Easter Seals Joins the United Nations to Observe the International
Day of Persons with Disabilities
CHICAGO, Dec. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --
Recognizing that people with disabilities have much to contribute
to their communities and that identifying and eliminating obstacles
and barriers to accessibility is essential to empowering people
with disabilities to lead full and productive lives, Easter Seals commends the United Nations for its
work on this International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
(Logo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110401/MM76153LOGO)
"To successfully remove barriers to create an inclusive and
accessible society for all, we, as global citizens, must
highlight progress and address obstacles as well as promote public
awareness of existing barriers—barriers that deny many of the one
billion people in the world living with a disability the right to
live independently and participate fully in all aspects of life,"
says James E. Williams, Jr.,
president and chief executive officer, Easter Seals. "We applaud the efforts of the
United Nations on this day, and we express our solidarity and
support of the advances made on behalf of persons with
disabilities.
The commemoration of International Day of Persons with
Disabilities in 2012 provides an opportunity to address all types
of barriers to people with disabilities, including those relating
physical environment, information and communications technology
(ICT), legislation or policy and from societal attitudes or
discrimination.
Easter Seals is dedicated to
enabling people with disabilities to contribute and be productive
members of society because when barriers to inclusion are removed,
people with disabilities are empowered to participate fully in
societal life, and their entire community benefits.
Since 1919, Easter Seals has
sought to make the vision of our founder Edgar F. Allen a reality. Allen began an
international movement, and wrote in 1922 that "We have but one
life to live. We get nothing out of that life except by putting
something into it. To relieve suffering, to help the unfortunate,
to do kind acts and deeds is, after all, the one sure way to secure
happiness or to achieve real success. Your life and mine shall be
valued not by what we take … but by what we give."
Today, Easter Seals in
the United States, with its
affiliate Ability First Australia and global partners Easter Seals Canada and CONFE in Mexico, is working to meet the needs of
millions of children and adults with disabilities and their
families.
"Today, our vision is to expand our services and leverage our
expertise to serve millions more, and lend a hand to positively
affect the lives of people with disabilities and their families
wherever we are able," added Williams.
About Easter Seals in
the United
States
Easter Seals is
the leading non-profit provider of services for individuals with
autism, developmental disabilities, physical and mental
disabilities and other special needs. For more than 90 years,
we have been offering help and hope to children and adults living
with disabilities, and to the families who love them.
Through therapy, training, education and support services,
Easter Seals creates life-changing
solutions so that people with disabilities can live, learn, work
and play in their communities. To learn more, visit
www.easterseals.com.
About Ability First Australia
Ability First Australia
was formed in 2002 when the following state-based organizations
agreed to join forces to better meet the needs of children and
families living with disability.
The founding organizations are Cootharinga North Queensland;
MontroseAccess, Queensland;
Northcott Disability Services, New South
Wales; Novita Children's Services, South Australia; Rocky Bay Inc, Western Australia; St. Giles Society,
Tasmania; and Scope, Victoria.
A combined workforce of 3,500 employees and annual combined
operating costs in excess of $200
million support the complex needs of the individuals who
receive services from Ability First Australia members. In addition,
more than 3,500 Australians volunteer their time and expertise each
year to assist member organizations to achieve their goals. Visit
www.abilityfirstaustralia.org.au to learn more.
Ability First Australia's Chief Executive Officer Andrew Rowley said, "Today more than ever we
value working in partnership with others whose aim are to see that
persons with disabilities are provided with opportunities which
enable them to make, wherever possible, their own life
choices."
About Easter Seals
Canada
Easter Seals
Canada is a federation of 10 provincial Easter Seals organizations who have served
Canadians with disabilities for more than eighty years. Working
together this network is the leading provider of services to
children and families living with disabilities, assisting more than
150,000 Canadians annually. Programs and services provided by
Easter Seals organizations across
Canada include, specialized summer camps and active living
programs, respite facilities, and the provision of mobility, access
equipment and family support services. For more information visit:
www.easterseals.ca.
"Our goal for the future is to enable full recognition of
diverse abilities within fully accessible Canadian communities,"
said Max Beck, chief executive
officer of Easter Seals Canada.
About CONFE
CONFE is a confederation of 160 associate
institutions in Mexico advocating
for an inclusive culture for people living with intellectual
disabilities. Services provided through CONFE include evaluation,
early intervention, employment training and placement, recreation,
counseling and support for families, professionals and
affiliates.
To accomplish Mexico's
obligations as per the United Nations Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities, CONFE has requested the Mexican Senate,
to include the term "persons with disabilities" in Labor, Social
Security and Education Laws, to recognize and respect their Human
Rights.
SOURCE Easter Seals