Easter Seals Inc

LEADING THE WAY TO FULL EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND ACCESS THROUGH DISABILITY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES

PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT: FUNDING, LEADERSHIP, AND ASSISTANCE TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH AUTISM AND OTHER DISABILITIES. PRIMARY SERVICES ARE MEDICAL REHABILITATION, JOB TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVE CHILDCARE, ADULT DAY SERVICES, AND CAMPING AND RECREATION. BUILDING FROM EASTERSEALS' EXPERTISE, EASTERSEALS IS FOCUSING ON THREE SERVICE AREAS OF CRITICAL IMPORTANCE: EARLY INTERVENTION, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND ADULT SERVICES. (SEE SCHEDULE O FOR ADDITIONAL PROGRAM INFORMATION)SUPPLEMENTING THE THREE SERVICE AREAS ARE THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS:SCSEP -EASTERSEALS SENIOR COMMUNITY SERVICE EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM (SCSEP) IS A WORK-BASED COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM FOR OLDER WORKERS, FUNDED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (DOL). AUTHORIZED BY THE OLDER AMERICAN ACT, THE PROGRAM PROVIDES SUBSIDIZED, SERVICE-BASED TRAINING FOR LOW-INCOME PERSONS 55 OR OLDER, WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED WITH POOR EMPLOYMENT PROSPECTS. SCSEP'S MISSION IS TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY FOR OLDER INDIVIDUALS SEEKING TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL. PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS TRAIN AT COMMUNITY NONPROFITS AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, GAINING SKILLS TO PREPARE THEM FOR EMPLOYMENT.IN ADDITION, EASTERSEALS PROVIDES PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS TRAINING TO HELP THEM BECOME JOB-READY; THIS CAN INCLUDE RESUME WORKSHOPS, INTERVIEW WORKSHOPS, JOB SEARCH ASSISTANCE, AND OTHER SUPPORTS TO BECOME MORE EMPLOYABLE.EASTERSEALS SCSEP PARTICIPANTS PROVIDED COMMUNITY SERVICE TO LOCAL NOT-FOR-PROFIT AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES THROUGH THEIR TRAINING ASSIGNMENTS. CTAA/NCMM - EASTERSEALS IS A SUBCONTRACTOR TO THE COMMUNITY TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA ON THIS FIVE-YEAR NATIONAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER FUNDED THROUGH A COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH THE US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION. EASTERSEALS IS A CRITICAL PARTNER CHARGED WITH CARRYING OUT THE NCMM MISSION: TO FACILITATE COMMUNITIES TO ADOPT TRANSPORTATION STRATEGIES AND MOBILITY OPTIONS THAT EMPOWER PEOPLE TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY AND ADVANCE HEALTH, ECONOMIC VITALITY, SELF-SUFFICIENCY, AND COMMUNITY. THROUGH UNIVERSALLY DESIGNED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, EASTERSEALS:-ASSISTS STATES, REGIONS, AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO ADDRESS TRANSPORTATION CHALLENGES, SOLVE PROBLEMS, AND BUILD CAPACITY TO COORDINATE RESOURCES THROUGH MOBILITY MANAGEMENT. -SUPPORTS FTA'S COORDINATING COUNCIL ON ACCESS AND MOBILITY (CCAM). -DEVELOPS AND DELIVERS TRAINING, PRODUCTS, AND INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS; AND-FACILITATES A NATIONAL COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE FOR MOBILITY MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONALS. NCMM STAFF PROVIDED VARYING LEVELS OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, INCLUDING INTENSE AND TARGETED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE THROUGH WORKSHOPS AND PRESENTATIONS AND LESS-INTENSE TA THROUGH ONLINE MODES. NOTABLE OUTCOMES INCLUDED:TRANSPORTATION/PAC & NADTC -EASTERSEALS TRANSPORTATION GROUP STAFF ADMINISTERS TWO FEDERAL COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS AND A FEE-FOR-SERVICE CONSULTING BUSINESS. THE TRANSPORTATION GROUP FOCUSES ON FIVE MAJOR AREAS: TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ACTIVITIES, GRANTS MANAGEMENT; DEVELOPMENT AND DELIVERY OF RESOURCES, TRAINING PROGRAMS, AND OUTREACH INITIATIVES. BELOW ARE THE SUMMARIES FOR EACH OF THE TRANSPORTATION GROUP'S PROGRAMS/PROJECTS. EASTERSEALS PROJECT ACTION CONSULTING (ESPAC) PROVIDES FEE-FOR-SERVICE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, TRAINING, AND GRANT MANAGEMENT FOR SERVICE PROVIDERS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. OUR GOAL IS TO HELP TRANSPORTATION AND/OR DISABILITY SERVICE PROVIDERS, SCHOOLS, DEPARTMENTS OF TRANSPORTATION, TRANSIT ASSOCIATIONS, TRAVEL TRAINING ASSOCIATIONS, HUMAN SERVICE AGENCIES, STATES, REGIONAL AGENCIES, TRIBAL NATIONS, COMMUNITIES AND OTHERS DEVELOP CUSTOMIZED SOLUTIONS TO IMPROVE MOBILITY FOR ALL INDIVIDUALS. EASTERSEALS PROJECT ACTION CONSULTING OFFERS CUSTOMIZED TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO FIT EVERY AGENCY'S SCHEDULE AND EACH COMMUNITY'S NEEDS. STAFF HAVE THE EXPERTISE TO PROVIDE TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ON THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, RURAL AND TRIBAL TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, STRATEGIC PLANNING, PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, COMMUNITY COALITION BUILDING, AND MANY OTHER ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORTATION TOPICS. THE NATIONAL AGING AND DISABILITY TRANSPORTATION CENTER (NADTC) IS OPERATED THROUGH A COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT FUNDED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION (FTA). ITS MISSION IS TO PROMOTE THE AVAILABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY OF TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS THAT MEET THE NEEDS OF OLDER ADULTS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, AND CAREGIVERS. STAFF IS RESPONSIBLE FOR: INFORMATION, REFERRAL AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ACTIVITIES (I.E., TOLL-FREE, PERSON-CENTERED INFORMATION AND REFERRAL AND TARGETED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE); TRAINING PROGRAMS (I.E., ONLINE COURSES, WEBINARS); GRANT ADMINISTRATION (COMMUNITY GRANT PROGRAMS); OUTREACH INITIATIVES (I.E., NEWSLETTERS, PRESENTATIONS AT CONFERENCES, BLOGS, AND MAINTENANCE OF WEBSITE); SOCIAL MEDIA ENGAGEMENT (I.E., FACEBOOK, LINKEDIN, TWITTER), RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (I.E., TRENDS REPORTS, TOOLKITS, INFORMATION BRIEFS ON SPECIFIC TOPICS OF INTEREST); SURVEYS AND RESEARCH SPECIFIC TO TRANSPORTATION FOR OLDER ADULTS, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, AND CAREGIVERS; AS WELL AS OVERSIGHT AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR FTA'S ICAM AND HSCR GRANTEES.

PUBLIC HEALTH EDUCATION: CREATING A PUBLIC AWARENESS ABOUT INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH DISABILITIES AND THE ISSUES THEY FACE THROUGH MULTI-MEDIA PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS, COMMUNITY ADVOCACY, AND BY PROVIDING UP-TO-DATE RESOURCES ABOUT DISABILITIES, DISABILITY AWARENESS, OPPORTUNITIES, UNIVERSAL DESIGN, AND OTHER RELEVANT TOPICS. THE PRIMARY FOCUS IS ON YOUNG CHILDREN, OLDER ADULTS, PEOPLE LIVING WITH AUTISM, AND MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS AND VETERANS WITH DISABILITIES.

FUNDRAISING ADVISORY: TRAINING AND CONSULTATION WITH EASTERSEALS' AFFILIATES TO STRENGTHEN THEIR RELATIONSHIPS WITH DONORS AND MAKE THE GENERAL PUBLIC AWARE OF THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES AND THEIR FAMILIES.