History
History
Easterseals Central California (ESCC) has been helping individuals living with disabilities and their families live better lives since 1948. From child development centers to autism services and job training, ESCC offers a variety of services to help people living with disabilities address life's challenges and achieve personal goals.
Easterseals Today
Easterseals offers help, hope and answers to more than a million children and adults living with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other disabilities and their families each year. Services and support are provided through a network of more than 550 sites in the U.S. and through Ability First Australia. Each center provides exceptional services that are individualized, innovative, family-focused and tailored to meet specific needs of the particular community served.
Easterseals Central California is governed by a 10-member board of directors. The organization is led by Executive Director Erica Ybarra. Our parent organization, Easterseals, based in Chicago, has long been recognized as one of the leading nonprofits that allocates a high percentage of program dollars to providing direct services.
Although we are part of a federated organization, Easterseals Central California operates out of the Central Valley and Central Coast and is an independent nonprofit that depends on local and regional community support to uphold our mission to make the most meaningful impact in the communities we serve. Now more than ever, we are determined to expand our presence and reach throughout California to further our support, education and advocacy for people living with disabilities and their families.
Easterseals Central CaliforniaOur Local History
1948
Crippled Children’s Society of Santa Cruz joined the National Easter Seals Society for Crippled Children.
1954
Changed name to Easter Seals Society for Crippled Children and Adults, expanding services to serve adults.
1964
Property was donated to Easter Seals by the Harmon sisters of Boulder Creek, which is now known as Easterseals Camp Harmon.
1987
Easter Seals Society of Monterey County joined the Santa Cruz affiliate.
1995
Easter Seals Society of the Central Valley joined the Easter Seals Society of the Monterey Bay region.
2003
In partnership with Valley Children’s Hospital Central California, ESCC opened the Child Development Center for children of differing abilities.
2014
The organization is known as Easter Seals Central California.
2016
The organization changes its name to Easterseals Central California.
2023
Marks ESCC's 75th Anniversary of serving the Central California region.
Easterseals National's History
1919
Ohio-businessman Edgar Allen founded the National Society for Crippled Children, the first organization of its kind to service children with disabilities.
1934
The organization launches its first Easter “seals” campaign to raise money for its services.
1952
The lily - a symbol of spring - was officially incorporated as Easter Seals' logo for its association with resurrection and new life.
1967
The Easter "seal" was so well recognized, the organization formally adopted the name "Easter Seals."