Vol. 1, 2013
Our Mission
E
aster Seals Michigan (ESM) has served the state of Michigan for a very long time, specifically 93 years! As the President and CEO for the past two years, I often hear, “Easter Seals, I am aware of your name, but what do you do?” This is a question that I value answering by letting them know “who we are.” Initially, our mission focused on providing children with disabilities adequate healthcare and advocating on their behalf so that they can be a visible (not hidden), active part of their community. While that remains, the reality is that those children grew, became adults, had families and at the same time the world around them grew as well. As the needs of the communities changed, so did ESM. Currently our specialties include behavioral health, substance use, trauma services, and autism services, serving those in need and their families throughout their entire lifespan. We are proud to say that for a very long time we have continuously created solutions and changed lives for persons living with a disability and their families. Our mission is to serve and support Brent L. Wirth people with disabilities or special needs and President and CEO their families so they can successfully live, learn, work and play in their communities. Using four words from our mission, here are some examples of who we are today. Live – On average, people with severe mental illness die 25 years younger than the general population due to preventable diseases. As a result, within our own behavioral health programs we have focused our efforts on innovative partnerships that integrate our behavioral health services with primary care and other health and wellness initiatives to improve one’s quality of life and health. Learn – For many parents the ability to play with their child is natural and often taken for granted, but for a family with a child on the autism spectrum, this is a learned skill. Through our innovative services provided to parents, they are able to transform their child preferring to play by themselves to wanting and seeking out the parents. The mother of one of the children, said to her sheer delight “he won’t leave me alone! He wants to play all the time!” Work – ESM truly believes that everyone can work and/or find activities that are meaningful. We support each individual person’s desires and find solutions. Whether it is supporting ones recovery, continuing their sobriety, gaining or maintaining employment, or providing adaptive analysis and equipment to a farmer who may have lost mobility, ESM assists those in need to gain and sustain their pride and ability to work.
Play – The ‘Envision Accessible’ Manistee County Project was the result of ESM, the community of Manistee and the USDA Office of Rural Development. ESM engaged the community in developing an action plan that addressed the needs and inclusion of people with disabilities county-wide. This innovative model has, and continues to deliver community impact each and every day. This initiative truly has made Manistee County one of the premier destination spots in Michigan, and possibly the world, for those requiring universal access to recreation, with an emphasis upon access to the county’s Lake Michigan shoreline and its miles of lakes, streams, rivers, and wetlands. As you can see, our mission does not just stand the test of time, it grows stronger!
Meet Meet the the 2013 2013
AMBASSADORS Every year ESM selects two individuals to serve as our ambassadors for the coming year. These individuals were selected because they strongly reflect the mission of ESM and we are proud to have them represent us in 2013. Abby was in and out of therapy since the age of six with varying diagnoses and varying degrees of success. She started at ESM at the age of 14 and was diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (Asperger’s syndrome). Since then, she has vastly improved her school performance as well as her social skills. She has become involved in the Teen Advisory Council and has started working in a family-owned business. Abby is an inspirational person that we are excited to have as a representative. Curtis was diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder following a trauma-related incident that destroyed his life, leaving Curtis jobless and homeless. Since coming to ESM, Curtis has been able to get a new apartment and a new job. He is a testament to our mission and we couldn’t be happier to have Curtis serve as our adult ambassador for 2013.