Take Action on Legislative Issues Affecting People with Disabilities

Easter Seals assists members of Congress and their staff, White House and federal agency officials, and representatives of other national interests -- as well as citizens like you -- to understand and act in support of policies and programs that help people with disabilities to live with equality, dignity and independence.  Easter Seals' legislative efforts focus on health care, early intervention, child care, education, employment, housing, supports for older Americans, recreation, assistive technology, transportation, and nonprofit organization operations.  

The annual Easter Seals California Legislative Awards Dinner, an event involving all five Easter Seals California Affiliates, was held on Monday, April 23rd.  Every year Easter Seals Bay Area, Northern California, Tri-Counties. Southern California and Superior California take part in a collective effort to recognize and honor members of the California State Senate and Assembly that have done their part to further the Easter Seals Cause: to provide services to children, adults and seniors with disabilities and special needs.

Legislative Support

Letter To Congress

March 4, 2010

Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein
Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Mrs. Boxer and Mrs. Feinstein,

We are writing to you to inform you of the outstanding work of the Easter Seals organization and our request to preserve it. This is the first time we have written to you after volunteering in your influential campaigns within the Sacramento area.  Easter Seals is an association that has changed our son, our lives, and our community.

Almost one year to the day, my husband and I were informed that our first born child was diagnosed with Emmaual Syndrome. This is a rare genetic disorder in which the 11th and 21^st chromosome transform and leave behind and extra partial piece that interferes with the development of every system in our son’s body. As new first time parents, we were told that we should never expect our son to crawl, walk, or talk. The most prestigious hospital in the Sacramento area, University of California, Davis Medical Center, recommended that we contact Easter Seals for assistance with our son’s care. This was one of the best decisions that we have ever made.

Upon contacting Easter Seals, we were offered assistance almost immediately. We were able to take advantage of the services of a Child Development Specialist and a Physical Therapist within 3 weeks of us contacting the organization. At a time when we were scared and confused, Easter Seals not only offered us medical assistance, they offered us hope.

Our son has attended bi-weekly sessions with a Child Development Specialist as well as weekly sessions with a Physical Therapist since he was 3 months old. One week after his 1^st birthday, he started to crawl and say the word “MaMa.” One week after that, he has started to pull himself from a kneeling position to a standing position. This simply would not have happened without the guidance of Easter Seals. The specialists have provided us with the hope that our son will be able to achieve his fullest potential. All of us believe that with continued assistance through the sessions, our son will be able to walk and talk within an age appropriate time period.

Easter Seals has proven to our family that early intervention does work. It can transform a person that may have been presented with challenges into a person that can develop, thrive, and contribute to society. Please continue to support Easter Seals and choose it as an organization that holds the highest priority. The miracle workers of Easter Seals deserve it.