[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 86 (Thursday, June 30, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 30, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
        THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NATIONAL EASTER SEAL SOCIETY

  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the outstanding 
work of the National Easter Seal Society, which this year celebrates 
its 75th anniversary. The mission of Easter Seals is to help people 
with disabilities achieve independence. It accomplishes this goal by 
providing rehabilitation and assistive technology services, and through 
programs of disability prevention, advocacy, and public education.


                        a distinguished history

  Mr. President, Easter Seals has a distinguished history. It is among 
the Nation's oldest voluntary organizations serving people with 
disabilities, and began with the vision and hard work of Ohio 
businessman Edgar F. Allen. Allen started life modestly--his first job 
was as a hardware salesman. Later, he made a fortune selling railroad 
ties and poles for telegraph and telephone lines. But in 1907, his life 
was shattered when his 18-year-old son was killed in a streetcar 
accident. As a result, he retired to devote himself to public service--
first, by building a community hospital in his hometown of Elyria, and 
later, in 1915, founding the Gates Hospital for Crippled Children, the 
Nation's first facility solely for children with disabilities.
  Allen's experience with the Gates Hospital convinced him that there 
was an even greater need for local, community-based rehabilitation 
services. So, in 1919, with the support of Rotarians, he established 
the Ohio Society for Crippled Children. The Ohio society soon attracted 
national interest, and in 1921 the National Society for Crippled 
Children was born. By 1929, affiliates had been organized in 23 States.
  Throughout the past 75 years, Easter Seals has been at the forefront 
of change. It has spawned other disability organizations. For example, 
in 1922 it sponsored an international society, which later became 
Rehabilitation International. RI is today a global federation, linking 
135 disability groups in 81 countries.
  Easter Seals was among the first to speak of the rights of people 
with disabilities. In 1930, the society's data helped convince the 
White House Conference on Child Health and Protection to adopt a bill 
of rights for handicapped children.
  It has advocated progressive social policies. In 1935, Easter Seals 
pushed hard for the Social Security Act, which included funding to 
States for services to children with disabilities.
  Easter Seals expanded its mission as new needs arose. In the 1940's, 
with the advent of World War II, it began to serve disabled veterans, 
and accordingly changed its name to the National Society for Crippled 
Children and Adults.
  Easter Seals has also promoted research. The Easter Seal Research 
Foundation was formed in 1953 to develop new ways to prevent and 
alleviate disabling conditions. This foundation played a vital role in 
defining the post-polio syndrome, which affects thousands of Americans.
  And Easter Seals was among the first to champion an accessible 
environment. In 1958, it initiated a Federal project to develop 
standards for barrier-free buildings. In 1975, it sponsored the 
Nation's first National Barriers Awareness Week.
  In recent years, Easter Seals championed passage of the Americans 
with Disabilities Act, and backed other legislation to improve access 
to air travel, housing, early intervention, and education, and 
technology for people with disabilities.


                     the work of easter seals today

  Mr. President, today Easter Seals serves over one million Americans 
each year, through affiliates in every State.
  And it continues breaking new ground. It sponsors several important 
national programs, including Family Friends, an intergenerational 
mentoring program for parents of children with disabilities; 
Agrability, a program to assist farmers with disabilities; and Project 
Action, a project to promote accessible transportation.
  Mr. President, the work of Easter Seals is only possible because of 
the generous support of thousands of Americans, as volunteers and 
financial contributors. This year's telethon raised a recordbreaking 
$52 million. Easter Seals has worked hard to deserve this trust. It is 
recognized as one of the Nation's best managed charities, and for 15 
consecutive years has been cited by the National Health Council as the 
organization with the highest percentage of funds going to client 
services.


                   easter seals and disability future

  In closing, Mr. President, let me note that as valuable as Easter 
Seals' work has been, in my view its leadership and programs will be 
even more important in the future. The issues that Easter Seals has 
pioneered place it at the very cutting edge of America's ``disability 
future.'' The number of Americans with disabilities is growing rapidly, 
and disability is fast becoming the chief domestic policy issue of the 
late 20th and early 21st centuries. No doubt about it, Easter Seals' 
service to people with disabilities and the Nation will be in great 
demand for decades to come.

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