Easterseals, Inc. Names Angela F. Williams as President and Chief Executive Officer

CHICAGO, Nov. 28, 2017 -- The Board of Directors of Easter Seals, Inc. (Easterseals) today announced the selection of Angela F. Williams as its President and Chief Executive Officer. In this role, Williams will lead the national organization as it approaches its 100th anniversary in 2019 as the country's leading nonprofit provider of services for people with disabilities, including Veterans, and their families.

"Angela's strong record of accomplishment as a leader and senior executive makes her the right person to lead Easterseals as we prepare to mark 100 years of responding to the needs of children and adults with disabilities throughout America," said Joe Kern, Chair, Easterseals National Board of Directors. "Her capacity to lead complex organizations will serve us well as we advance a strategic vision for our future in areas of priority including advocacy, network advancement, brand management and resource development in partnership with our national network of 72 affiliates which collectively serves 1.5 million people annually."

Williams has 30 years of leadership experience in the nonprofit and corporate sectors, most recently serving as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Administration Officer at YMCA of the USA (Y-USA), the national resource office for the Y, where she was instrumental in shaping strategy and developing resources to help 2,700 YMCAs across the country enhance outcomes for youth and families in 10,000 communities.

"I am excited to join Easterseals and collaborate with its affiliates nationwide to expand our collective impact and assure that more people with disabilities can live, learn, work and play in their communities," Williams said. "It is my honor to have the opportunity to lead Easterseals at the national level and build on its impressive legacy."

Williams began her professional career as an officer in the United States Air Force, serving in the Judge Advocate General's Corps., an experience foundational to her ethic of service. Just prior to joining Y-USA in 2006, Williams was the Interfaith Liaison for the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund, a nonprofit organization formed to provide critically needed donations to assist the survivors of Hurricane Katrina. In this capacity, she was responsible for understanding the impact of Katrina on the faith community and overseeing the processing of $25 million in grants to houses of worship. Among other leadership roles Williams has held: Vice President and Deputy General Counsel of Litigation and Government Relations for Sears Holdings Corporation, also serving as the company's Chief Compliance and Ethics Officer; Special Counsel on Criminal Law to Senator Edward M. Kennedy as a member of his Senate Judiciary Committee staff; Department of Justice prosecutor with the National Church Arson Task Force; and federal prosecutor in the United States Attorney's Office in the Middle District of Florida.

Williams is a 2005 Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute, a program committed to developing the next generation of community-spirited leaders by teaching them the values-based leadership skills needed to meet the challenges of corporate and civic leadership in the 21st century. Each year, 20 Crown Fellows are chosen from among young executives and professionals around the world who have already achieved considerable success in the private or public sector.

Ms. Williams will be the tenth person to lead Easterseals in the U.S. This distinction is enhanced by the fact that she is the first African American, and the first female within the past 41 years, to hold this post.

A native of Anderson, South Carolina, Williams earned a bachelor's degree in American government from the University of Virginia, a juris doctor from the University of Texas School of Law and a master's of divinity from the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology, Virginia Union University.

She resides in Chicago with her husband, the Reverend Roderick Williams.

Koya Leadership Partners assisted the Easterseals National Board of Directors and a search committee of Easterseals' Board and affiliate representatives in the national executive search.

About Easterseals

For nearly 100 years, Easterseals has been the indispensable resource for people and families living with disabilities. Through its work in communities across America, Easterseals is changing the way the world defines and views disability by making positive, profound differences in people's lives every day. Learn more at Easterseals.com.

SOURCE Easterseals press release

Webinar Oct. 19th: Learn to navigate financial challenges as a vet, caregiver, or person with a disability

Join Easterseals, a leading service provider for people with disabilities and Veterans, and Freddie Mac, a leader in the housing industry and key source of financial education, for a webinar about what steps to take to gain better control of your finances.

Thursday, October 19 from 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. Central Time

The first in a series, this free webinar will cover:

• Credit and finance basics, including your financial rights and responsibilities
• Tips for planning your financial future, including how to manage income, compensation, and caregiving costs
• Valuable money management resources you may need along the way and how to find them

Easterseals and Freddie Mac will address the unique financial questions of caregivers, people with disabilities and Veterans, and give you the chance to ask questions about what’s top of mind for you.

Note: All registrants will receive an email in advance of the webinar that includes presentation slides and notes, along with additional handouts to help make the webinar easily accessible to anyone interested in joining.  If you require additional ADA accommodations to participate, please send an email to "Webinar@easterseals.com" with your accommodation request no later than October 10, and an Easterseals representative will be in touch with you.

Source: EasterSeals

Independence Day For Americans With Disabilities is July 26th

A detail from an Easter Seals poster explaining the Americans with Disabilities Act, which was passed on July 26, 1990.

Courtesy of Easter Seals

wonderful article published by NPR by Linton Weeks | June 19, 2015
The article is on the celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the ADA, always worth the read.

On July 4, 2015 America celebrated 239 years of independence.

Later in the month, our country will mark another historic moment: the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, a law passed on July 26, 1990, that guarantees certain rights — and increased independence — to our compatriots with physical and intellectual disabilities.

In this era of ramps and lifts and other hallmarks of accessible design, it's sometimes hard to remember that not too long ago inaccessibility was the norm. And barriers abounded.

"At the time of the late 1980s, too many people with disabilities were out of sight and out of the minds of the general public," says Katy Neas of Easter Seals, a century-old, Chicago-based nonprofit organization that helps people with disabilities.

As an outspoken advocate for the ADA, Easter Seals created a series of powerful posters that illustrated the dilemmas — and desires — of disabled Americans and helped the country understand the reasons for, and responsibilities resulting from, the anti-discrimination legislation.

i

A poster reminds employers to set aside their prejudices against disabled job applicants.

Courtesy of Easter Seals

Via the visuals, Neas says, "Easter Seals was working to reposition what it meant to be a person with a disability — what was possible, what was necessary, what barriers existed."

The posters were created by a Minneapolis ad agency for Easter Seals as part of a public service thrust that included print and broadcast spots as well. Easter Seals also dispatched adults and children with disabilities to travel around the country to demonstrate their strengths and public contributions.

"There was a lot of ignorance about the interests and abilities of people with disabilities," Neas says. "Discrimination and low expectations were part of the mainstream culture. Why would someone who uses a wheelchair want to go to the movies? Why would someone who is blind want to eat in a restaurant?"

People with disabilities, and their friends and families, were essential in answering those questions and in raising the consciousness of the country, Neas says.

For instance, she recalls that former Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, often told stories of his brother, Frank, who was deaf. "Frank attended the Iowa School for the Deaf and Dumb — that's what it was called — and was told the only thing he could do was be a printer, a baker or a cobbler because these vocations were the only vocations appropriate to people who are deaf."

And, she says, "There was a zoo in the Midwest that asked a group of students with Down syndrome to leave because they were upsetting the animals."

i

A poster urges landlords to make housing accessible to all.

Courtesy of Easter Seals

The Easter Seals ads "were very simple for the public to understand," Neas adds. "They were motivating to the advocates and policymakers across the country who were dedicated to the enactment of the ADA. They were reinforcing why the ADA was necessary and why discrimination on the basis of disability was wrong and should be outlawed."

http://www.npr.org/sections/npr-history-dept/2015/06/19/415436391/independence-day-for-americans-with-disabilities
*reposted from June 2015

ACTION Tell Congress: Do Not Cut Health Care for People with Disabilities! Easterseals Online Petition!

Easterseals has a online petition, along with contacts to your elected officials on the attempts by the 'current' administration on cuts to healthcare and medicaid, and the real threats to people with disabilities.

A new congressional proposal would limit access to essential health care and long-term services and supports for people with disabilities currently available through the Medicaid program. 

Take Action Now: Tell Congress to oppose any reduction in Medicaid services! 

Congress is considering a proposal to restrict funding for essential health care and long-term supports available to people with disabilities through the Medicaid program. The proposal limits federal funding and reduces the guarantee for specific services that support the health, independence, and well-being of individuals with disabilities.

We need your help to stop cuts to health care and community supports for people with disabilities.

Your support can make difference! Act Now!

Take Action Now: Tell Congress to oppose any reduction in Medicaid services! 

SOURCE: Easterseals

Chicago Chinatown Pre-School Sued On Behalf Of 3 Year Old Disabled Girl Who Was Molested

A woman is suing the Chinatown neighborhood day care center where a teacher has been accused of sexually abusing her mentally disabled daughter.

Jian Feng | Cook County sheriff's office

article by Mitchell Armentrout for the Chicago SunTimes | Nov. 14, 2016
The girl was 3 when the abuse happened between November 2014 and January 2015 at the Easterseals National Teachers Academy at 2215 S. Federal St., according to the lawsuit filed anonymously Monday in Cook County Circuit Court.

The teacher, 27-year-old Jian Feng, has been jailed without bond since January 2015 on charges of predatory criminal sexual assault of two toddlers at the center, which serves children with learning disabilities. Feng, also listed as a defendant in the suit, has pleaded not guilty, court records show.
At his bond hearing, prosecutors alleged that Feng was caught on video going into a bed as one of the girls took a nap, and stayed there for 10 minutes in separate instances. The girl cried to her mother that he touched her, prosecutors said.

The other victim, also 3, was fondled as Feng helped her in the bathroom, prosecutors said. A relative found blood in her underwear and the girl told her what happened, prosecutors said.

Feng went into the girls’ bathroom “in full view” of other school staff members, according to the suit, which claims Easterseals hired an “overly aggressive individual” in Feng and should have protected students from him.

“All established protocols were followed in the hiring, retention and the reporting of the allegations regarding Mr. Feng. Given the ongoing nature of the investigation and the current litigation we cannot comment further. Easterseals’ first and foremost commitment is to the community that it serves,” according to a statement from Easterseals spokeswoman Kelly Anne Ohde.

The negligence suit is seeking more than $200,000 in damages.

Feng, of the 2200 block of South Princeton, told police he did it because “he was curious” and because “his brain made him do it,” prosecutors said. His next court date is Nov. 26.

http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/mom-of-disabled-preschooler-sues-day-care-where-girl-was-molested/

Chicago Teacher Charged With Broking Autistic Student's Arm While Restraining Him

COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — Prosecutors have charged a Near West Side teacher with breaking an autistic student's elbow.

Kristyn Iwanski, 26, is charged with aggravated battery to a child. photo: DNAinfo; Chicago Police Dept.

article by Erica Demarest for DNAinfo Chicago | October 28, 2016

Kristyn Iwanski, 26, was teaching at Easterseals Academy, 1939 W. 13th St., on Sep. 16 when she twisted a 12-year-old student's arm so far behind his back that the boy's elbow broke, prosecutors said.

The student in non-verbal, non-communicative and has "profound autism," Assistant State's Attorney Lorraine Scaduto said during a bond hearing Thursday.

The boy requires one-on-one attention, prosecutors said, and Iwanski was trained to occasionally physically restrain the student by holding his hands behind his back.

Iwanski did so about 1:30 p.m. Sep. 16 when the boy struck another student, Scaduto said. Iwanski wrapped the boy's arms behind his back and stood behind him as he tried to head-butt her. The incident was captured on camera, and school officials said this was the correct way to handle the situation, according to prosecutors.

But shortly after 2 p.m., the boy once more tried to hit someone, Scaduto said. That's when Iwanski was captured on camera pulling one of the boy's arms behind his back with such force that his chair moved, according to prosecutors.

Iwanski is accused of twisting the boy's arm upward and backward until it couldn't move anymore. When she eventually let go, Scaduto said, the boy ran away and sat in a corner.

Later that day, the boy's mother noticed he was favoring one arm, prosecutors said. She took him to an emergency room and learned his right elbow was broken.

The mother soon received a text message from Iwanski asking to talk on the phone, prosecutors said. According to Scaduto, the women had never met or spoken before.

Iwanski insisted nothing had happened at school and refused to tell the mother how her son's elbow could've been broken, prosecutors said.

School officials investigated, and Iwanski was suspended without pay, Scaduto said.

In a statement Thursday, Easterseals Director of Communications Kelly Anne Ohde said: "An allegation involving an injury to the arm of a student was made against an employee at Easterseals Academy in Chicago. The employee was removed from the location and will have no contact with the students and clients at Easterseals. Our first priority is the care and safety of the individuals we serve and our employees. We are cooperating with authorities."

According to prosecutors, Iwanski has no prior criminal background. She is charged with aggravated battery to a child causing great bodily harm and aggravated battery to a child with permanent disability.

Iwanski holds a master's degree ins special education and had been with Easterseals Academy for three years prior to this incident, her attorney said.

Cook County Judge Peggy Chiampas on Thursday set bail at $10,000.
https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20161028/near-west-side/teacher-broke-autistic-students-elbow-prosecutors-say

Providing Accessible Transportation Services: Professional Development Resources for Transportation Providers Webinar Oct. 27th

Workforce development training is essential to building an accessible transportation environment. Join us for this free webinar to learn more about the availability of training for transportation service providers. Attendees will learn about multiple training topics, providers, and sources, including: university programs, national training and technical assistance programs, consultants, state, regional and national conferences, and transportation agencies. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and offer additional information about their own training programs and needs.

Date: Thursday, October 27, 2016
Time: 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM [Mountain Time]

Presenters:

Donna Smith, Senior Director, Easterseals Project Action Consulting
Carol Wright Kenderdine, Assistant Vice President for Mobility & Transportation, Easterseals Transportation Group & Co-Director, National Aging and Disability Transportation Center

Check out the webinar flyer for more information.

Click here to register for this webinar.

Sponsors: Montana State University | West Region Transportation Workforce Center | Easterseals Project Action Consulting

SOURCE:  Easterseals Project Action Consulting

Action Alert - Tell Congress: Fund Programs Serving People with Disabilities

Take Action!
Congress is making final decisions about funding federal programs.  Tell your Members of Congress to increase funding for the following programs that help empower people with disabilities to live, learn, work and play in their communities. Vocational Rehabilitation State Grant Program (U.S. Department of Education) Supported Employment State Grant Program (U.S. Department of Education) Senior Community Service Employment Program (U.S. Department of Labor) Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (U.S. Department of Labor) Head Start (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) IDEA Parts B and C (U.S. Department of Education) Maternal and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)

Take Action Here!

SOURCE: EasterSeals

Easterseals And Parents Magazine Bring The Disability Conversation To The Forefront

Championing children living with disabilities along with their caregivers and families
CHICAGO, Sept. 19, 2016 -- Everyone will face disability in their lifetime – whether personally or as a caregiver. Easterseals (formerly Easter Seals), the indispensable resource for people and families facing disability, salutesParents magazine for showcasing in its October issue the helpful lessons that parents of kids with special needs can teach allparents about raising great kids. This shift in the conversation highlights Easterseals' longstanding efforts to change the way the world views and defines disability.

"Working with Parents has given us a powerful platform to raise awareness for the 56.7 million Americans that face disability each day and emphasize how Easterseals provides exceptional services, education and advocacy for people and families facing disability," said Jennifer Bielat, senior vice president, integrated marketing at Easterseals. "We applaud Parents for its continued efforts to bring disability to the forefront, and we are so thrilled that the magazine continues to take steps to normalize disability by selecting a mom and a child who has special needs to be featured on the October issue's cover.

"Parents is grateful to Easterseals, a longtime advertising partner, for the work the organization does to help support families facing disability," said Dana Points, editor in chief of Parents. "Its resources, including its free online screening tool that helps parents track milestones and learn what to do if something's not quite right, have helped countless families."

Easterseals and Parents have been partners for a decade, as they share a common bond supporting and providing resources for parents of kids with disabilities. Easterseals' longstanding efforts to help families with special needs is mentioned in the OctoberParents Editor's Letter.

From developmental screenings to early intervention programs, Easterseals is a partner to thousands of families facing disability or delays in their child's development. For children under the age of five, Easterseals is the leading provider of early intervention services—including occupational, physical, speech and Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) therapies. All parents can access Easterseals' free online screening tool and other resources at Easterseals.com.

For more information on Easterseals, visit Easterseals.com or find the October issue of Parents on Texture or www.texture.com.

About Easterseals:For nearly 100 years, Easterseals has been the indispensable resource for people and families challenged by disability. Now, as America faces a broad range of new issues, we make a major, positive, life—changing difference in the lives of people and families challenged by today's disabilities. The work we do every day is redefining disability for the 21st century.

About the Meredith Parents Network:The Meredith Parents Network is a collection of parenting brands targeting millennial women – Parents, FamilyFun, Ser Padres, Parents Latina and Fit Pregnancy and Baby as well as FitPregnancy.com, Parents.com and Parenting.com – reflecting the multi-faceted experience of what it means to be a mom today. The brands reach moms through dynamic media platforms that engage them in ways they can personally relate to in the moments, places, and languages that are meaningful to them. The Meredith Parents Network reaches a combined audience of over 30 million readers, while the digital properties reach over 11 million unduplicated unique monthly visitors and have a social reach of over 5 million followers.

SOURCE: Easterseals / PRNewswire

Twitter Tweet Chat on Travel Training and Accessible Transportation: June 29th #AllCanRide

Stay connected as Easterseals Project Action Consulting hosts a Tweet Chat on travel training and accessible transportation this coming Wednesday, June 29th at 2pm Eastern, 1pm Central. 

You can participate by using hashtag #AllCanRide within your tweet to post your thoughts, share resources, and talk about travel training for all ages. Our co-hosts will join us for a fast-paced Q&A that will last about an hour.

Get ready to chat! All are welcome and #AllCanRide!

Easterseals Launches Revitalized Image, "Taking on Disability Together"

Disability non-profit introduces new brand through revamped logo, color palette, tagline and a reimagined name

from a Press Release:CHICAGO, May 3, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Easterseals (formerly Easter Seals), the indispensable resource for people facing today's disabilities, launched its multi-year, organization-wide rebrand today. The new brand strategy, backed by over two years of analysis and research, debuted over Easterseals' digital channels with the introduction of a new name, logo design, color and tagline.

"Today's launch is a banner for us to change the way the world defines and views disability, not as a condition that labels people, rather a part of life that affects all of us," said Randy Rutta, CEO and President, Easterseals. "We're excited to introduce the reenergized Easterseals to not only our network of supporters, but those who care about our cause, yet may not know who we are. There are over 55 million Americans living with a disability, millions we're ready to support with this clarified brand."


The rebrand responds to the evolution of disability in the 21st century—a cause going beyond the physical to include invisible, emotional, social and educational challenges. As Easterseals progressed—expanding in scale and scope to meet new and emerging needs in communities—public awareness became less distinct and visible. The new brand addresses these important shifts by bringing clarity to the crucial services Easterseals provides across the lifespan.

Meet the revitalized Easterseals:

• Name: The reimagined, single name works to strip away the public's misperception around "Easter" and "Seals" while paying tribute to the organization's legacy.
• Logo: The new logo speaks to Easterseals' actions and unified voice. Intentionally all lower case, each letter is crafted to be open, accessible, readable, distinct—a visible expression of a commitment to be personal, honest, determined and local. The new design around the name appears as rays of light, hope, sunshine, radiating out from the "e." The deliberate grouping of circles in the new logo symbolize our breadth, our scope, our network, our communities, our individuals served, all coming together to take on disability.
• Tagline: Taking on disability together links Easterseals to its cause--disability--and establishes an active call-to-action for others to join. It represents a brief distillation of the organization's refined purpose: To change the way the world defines and views disabilities by making profound, positive differences in people's lives every day.
• Color palette: Orange and yellow convey a personality that's informal, warm and engaging, and exudes confidence and fearlessness—all traits others use to describe Easterseals. 

One thing Easterseals isn't changing is who they support, or how they make a difference. Easterseals remains the vital resource for people living with disability, veterans, caregivers and families.

"An invigorated and refreshed brand demonstrates relevance to Americans with and without disabilities and clarifies our impact in communities across the country," said Rutta. "We have a bold vision for the future, a vision where we all have the opportunity to thrive and fully participate in our communities nationwide. It's what we work toward every day across the organization, and will be a measure of our success."

Tuesday's launch also kicks off a three-year rollout across Easterseals' network of 74 affiliates. By the 2019 centennial celebration, the system-wide transformation will be intact and the organization will be ready to take the next step toward a broad, multi-channel awareness campaign.

Join us as we take on disability together. Visit www.easterseals.com for more information.

About Easterseals:
For nearly 100 years, Easterseals has been the indispensable resource for people and families challenged by disability. Now, as America faces a broad range of new issues, we make a major, positive, life—changing difference in the lives of people and families challenged by today's disabilities. The work we do every day is redefining disability for the 21st century.

SOURCE Easterseals

Service Animals, ADA & Transportation - Webinar March 23

Register Now! Service Animals, the ADA and Transportation Webinar   March 23, 2016     Time: 2pm Eastern     Registration fee: $45      Are you confused by the multiple definitions of service animals and federal laws pertaining to them? Do you find the complexities around implementing a good service animal policy difficult? Would you like to learn more about nontraditional service animals and the services they provide?  Join us for this March 23rd webinar on how animals are trained, what services they provide, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements for serving customers who use service animals on public transportation.        Presenters: Megan Talbert, Helping Hands: Monkey Helpers for the Disabled, Inc.; Shari Duval, K9s for Warriors; Angie Escudero, Canine Companions for Independence; Donna Smith, Easter Seals Project Action Consulting         Registration deadline: March 21      Photo courtesy K9s for Warriors

Easter Seals Project Action Consulting   844-227-3772   espaconsulting@easterseals.com www.projectaction.com   # Ability Chicago Info is posting as a disability related issue, and receives no compensation for posting.

Help Caregivers Today! Contact U.S. Congress to renew "The Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act of 2015" (HR 3913)

Easter Seals is reaching out in Support for our caregiver's, Please Urge your U.S. Representative to support the Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act of 2015 (HR 3913)!

Being a caregiver can be enormously rewarding -- but it can be physically and emotionally draining as well. That's why it's important for caregivers to seek occasional respite from their responsibilities. Whether it's for a few hours a week to run errands or a few weeks a year to take a much-needed vacation, respite care lets caregivers maintain their own health, bolster family stability, keep marriages intact, and avoid or delay more costly nursing home or foster care placements.

In 2006, Congress passed legislation to coordinate and enhance respite services for people of all ages and disabilities. Since 2009, funding has helped people in 33 states get access to and information about respite services.

It is time for Congress to renew this small but important program. Rep. Jim Langevin (D-R.I.) and Rep. Gregg Harper (R-Miss.) have introduced "The Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act of 2015" (HR 3913).

• Please contact your Representative and ask them to support caregivers across the country by co-sponsoring HR 3913. You may also use this form to thank co-sponsors.

Thank you for your on-going support and advocacy on behalf of persons with disabilities, their families, and caregivers.

Sincerely,Katy Beh Neas
Executive Vice President, Public Affairs

Easter Seals 

Easter Seals Project Action Consulting - Winter & Spring 2016 Webinars

Easter Seals Project Action Consulting will be continuing webinars in 2016, below is information as shared from Easter Seals.
As there is cost to participate in these series of webinars, we wanted to clarify that Ability Chicago Info does not receive any funding, nor compensation for posting these webinars of disability related issues. 
###

Easter Seals Project Action Consulting

Winter & Spring 2016 Webinars Rural Travel Training Instruction There's still time to register for our early 2016 webinars. Four new webinars will cover a variety of topics from rural travel training and emergency evacuations to service animals and U.S. DOT's recent final rule on reasonable modification. Each webinar is 90 minutes long, and you may invite other staff members to join you on your reserved line. Visit our webinar page for more information or call (844) 227-3772 if you have questions.            Strategies and Considerations in Rural Travel Training February 24, 2016 (2pm Eastern)  Registration fee: $45  Register by: February 22 This webinar covers path of travel and pedestrian situations unique to rural areas. Includes discussion of travel training in paratransit and demand response systems.   Emergency Evacuation and Reintegration as a Result of a Natural Disaster  March 9, 2016 (2pm Eastern)    Registration fee: $45   Register by: March 7  Emergency planning, interagency coordination, and resident assistance are addressed in this webinar. Transportation providers, law enforcement, medical providers, and government officials are encouraged to register for this event.           Service Animals, the ADA and Transportation March 23, 2016 (2pm Eastern)  Registration fee: $45 Register by: March 21 A webinar that covers implementing a service animal policy, customer interaction, non-traditional service animals, and commonly asked questions about ADA service animal requirements.   Reasonable Modification: Common Sense Combined with the Will  to Help April 13, 2016 (2pm Eastern) Registration fee: $45 Register by: April 11   This session presents information on FTA's guidance and explores the background of the rule, as well as ways that transit agencies make reasonable modifications for customers with disabilities.   Easter Seals Project Action Consulting | 844-227-3772  espaconsulting@easterseals.com |  www.projectaction.com

Valentine Day Twitter Chat Feb 18th 3 p.m. est - Because love doesn't come with instructions for Dating with a Disability

Easter Seals will be collection questions on Dating with a Disability, Tweet your questions using the #AskEasterSeals. The following information is shared from Easter Seals post.

Romantic Relationships with Autism

#AskEasterSeals Q&A

WHAT: #AskEasterSeals live Q&A on finding love with autism or other disabilities
WHEN: February 18, 2016 at 3 p.m. CST
WHERE: Twitter with #AskEasterSeals 

February is about love. We’re seeing the signs everywhere, making us confront our relationship status. Are you feeling positive about your love life but want to take it to the next level, or are you drowning yourself in a quart of ice cream as you avoid rom-coms and heart-shaped chocolates? Either way, we’re here to support you on your quest for connection as a person with autism or another disability.

We have people who have been through it all and are ready to chat with you on February 18 (with or without that ice cream), including Lindsey Nebeker from the acclaimed documentary "Autism in Love" and her husband.

Do you struggle with communication or other barriers while dating? Wonder where to go to find the right person? Curious about ways to keep the sparks flying in a current relationship?

Tweet your questions using the #AskEasterSeals tag now – we’ll collect them for our LIVE Q&A with two couples with autism who have been through ups and downs to find their perfect match. Ask your question and then check back on February 18th at 3pm to share your experiences too and see if your question was answered!

Featuring…

Lindsey Nebeker and Dave Hamrick

• Known For: Their fascinating love story in the recent PBS documentary “Autism In love”
• They met at: a conference in Nashville, Tennessee
• Lindsey is: a development specialist, musician, and disability rights advocate –writing and speaking about love and sexuality
• Dave is: a meteorologist and public speaker, making more than 60 presentations about autism across the nation.
• Fun Fact: They both enjoy traveling, presenting at autism conferences, and checking out exciting weather events.

Anita Lesko and Abraham Nielson

• Known For: being the 1st couple to get married at an all-autistic wedding.
• They met at: their support group and it was “love at first sight.”
• Anita is: a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist who has been working full time for 26 years. She has written and been featured in books about autism, including Dr. Temple Grandin’s “DIFFERENT....Not Less.”
• Abraham is: a full time AutoCAD Draftsman at a large land surveying company. He, along with Anita, wants to change the world’s view of autism.
• Coming Soon: They will be featured in a documentary by Joey Travolta's Film Company, to be released on Feb 16th!

Remember: Ask your questions about love, relationships, and autism using the #AskEasterSeals tag on Twitter before Valentine’s Day!

Looking for more love? Check out Easter Seals Love & Relationships series.

http://www.easterseals.com/explore-resources/living-with-disability/askeasterseals-love-and-autism.html

For more from Easter Seals, visit: http://www.easterseals.com/