Easter seals
That man they called Jesus Christ, who walked the face of this Earth 2000 years ago, spreading the message of peace and goodwill to all men, spoke these words of wisdom. It is his Resurrection that Christians celebrate on Easter. He gave his life to us, selflessly. Nothing deterred His path of peace – his sole mission was to bring man happiness. He spent his passionate three years in healing the sick and bringing the dead back to life. Many of his disciples continued after his death and resurrection. You can recognize them by their dedication not their dress. Their dedication and passion is to serve and help destitute humanity! One such man who followed in the footsteps of Christ is Edgar Allen.
History of the easter seals
During the early 1900’s, a small town called Elyria, part of Ohio, had no hospital. The tragedy of businessman Edgar Allen of Elyria changed all that. In 1907, Allen’s son Homer suffered injuries from a street car and died because of no medical care or hospital. Edgar was left bereft. But this left him undaunted. He decided to sell his business and dedicate himself to begin a fund-raising expedition for a hospital. His efforts were successful and the Elyria Memorial Hospital opened in 1908. However it was quickly followed by his awareness of handicapped children in Lorain County not being provided any medical treatment. This was so because such treatment was costly and hence the children were taken care of at home. They were often kept out of sight.
Once again Allen took up his mission to raise funds through a society that became known as Easter seals in the spring of 1934. The seals looked like postage stamps and their mission was to bring new life to the handicapped. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ inspired them to be called “Easter Seals” These seals were sold for money. The collectors then pasted the seals on envelopes to make the people aware that they supported the National Society for Crippled Children. The Lily, which is a symbol of spring, became the official new logo for the National Easter Seal Society (NESS) in 1952.
What the organization does ness has extended its branches over the years. It now not only addresses disabled children but disabled adults as well. Their objective is to help the disabled people achieve a larger level of freedom for themselves. More then 400 services are available and these include physical rehabilitation and training. This helps the disabled to become qualified enough to gain employment.
To protect the disabled from public scorn or ridicule, NESS played a major role in passing of the “Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990. This Act is against discrimination of any person who suffers from mental or physical disability. Today more than a million disabled children are helped by NESS every year. NESS is supported by private donors, federal agencies, fee-for-service and by general contributions made by public.
Rotary clubs
Other Easter Seal missionaries sprang up, one such is the “Easter Seal Society” in Ontario.
They came into existence and were supported by Rotary Clubs since 1905. They were firmly established on November 28, 1922. The members of this club utilized their time, energy and money to the uplifting of their communities. It was Edgar Allen who requested the Rotary Clubs to discuss the issue of the physically disabled children.
The members agreed to utilize their business and professional skills to the development of Easter seals. They interacted with the physicians and surgeons to admit these handicapped children in their clinics. The Lions and Kiwanis Club members also joined the Easter Seals in 1926. Later, Kinsmen, Optimist, Canadian Royal Branches and other community service groups joined Easter Seals.
The early goals
The early goals were treatment for handicapped children and to make the public aware of this society. They also helped in prevention of disease by promoting their information for the universal pasteurization of milk to help prevent the spread of tuberculosis. The Seals continued their efforts to generate public awareness on such matters year after year.
Celebrities who aided this society
So touched by the mission of this Society, many celebrities have supported this cause. Some of them included Conn Smythe, the hockey legend in Toronto; “Whipper” Bill Watson, Canda’s leading wrestler and Hugh MacMillan, Assistant Medical Director of the “Hugh MacMillan Medical Centre”.
Services of the easter seals
Today the Easter seals continue their efforts to help disabled children through medical rehabilitation, with job training and employment, with inclusive child care, even providing Adult Day Services and entertaining these people by Camping and Recreation. Their mission is to ensure that people with all kinds of disabilities are given equal opportunities to live, learn, work and play. They render care to children born with disabilities like cerebral palsy, spinal cord or brain injuries, children with brain damage due to encephalitis and meningitis.
Today, every such person has become dependent on the Easter Seals to procure costly equipment to aid the disabled children with mobility and communication, summer camps and recreation programs, information and resources and the awareness to prevent future such tragedies. Over the years, their tireless efforts have expanded to raise public awareness campaigns and launch new medical services. Currently, the Seals continue to help the physically disabled with funding mobility and communication devices and summer camp recreations.
Such selfless love continues in our world even today. The passion for caring of and desire to serve the physically disabled is the core of Easter seals. In the words of Edgar Allen, the father and benefactor of this foundation: “We live but one life; we get nothing out of 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.” Can you see the aura of the Christ around himEaster Resurrection is real as are the Easter seals. God bless humanity!
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