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The next 100 years :
As Easterseals moves into its second century , I am excited to grow our Network ’ s capacity to serve more individuals and families living with disability – heightening our impact and expanding our services – to advance disability equity in health care , education , and employment .
This vision is driven by our Network-wide strategic plan to broaden inclusion , empowerment , and access for the 1.5 million people Easterseals serves annually - and for the 1 in 4 Americans living with disability today . The plan strengthens our National Network of 67 Affiliates across the country so they can continue to respond to the increasing and evolving needs of people with disabilities so they can fully participate in their communities .
I am also excited to build awareness of and heighten engagement with Easterseals among individuals , corporations and foundations who want to support change and assure equity in the lives of people with disabilities , veterans , and seniors through high-quality services and advocacy at the federal and state levels .
Advocacy , as you might imagine , is another critical focus for Easterseals to ensure that people with disabilities have greater access to health care , education , and employment . Technology policy is central to
our engagement with public and private entities given that the virtual world is increasingly the essential point of access to services and inclusion for people with disabilities .
The Americans with Disabilities Act : We just
marked the 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act ( ADA ) in July . It signed into law the equality of opportunity and full participation in society for disabled individuals and went a long way in furthering the rights of this marginalized group , including access to buildings , education , employment , and government services . The law changed disability rights immensely , as now there was legal backing for so many who faced discrimination .