Easter Seals Disability Services

Take Action on Legislative Issues Affecting People with Disabilities

Easter Seals has a clear stake in public policy at the national and state levels.  Children and adults with disabilities disproportionately rely on government programs in order to access education, health care, housing, transportation and employment services.  Nationwide, nearly half of Easter Seals income comes from government.  Governments also regulate Easter Seals tax-exempt status, license Easter Seals staff and set program standards.

North Carolina Efforts
Easter Seals North Carolina actively participates in educating our decision makers on legislative and governmental issues.  We strive to make our legislators and government officials aware of the impact of their decisions on the lives of the people we serve.  We bring problems to their attention and offer solutions to these problems.

Our goal is to work within existing networks whenever possible to make our voice heard.  Easter Seals is a founding member of Coalition 2001 and the North Carolina Developmental Disabilities Consortium.  We are a member of the North Carolina Community Supports Providers Council.  Staff and volunteers serve on numerous state and local committees, commissions and councils.

To obtain a copy of Coalition 2001's Legislative Handbook, please go to www.cpdmi.org and click on that topic.

National Efforts
At the national level, Easter Seals assists members of Congress and their staff, White House and federal agency officials, and representatives of other national interests -- as well as citizens like you -- to understand and act in support of policies and programs that help people with disabilities to live with equality, dignity and independence.

Easter Seals' national legislative efforts focus on health care, early intervention, child care, education, employment, housing, supports for older Americans, recreation, assistive technology, transportation, and nonprofit organization operations.

View National Action Alerts and contact your legislators at the Easter Seals National website.