Easter Seals Maine

Easter Seals provides exceptional services to ensure that all people with disabilities or special needs and their families have equal opportunities to live, learn, work and play in their communities. 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 services include: Medical Rehabilitation Early Intervention Physical Therapy Occupational Therapy Speech and Hearing Therapy Job Training and Employment Child Care Adult Day Services Camping and Recreation 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. At the core of the Easter Seals organization is a common passion for caring, shared by its 13,000 staff members and thousands of volunteers, and by those who support its mission. This heart-felt commitment to helping people with disabilities and their families is what Easter Seals is all about. Easter Seals Maine opened its doors in 2003. In 2008, Easter Seals Maine served nearly 800 individuals of all ages and provided more than $320,000 in free and reduced-price services to children and adults in need.

Easter Seals Maine is a local non-profit that annually serves hundreds of our friends and neighbors with autism, developmental, physical and mental disabilities as just one of our programs.  We have a preschool for children ages 3-5, that helps children with disabilities receive intensive 1:1, 2:1 and 3:1 therapies.  the goal is to get them prepared to be integrated into a typical kindergarten setting. We have Early Intervention, Case Management, Mental Health as well as a Military and Veterans Program which provides emergency financial assistance, information, counseling and referral to post 9/11 veterans and their families as they make the sometimes challenging transition from military service to civilian life.  Our Vets come to us for help finding employment, housing, affordable vehicle / house maintenance services, and even food, rent, fuel, and heating oil in particularly dire situations.  The program is philanthropic relies on corporate sponsorship and private donor support.