In response to the President’s 2014 State of the Union Address
by Jim
President and CEO of Easter Seals, Jim Williams
The principles of opportunity, action and optimism presented in the President’s speech are essential for people with disabilities and their families to live, learn, work and play in their communities. Easter Seals partners with government and with the private sector to deliver exceptional services to more than 1.8 million individuals so that children and adults with disabilities and other special needs can live with equality, dignity and independence. We applaud the President for elevating these important priorities.
Easter Seals concurs that our society must create new opportunities for success, especially for young children. The first five years of life are essential for children’s future development yet each year more than one million children enter kindergarten without the skills to become successful. Young learners with undiagnosed disabilities or developmental delays are especially vulnerable to falling behind. The Easter Seals Make the First Five Count campaign is designed to help parents get the assistance and information they need so their children are ready to learn. The President’s commitment to expanding early education opportunities for young children will help kids with disabilities get the great start in life they deserve.
Easter Seals is taking action across the country to assist our veterans and military families with reintegrating into their communities by providing local and effective services and supports. From providing mental health supports and individualized employment services to training caregivers of wounded warriors and hosting summer camps for military children, Easter Seals is answering the President’s call to give back to those who have given so much to our country. We encourage the Administration to continue to expand public-private partnerships at the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense so that our veterans and military families have access to services and supports when they return home.
Easter Seals, too, is optimistic about our national economy. Our economy will only grow stronger when more people have equal access to a good job. All people with disabilities can make a meaningful contribution to their communities. For too long, the unemployment rate of people with disabilities has been twice the rate of the general public. Easter Seals is dedicated to working with both people with disabilities and employers so that employers can hire the right people, with the right skills at the right time.
January 30th, 2014 at 3:22 pm
Wonderfully observed, beautifully stated, and much appreciated, Jim. Thank you for this inspiring response.