Easterseals Washington

Easterseals Washington's mission is to be the trusted name to call when disability issues come to mind, to have integrated services throughout the state, to support families in as inclusive environment as possible, to reach people as early as possible to prevent and treat conditions, and to serve the lifespan of individuals with disabilities.

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. 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. On May 9th 1947 the National Society for Crippled Children was incorporated in Washington. By 1967, the Easter "seal" was so well recognized, the organization formally adopted the name "Easter Seals" and our affiliate became known as Easter Seals Washington.

Easterseals Washington strives to ensure that people with disabilities and their families have equal opportunities to live, learn, work and play. We provide a variety of services to help people with autism and other disabilities address life's challenges and achieve personal goals. Currently we have 6 all inclusive child development centers throughout the state, a workforce development and assistive technology program that provides training and placement for jobs, training, assessment and education on computers and the assistive devices necessary for the individual to be successful and productive in the workplace. We also provide a year round camping and respite program at our Camp Stand by Me. At the core of the Easter Seals Washington organization is a common passion for caring, shared by its staff members and volunteers, and by those who support its mission. This heart-felt commitment to helping people with disabilities and their families is what Easter Seals Washington is all about.