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Who is Easter Seals Virginia
Easter Seals Virginia is committed to being an advocate and provider of much-needed services for people with disabilities and their families. For over 50 years, Easter Seals Virginia has been leading the way in creating life-changing solutions for individuals with disabilities and special needs, and their families. Whether helping to minimize a toddler’s developmental delays, helping an adult return to work or providing meaningful recreation and respite, Easter Seals Virginia offers services that help people with disabilities to address life’s challenges and achieve their personal goals for independence.
Easter Seals Virginia’s core purpose is to create opportunities for people with disabilities to achieve maximum potential. This is accomplished through a statewide network of programs and services. These programs provide top-quality, family focused, innovative services that are tailored to meet the specific needs of the communities being served. Primary services include Early Childhood Intervention Services in family homes, as well as in preschool and childcare settings; the AgrAbility Virginia Project aimed at keeping Virginia’s farmers with disabilities in the business of agriculture; year-round therapeutic Camping and Recreation, including specialty camps and respite services; a service learning program Project Success, the play-based Lekotek program and Community Education, Advocacy and Information/Referral.
Each year affiliates choose clients to represent Easter Seals as Ambassadors. Click here to learn about the Easter Seals Virginia Ambassadors.
The Story of Easter Seals
Nationally, Easter Seals has been helping individuals with disabilities and special needs, and their families, live better lives for more than 80 years. Whether helping someone improve physical mobility, return to work or simply gain greater independence for everyday living, Easter Seals offers a variety of services to help people with disabilities address life's challenges and achieve personal goals.
Tragedy Leads to Inspiration
In 1907, Ohio-businessman Edgar Allen lost his son in a streetcar accident. The lack of adequate medical services available to save his son prompted Allen to sell his business and begin a fund-raising campaign to build a hospital in his hometown of Elyria, Ohio. Through this new hospital, Allen was surprised to learn that children with disabilities were often hidden from public view. Inspired by this discovery, in 1919 Allen founded what became known as the National Society for Crippled Children, the first organization of its kind.
The Birth of the Seal
In the spring of 1934, the organization launched its first Easter "seals" campaign to raise money for its services. To show their support, donors placed the seals on envelopes and letters. Cleveland Plain Dealer cartoonist J.H. Donahey designed the first seal. Donahey based the design on a concept of simplicity because those served by the charity asked "simply for the right to live a normal life."
The lily -- a symbol of spring -- was officially incorporated as Easter Seals' logo in 1952 for its association with resurrection and new life and has appeared on each seal since.
Easter Seals Emerges
The overwhelming public support for the Easter "seals" campaign triggered a nationwide expansion of the organization and a swell of grassroots efforts on behalf of people with disabilities. By 1967, the Easter "seal" was so well recognized, the organization formally adopted the name "Easter Seals."
Easter Seals Today
Easter Seals assists more than one million children and adults with disabilities and their families annually through a nationwide network of more than 450 service sites. Each center provides top-quality, family-focused and innovative services tailored to meet the specific needs of the particular community it serves.
*Primary Easter Seals service lines include:
Medical Rehabilitation
Job Training and Employment
Child Care
Adult Day Services
Camping and Recreation
Autsim Services
* Please check with the Easter Seals in your state to find out which services are offered locally.
Advocacy
Easter Seals also advocates for the passage of legislation to help people with disabilities achieve independence, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Passed in 1990, the ADA prohibits discrimination against anyone who has a mental or physical disability, guaranteeing the civil rights of people with disabilities.
A New Partnership
Nationally, Easter Seals has partnered with the Autism Society of America in efforts to address the significant needs of individuals with autism and their families. To hear more about this unique partnership, click here (audio file).
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