ORIGINAL
2019 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 54
BY REPRESENTATIVE WHITE
A RESOLUTION
To designate Monday, April 22, 2019, as Easterseals Day in Louisiana.
WHEREAS, on April 22, 1919, Easterseals was formed to highlight and address the
healthcare and service needs of children with disabilities; and
WHEREAS, in 1945, in order to meet the needs of returning World War II veterans
and other adults with disabilities, Easterseals expanded its child-focused mission by opening
its programs and services to include adults; and
WHEREAS, since its inception, Easterseals has strongly advocated for services and
supports for individuals with disabilities, a fact evident in its authoring of a 1931 Bill of
Rights for children with disabilities that helped pave the way for government-funded
disability services and increased public awareness of the needs of children with disabilities;
and
WHEREAS, Easterseals has grown from its humble beginnings in Elyria, Ohio, to
become an influential organization that oversees a network of leading nonprofit
organizations in states across the country; and
WHEREAS, these organizations deliver high-quality services and supports to
children and adults with disabilities, veterans, older adults, caregivers, and their families to
help the disabled achieve milestones, live independently, and fully participate in the life of
their communities; and
WHEREAS, Easterseals Louisiana was formed in 1951 to serve the people of
Louisiana, and it currently has nearly two hundred employees in offices across the state who
support more than 10,000 individuals with disabilities annually; and
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WHEREAS, the programs instituted by Easterseals Louisiana include support
coordination for home and community based waiver services, EarlySteps System Point of
Entry, Transitional Housing, mental health rehabilitation, the Program for the Evaluation and
Enrichment of Relational Skills, or PEERS, and Campership, which provides tuition
assistance to disabled children and young adults to help them attend summer camp; and
WHEREAS, the mission of Easterseals is best summarized in the words of its
founder Edgar Allen, a parent, businessman, and Rotarian, who once said that "Your life and
mine shall be valued not by what we take, but by what we give"; and
WHEREAS, on April 22, 2019, Easterseals will celebrate its one hundredth
anniversary.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby designate Monday, April 22, 2019, as Easterseals Day
in Louisiana and does hereby commend Easterseals for its impact on the lives of millions of
Americans and for its commitment to expanding possibilities for children and adults with
disabilities, veterans, seniors, and others.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
to Tracy Garner, President/CEO of Easterseals Louisiana.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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