticity to the film’s portrayal of deaf culture. 

CODA (2021) 

This Oscar-winning film follows Ruby Rossi, a teenager navigating life as the only hearing member of her deaf family in Gloucester, Massachusetts.  

Starring deaf actors Marlee Matlin, Troy Kotsur, and Daniel Durant, CODA breaks barriers by centering deaf experiences both on-screen and behind the scenes. The film made history by becoming the first film with a predominantly deaf cast to win Academy Award for Best Picture. Followed by its success, it set a precedent for future productions to prioritize casting actors with disabilities.  

All the Light We Cannot See (2024) 

Netflix’s adaptation of Anthony Doerr’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel follows Marie-Laure LeBlanc, a blind girl navigating life during World War II. 

Starring blind actress Aria Mia Loberti as Marie-Laure LeBlanc, this series marks a significant step forward in authentic representation. Loberti’s disability enriches the narrative about resilience during wartime while offering a raw perspective on blindness. 

Out of My Mind (2024) 

A Disney+ adaptation of Sharon Draper’s bestselling novel, Out of My Mind, tells the story of Melody Brooks, a non-verbal wheelchair user with cerebral palsy who defies expectations. 

This film stars Phoebe-Rae Taylor, an actress with cerebral palsy, as Melody Brooks. Taylor’s casting ensures authentic representation while the film thoughtfully explores challenges faced by individuals with CP in educational and social settings. 

Bob Trevino Likes It (2024) 

 Bob Trevino Likes It is an indie drama that follows a young woman who forms an unexpected online friendship with a stranger named Bob Trevino.  

The film offers a nuanced portrayal of disability through the character Daphne, played by Lauren ‘Lolo’ Spencer, who has a chronic condition. It highlights the importance of disability representation by casting an actress with a disability in a meaningful role. 

Why Authentic Representation Matters 

Authentic disability representation goes beyond casting; it requires thoughtful storytelling that reflects the complexities of living with a disability. These productions demonstrate how disability inclusion can elevate narratives while empowering disabled communities.  

By prioritizing authentic casting and consulting creatives with disabilities, Hollywood has the opportunity to break down barriers—one story at a time. 

What shows or movies have you seen that feature authentic disability representation? Share your thoughts in the comments below and stay tuned for more from Easterseals Southern California’s “Disability in Pop Culture” blog series! 

The post Disability in Pop Culture: Authentic Disability Representation in Film appeared first on Easterseals Southern California Blog.