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"Easter Seals? I don't know. What is it?"
"I don't know anything about Easter Seals."
"I really don't know anything about Easter Seals."
"Let me think. Easter Seals. Is that respiratory?"
"Oh yeah, I've gotten some stuff in the mail from them. I don't know what it's for, though."
"I think their sign is like a cross."
"Easter Seals has been around for a long time. Longer than you."
I've heard of it but don't know much about it."
"Umm, Easter Seals. They seem like they aren't as prevalent as they used to be when I was growing up."
"They used to sell those little Easter Seals stamps."
"I know the name, I just don't know anything about the organization."
What is Easter Seals? Well, it's a lot of things to a lot of people, and in western Pennsylvania it provides services to over 20,000 families who are affected by a disability.
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"It's hard to get somebody else to take care of you when you're by yourself."
"Our goal is to make sure that no one is alone."
A helping hand is always within arm's reach. And, hopefully, that brings love and happiness to our consumers and their families.
"I owe my life to Easter Seals to tell you the truth. She comes here feeling she has a purpose. She's needed. It's just lifted a big load off my chest."
"They do things I can't necessarily do for my mom or with my mom because I'm at work all day. So, that's probably the greatest benefit."
"They got me up walking and therapy. And I had no place to go during the day and so my mom brought me here."
And new, lifelong relationships form.
"You get to know everybody. It's a very small center. You get to know every single one of them. So, it's been great. I love it here."
And, where there is love, there is improvement.
"Getting better, more independent."
"They've answered so many prayers."
"It's really been rewarding for me to know that I can walk out the door and I know she's going to be in a safe place."
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"I've been here for going on now 54 years. It's nice."
"There's not that many jobs for handicapped people. They're hard to get."
"I love working because it fulfills my life."
That pretty much sums up our mission. That, as well as our sense of family.
Like, we brothers and sisters and stuff like that. Family wise, I hope we're like a big family.
Trust. Commitment. And Care.
"To me, Easter Seals is all about, umm, helping these adults overcome their obstacles."
Whatever those obstacles are, we are ready for them.
"They're an excellent group of people to work with."
"Their limitations are only what we make them, not themselves. They think they can do anything, and they try to do it, believe me. They really do."
"We love Easter Seals. All my best."
All of best is helping our clients realize their potential.
"It gives me a sense of purpose."
"I thought I was never gonna work again. I mean, 61 year old guy out looking for a job who's, you know, handicapped, doesn't have much of a chance out there. Easter Seals gave me that chance and here I am. Lovin' it, really."
"I feel a little bit of purpose in life now which I didn't feel before. So, I have kind of a better outlook."
"As we get older and our families get older, we are less and less able to care for our children that have disabilities and there has to be somewhere that provides
a nuturing community-like environment for our folks to go to if there are no more family members."
"That's me."
"Families are much more comfortable. They know that we'll be here to take care of their son or daughter after they're no longer able to or their family is no longer able to.
So, it's a vital need for individuals with disabilities."
What it is is peace of mind and a loving home. What we all hope for in life.
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We are also hearing, language and speech specialists for the young and old.
"We provide hearing and speech services for people with communication disabilities."
"I couldn't believe it myself. I was missing all of that."
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"Here at Easter Seals north site, we work with children with special needs and Heidi is a good example of that. When she first started here at Easter Seals she couldn't walk or sit up on her own."
"And, now, she is doing this."
"Good job! Yeah, Heidi! Ok, have a seat."
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