Easter Seals Disability Services

HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY

Easter Seals Blake Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation, was originally formed in 1950 as the Cerebral Palsy Foundation of Southern Arizona.  Its first Board of Trustees was comprised of Tucson citizens who saw a need for educational services for children with significant developmental delays. Its current Management Team continues to carry out the organization's mission as defined by the Board.

In 1993 the Trustees decided to change the name, not only because the original mission had changed, but also to honor Danny Blake, a person who was and is a very important part of the Foundation’s life.

The Foundation’s educational and therapy services grew during its first twenty-five years. In the mid 1970s Federal laws were enacted mandating special educational services in public schools for children with disabilities. These laws prompted changes in the Children’s programs.  New needs were identified, and the Foundation began contracting with the State of Arizona’s Division of Developmental Disabilities for Early Intervention services for children born at risk of developmental delays.  The new Children’s Achievement Center also offered therapy and nursing services.  In time it also became licensed as a preschool.  Many of these new services were also provided in the homes of the children being served.  With these diversification's a new program name was adopted, Children and Family Services.

In the early 1980s the Foundation was asked by the Division of Developmental Disabilities to provide Rehabilitation Instructional Services to adults with developmental and physical disabilities.  These programs were physically located at the Arizona Training Program (ATPT Tucson).  They were pioneering in their use of computers and adaptive technologies.  Eventually these workers moved from institutional programming into the community where new employment opportunities were available for much better salaries.  These vocational and employment programs were eventually called SAGE Employment and Community Services.

In l992 and l993 the Foundation began offering a variety of specialized residential services.  These services focused on the specific needs of each individual to be served.  To accomplish this a planning process called “Personal Futures Planning” was utilized.  The person needing residential care played a central role in designing the home where they would live. These homes usually are one or two person settings. This program is called Supported Living, and is operated by SAGE.

At about this same time the Foundation agreed to begin residential services for persons with substantial physical and behavioral challenges.  The Division of Developmental Disabilities requested that these persons be served in group settings in either three or four resident homes.  Since its inception this type of service, called Community Living Services, has broadened the scope of its services to include persons who are dually diagnosed with developmental and behavioral disabilities, and persons who have suffered traumatic brain injuries.

The final major change in the Foundation’s operations happened in 1994.  Once again the Division of Developmental Disabilities asked it to bid on services in rural southern Arizona.  Initially programs were awarded to Children and Family Services, SAGE, and Community Living Services in Safford and Willcox.  Additional programs were developed in Cochise, Santa Cruz, and Pinal Counties.

Over the years the Foundation has grown significantly.  New service centers for children were opened in Safford and Sierra Vista.  Early Intervention services were primarily offered in the home.  Early Head Start, Head Start and Day Care are also provided in these centers, as well as in the Tucson center. Children and Family Services provides Assessment and Support Coordination.

SAGE continues to operate vocational and day treatment programs in Safford.  Community Living Services operates group homes in Safford, Sierra Vista, and Nogales.

Children and Family Services, SAGE, and Community Living Services have been awarded contracts with many other funding agencies including the Arizona Department of Economic Services, Head Start, Arizona Department of Health Services, Pima Health Systems, Cochise Health Systems, CODAC,  LaFrontera,  Southeast Arizona Behavioral Health Services and Horizon Health.  In 2003 the Foundation became a Qualified Vendor under the Division of Developmental Disabilities’ revised purchasing system.

In all of these programs, the Foundation places the strongest possible emphasis on person-centered planning.  This approach is grounded in the belief that the most effective personal growth comes from an emphasis on the whole person and family.We invite you to explore our website to learn more about the services we provide. If you need assistance with program information, please contact us.

MISSION

The mission of Easter Seals Blake Foundation is to enable each individual  served to discover and meet his or her maximum potential for independent, productive living and developmental growth.

VISION

We will provide opportunities, supports and services to children and adults with disabilities and their families, with compassion and respect for them as valued members of their communities, involved and participating based on their own choices.

VALUES

1. Healthy relationships with people.
2. Individual and family priorities and choices.
3. Equal access to quality services and supports for all individuals and families.
4. Partnerships and ongoing communication with individuals, family members, advocates, other providers and community members.
5. Developmental approaches - changing conditions that affect people rather than changing people who are affected by conditions.
6. Individual freedom from abuse, neglect and exploitation with a balance between the right to make choices and experience life and individual safety.
7. A diverse workforce that is motivated, skilled, knowledgeable and uses the most effective practices known.
8. An environment rich in diversity in which each person is respected and has the opportunity to reach their optimal potential.
9. An individual's right to choose to participate in and contribute to all aspects of home and community life.
10. A system of services and supports which are:
• Responsive - timely and flexible responses to internal and external issues.
• Strength based - recognizing people's strengths, promoting self-reliance, enhancing confidence and building on community assets. 
• Effective - ongoing identification of effective methods and practices, and incorporation of those practices into operations.
• Accountable - to our customers and staff and our community.

The Story of Easter Seals

Easter Seals has been helping individuals with disabilities and special needs, and their families, live better lives for more than 80 years. Whether helping someone improve physical mobility, return to work or simply gain greater independence for everyday living, Easter Seals offers a variety of services to help people with disabilities address life's challenges and achieve personal goals.

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.