[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 20]
[Senate]
[Page 28741]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              EASTER SEALS

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, the charitable sector has long been an 
important partner with government in meeting the needs of the disabled. 
For more than 85 years, Easter Seals has partnered with individuals, 
families, businesses, communities, and government to help children and 
adults with disabilities live, learn, work, and participate in their 
communities.
  Each year, Easter Seals assists more than 1 million people through 
its nationwide network of community-based organizations. These 
affiliates provide top-quality, family-focused, and innovative services 
to meet the specific needs of the particular community it serves.
  Last year, more than 72,000 children received early intervention and 
childhood development services through Easter Seals. Over 54,000 adults 
with disabilities learned the skills and gained the confidence needed 
to seek meaningful employment because of Easter Seals' job training 
programs. Almost 35,000 children and adults with disabilities 
participated in confidence-building activities at Easter Seals' camping 
and recreation programs. Tens of thousands of children and adults with 
disabilities received life-changing medical rehabilitation therapies 
and case management services from Easter Seals.
  Easter Seals has long been an effective advocate and important 
resource on policy issues affecting people with disabilities and their 
families. Its founder, Edgar ``Daddy'' Allen, lobbied the Ohio 
Legislature to fund services for children with disabilities in the 
1920s. Today, thousands of Easter Seals volunteers and staff from 
across the country will continue in ``Daddy'' Allen's footsteps, 
meeting with their legislators to discuss the importance of low-income 
working families being able to obtain health insurance for their 
children.
  Earlier this month, Easter Seals held its national convention in 
Washington, DC, and its supporters met with Members of the House and 
Senate to discuss its worthy mission. It is one of America's most 
respected and effective charitable organizations, and I join my 
colleagues in congratulating them on a very successful convention.

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