Easter Seals Disability Services

See the Results of Your Support

More than 90 percent of Easter Seals Eastern Pennsylvania's (ESEP) revenue of $5,000,000 supports services in Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton, Pike and Schuylkill counties -- where our funds are raised.  ESEP serves over 3,000 children and adults with disabilities through our many programs and services.

How do we do it?  Find out in "The Story of James" below.  James' remarkable progress is just one example of how your support helps your neighbors and friends with disabilities and other special needs.

The Story of James
Six-year old James spent the first three months of his life connected to monitors and machines in a hospital.  While his mom, Elizabeth, was pregnant, she suffered a fall down the steps in her home and James was born three months prematurely.  He was later diagnosed with cerebral palsy a condition that affects the control of muscle tone and coordination and doctors warned the family that James would probably never walk, talk or hear.  The diagnosis was, of course, devastating.

Easter Seals Eastern Pennsylvania was assigned to help James and his family almost immediately after his birth.  Early on, ESEP's therapists answered Elizabeth's questions, provided much-needed emotional support and, most importantly, based on evaluations, gave her hope.  As time went by, despite doctors' earlier predictions, James grew and developed just like any other child.  He could talk and hear; he just couldn't walk.  But that would soon change and, through physical and occupational therapy provided three times a week at an Easter Seals facility, James learned to crawl.  Then he learned to use a walker.

James' progress peaked in February of 2000.  Expensive surgery would be needed to strengthen his leg muscles to further his progression.  With more determination than his age would dictate, James not only survived the operation and a grueling two-month period in leg casts, but he thrived.  When the casts came off late that spring, James and his dedicated ESEP therapists experienced the dream for which they had all worked so diligently: James walked on his own.  Today, James has improved so dramatically that he only needs therapy twice a week, and that walker is a distant memory.

James' remarkable advances could not have been possible without the caring and skilled services of ESEP and key supporters like you.  Thank you!

Easter Seals Nationwide
During 1999 and 2000, nationwide Easter Seals programs served 1,091,877 children and adults.  Almost 608,800 people participated in Easter Seals public health education activities.

In addition, 9,489 physicians, therapists and other health professionals were involved in professional education programs designed to improve services for people with disabilities.

Easter Seals 2000 total public support and revenue of $602,746,000 funds programs and services through 550 locations nationwide.