A champion for kids with physical disabilities.
We are advocates for children, youth, and young adults with physical disabilities and believe in their ability to achieve great things.
Adaptable. Remarkable. Unstoppable.
For us, disabled will never mean unable. That’s why Easter Seals Ontario is dedicated to helping children, youth, and young adults with physical disabilities carve their own path into the world, with assurance and autonomy.
We believe that every child, no matter their abilities, should have the chance to achieve their dreams. We believe that great adults come from empowered children. We also believe that the hardest limitations aren’t physical, and with the right resources and support, anything is possible. It’s these convictions that inspire each of our initiatives.
For over 100 years, we have been a leading provider of programs and services for young people with physical disabilities in Ontario. At the core of our enduring legacy is our unwavering commitment to improving the lives of these individuals, nurturing their potential, and creating a more inclusive and accessible future for all. The remarkable generosity of our dedicated community of donors, sponsors, and volunteers enables our team to continue breaking down barriers and working toward a society that sets goals, not limits, for individuals with disabilities.
Fiercely determined, eagerly optimistic.
At Easter Seals Ontario, we support children, youth, and young adults with a range of long-term physical disabilities and medical conditions, including cerebral palsy, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, spinal muscular atrophy, Rett syndrome, and spinal cord injuries. These conditions can have a variety of causes, but they all impact a child’s ability to participate in the world. Despite these challenges, the young people we serve are vibrant, resourceful, and deserving, all with their own aspirations and ambitions to find their place in the world. Our role is to provide them with the tools and support they need to build their confidence and achieve their dreams.
Our Mission and Vision
Mission
Easter Seals Ontario is committed to helping children, youth and young adults with physical disabilities and their families. Through the generous support of our donors and volunteers, Easter Seals provides quality services and programs and acts as an effective voice for their needs and interests.
Vision
Easter Seals Ontario will enable all children, youth and young adults with physical disabilities to reach their full potential, make the absolute most of their abilities and live their lives to the fullest.
Our Core Values
Be Bold
We challenge ourselves to embrace change by seeking opportunities for innovation and growth.
Stronger Together
We deliver quality experiences for children, families, donors, and supporters through engagement and collaboration.
Be a Champion
We deliver on what we promise with integrity and professionalism. We lead by example as a trusted partner and champion for children and youth with physical disabilities.
Make a Difference
We conduct ourselves with compassion and determination to make a positive difference in the lives of the children and families we serve.
Privacy Statement and Disclaimer
Easter Seals Ontario is a registered charitable organization that supports children, youth, and young adults with physical disabilities from all backgrounds. Through our programs and initiatives, we aim to remove barriers, promote personal growth, and foster a sense of belonging. However, we need your support to make this possible. Without access to the resources they need, young people with physical disabilities can become isolated from their peers and miss out on opportunities to live active and successful lives. By supporting our initiatives, you are not only making a financial impact, but you are also helping to change the course of a child’s life.
What We Do
Equipment Funding
We offer up to $3,000 per year, per child to fund essential mobility and accessibility equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers, ramps, and lifts. This equipment not only improves the daily quality of life for children and youth with physical disabilities by reducing pain and increasing freedom of movement, but it also removes barriers that limit their ability to fully experience the world. Find out more.
Accessible Camp
The surroundings in which children and youth engage in social and recreational activities can have a significant impact on their participation. Our two accessible summer camps provide an environment where physical barriers are removed, and campers with disabilities are not made to feel different. By providing opportunities for participation, pushing boundaries, and fostering connections with peers, our camps help children, youth, and young adults with disabilities develop a stronger sense of self and independence, and discover their true potential without limitations. Visit the Easter Seals camp website for more information.
Ambassador Program
We believe that every individual deserves to have their voice heard, that’s why we created our Ambassador Program. The program aims to help children and youth with physical disabilities develop their leadership and public speaking skills and discover their ability to advocate for themselves and others. Our Ambassadors help create positive representation for kids with physical disabilities, serve as role models, and educate people by sharing their stories and the challenges that many people with disabilities face. Find out more about our Ambassador Program.
Scholarships
Many students with disabilities are highly motivated, ambitious, and committed to achieving academic goals, but they may face financial barriers to education. Families of children with physical disabilities often incur significant expenses, making it challenging to send their child to post-secondary school. That’s why we have established a scholarship program to provide children, youth, and young adults with physical disabilities the financial support they need to pursue their academic dreams. Find out about Easter Seals scholarships.
Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC)
Easter Seals Ontario is one of a small group of external organizations that are invited to have representatives participate on the Special Education Advisory Committees of the various Boards of Education across the province. SEAC representatives help protect the rights of students with special needs by providing specific information, advice and assistance to parents/guardians whose children may require additional support. Find out more.
Parent Resource Information
We offer a virtual library of online links to various service providers, suppliers and government programs that may be of interest to parents of children and youth with physical disabilities.
Awareness and Public Education
Easter Seals has been and will always be a voice for children and youth with disabilities. Some of the greatest barriers they face require systemic and societal changes. Through public education initiatives, government consulting, and conference participation, we raise awareness and tackle major issues children and youth with disabilities face. We also promote and create awareness of disability and accessibility issues through our annual March is Easter Seals Month campaign, media relations, direct mail, and government relations activities, and through our annual Easter Seals Telethon.
Incontinence Supplies Grant Program
Easter Seals Ontario administers the Incontinence Supplies Grant Program on behalf of the Ministry of Health. This program is for children and youth with chronic disabilities that result in irreversible incontinence or retention problems lasting longer than six months requiring the use of incontinence supplies. This program is fully funded by the Ministry. Check here to find out more about the Incontinence Supplies Grant Program.
Top Up Program
The Top Up Program “tops up” the annual amount from the Incontinence Supplies Grant Program for eligible individuals and families. This program is fully funded by the Ministry of Children & Youth Services, and all eligibility criteria and Top Up grant levels are set by this Ministry. Easter Seals Ontario acts as a transfer payment agency for this program. Get details on the Top Up Program. Find out more about the Top-Up Program.