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Easterseals Southeastern Pennsylvania Easterseals Southeastern Pennsylvania
Reflection of a child looking into a mirror he is on a large exercise ball supported by a woman in a clinical setting an Easterseals 90th anniversary logo is displayed

Our 90 Year Journey

Take a look at some key milestones in our 90-year journey of community impact.

Easter Seals · Southeastern Pennsylvania

Milestones in Easter Seals Growth

From a single sheltered workshop in Philadelphia to a five-county network of centers, therapies, and early intervention programs — six and a half decades of building services around the people who need them.

1936 — 2000

1930s

1936

  • Philadelphia Easter Seals is founded.

1939

  • Sheltered Workshop is started.

1940s

1940

  • Office Training School begins.

1949

  • Fuhrman Clinic School is opened in Philadelphia.

1950s

1951

  • First dental clinic for the handicapped begins.

1952

  • Bucks and Delaware County Treatment Centers open.

1953

  • Montgomery County Treatment Center opens.

1956

  • The first Day Camp is started in Bucks County. (Day Camps in Delaware, Philadelphia, Montgomery and Chester Counties are opened in 1957, 1959, 1970 and 1977 respectively.)

1960s

1962

  • Old Forge School and Rehabilitation Center is built in Delaware County.

1967

  • Information, referral and follow-up services are started.

1968

  • Easter Seals participates in the National Easter Seals Telethon for the first time.

1970s

1971

  • Paranauts wheelchair basketball team is organized.

1974

  • Fuhrman Clinic School and regional administrative headquarters is destroyed by fire.

1975

  • Easter Seals begins providing transportation for school and camp.

1977

  • The Rehabilitation Center and regional administrative headquarters are rebuilt in Philadelphia.

1980s

1980

  • Bucks County Center is purchased.

1981

  • Apple Computers are added to the classrooms.

1983

  • The expansion of workshops and support sessions is facilitated by special home and school coordinators.

1988

  • Easter Seals receives the highest accreditation award from the Commission of Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF).

1990–92

1990

  • Therapeutic summer programs begin for “at-risk” infants, toddlers and their parents.
  • Executive Director Jim Heiden receives the National Easter Seals Meddars Award for Outstanding Executive Director in the Country.

1991

  • A new Early Intervention Classroom opens in Delaware County. Montgomery, Bucks and Philadelphia Counties implement several new Early Intervention programs for developmentally delayed children and their parents.

1992

  • Jim Heiden receives the George Reimer Staff Recognition Award as Easter Seals Outstanding Executive Director in the State of Pennsylvania.
  • Board member W. Perry Gresh is presented with the National Easter Seals James L. Lavon and Madden Mallory Award, recognizing 20 years of volunteer efforts.
  • Ina Williams, an occupational therapist at the Montgomery County Center, is named Educator of the Year by the Council of Exceptional Children.
  • Jim Heiden receives the National Excellence in Management Award from National Easter Seals.

1993–96

1993

  • After 58 years as a local affiliate of the Pennsylvania Easter Seal Society, direct affiliate status is given with the National Easter Seals Society.
  • Doris Bernheim, Director of the Bucks County facility, is awarded the Pennsylvania Easter Seals Staff Excellence Award.

1994

  • Early Intervention programs, assistive technology and increased therapy services expand throughout the five-county area.

1995

  • Ready-Set-Write & Write-to-Read starts in Chester County.

1996

  • Bright Beginnings holds its first session in February.
  • A new Sibling Camp Program is offered in Chester County.
  • The innovative Ready-Set-Write & Write-to-Read Program is duplicated in Montgomery County.
  • Major renovation to the Delaware County Center improves the comfort and atmosphere for clients and staff.
  • Easter Seals embraces expansion opportunities through programs such as Step Up, year-round recreational activities, and expanded music therapy.

1997–2000

1997

  • Team 2000 creates a strategic plan to lead Easter Seals of Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery Counties through the 21st Century.
  • Local center-based programs achieve accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) — an award achieved by roughly 7% of early childhood programs nationwide.

1998

  • Year-round recreational programs expand to include over 25 age-appropriate social clubs and physical activities.
  • Easter Seals receives a Provider Recognition Award from the Department of Health for its role in launching the Special Kids Network.

1999

  • Ready-Set-Write & Write-to-Read starts in Bucks County.
  • Easter Seals provides the initial eligibility assessment for Early Intervention to children who reside in Berks and Lehigh Counties.
  • A new Teen Overnight Camp is offered for young adults with disabilities.
  • Early Intervention evaluation services further expand to Northampton County.

2000

  • An Assistive Technology Center opens in Chester County.
  • A Child Care Quality Initiative grant is received from the PA Department of Public Welfare's Child Care Resource Developers, to launch an inclusive child care training and support model.
  • A new component to the Bright Beginnings Program launches, targeting low-income teenage mothers and their “at-risk” infants and toddlers.