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For over 100 years Easterseals has been leading the way to full equity, inclusion and access for children and adults with disabilities by enriching education, enhancing health, expanding employment, and elevating community.

Easterseals Western and Central PA (an affiliate of national Easterseals) provides support to over 12,000 individuals and their families across 47 counties in Pennsylvania. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA we have 4 other office locations in Johnstown, Franklin, State College, and York, PA.

One in 4 Americans are living with a disability today. At some point in our lives, disability will affect us all. Easterseals provides support services for children and adults with physical, intellectual, and emotional disabilities, both visible and invisible.

As one of the leading advocates for the American Disabilities Act (ADA) Easterseals actively lobbied in Washington D. C. and across the country for its adoption. Easterseals also created some of the most powerful advocacy pro ADA public service campaigns with messages to support the law and its implementation.

The organization’s programs are designed to help children and adults learn (and often re-learn) basic functions. They help clients to master skills needed to develop and thrive and remain active over the course of aging. Easterseals offers hands-on, comprehensive, and vital therapies, including speech and physical therapies, and other services to ensure health and wellness so that individuals can reach their full potential.

Their Approved Private School program in Pittsburgh (South Hills, Murrysville and Cranberry) is one of only 33 schools in Pennsylvania with this specialized designation of providing high quality education for children with disabilities. The Childcare Development Center in State College provides uniquely inclusive childcare. In this unique, inclusive setting, typically-abled kids learn alongside children with disabilities.

Additionally, Easterseals provides programs for children and adults and caregivers to relax, connect, thrive and, in the case of adults, live independently within their communities through our enriching adult day services program, residential housing, and camp programs. These programs strengthen the local community and encourage individual engagement and participation in their local communities. The organization offers military camp programs for children of military families to connect and share experiences.

Please consider supporting Easterseals and its many programs and services so that they may continue, for the next 100 years, supporting children and adults with disabilities to be independent, inclusive participants in their local communities.

To learn more about making a donation and how Easterseals Western and Central Pennsylvania can support your loved ones on a local level, please visit www.eastersealswcpenna.org You can also find the organizationon Facebook, Instagram and Linkedin @eastersealswcpa

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY EASTERSEALS