As one of Angels Baseball’s official disability inclusion partners, Easterseals Southern California (ESSC) was proud to gather with more than 1,000 participants, associates, partners, and supporters at Angel Stadium on Saturday, July 13, to celebrate Disability Pride Month. 

A full Angel Stadium with the jumbotron displaying the Disability Pride Month campaign, ‘Disability Is Not A Dirty Word.’

This was the fifth year that the Angels have hosted Easterseals Night in an effort to shine a light on ESSC’s disability and community services. Before and during the game, LED screens lit up throughout the stadium with ESSC’s Disability Pride messaging, displaying our “Disability is Not a Dirty Word” PSA video and interviews.

At the stadium’s front plaza, ESSC hosted a registration and welcome booth to greet baseball fans and hand out Disability Pride giveaway items.  

In the stadium’s parking lot, ESSC’s partner CVS Health hosted a pre-game tailgate party fundraiser directly beneath the ‘Big A.’ Corporate partners Acclara and AAA joined as well. 

Approximately 500 tickets were sold for the tailgate event, which featured music, giveaways, raffle prizes, games, grilled hot dogs, ice cream treats, and drinks donated by Coca-Cola and Red Bull.  

Anthony Collier, CVS Health District Manager, presenting a check for $10,400 to ESSC Associate Director of Corporate Partnerships, Courtney Mistofsky .

“All of us from CVS Health are proud and honored to be a part of this amazing day every year,” said Diana Ibrahim, CVS Health Regional Director. “Easterseals disability services continues to have an incredible impact in local communities, and we feel fortunate to support their efforts with our partnership.” 

CVS Health’s silent auction pop-up booth raised $900, and before heading over to the game, CVS Health District Manager Anthony Collier presented ESSC Associate Director of Corporate Partnerships Courtney Mistofsky with a check for $10,400. Mistofsky thanked CVS for their efforts and declared it the most CVS had raised from their annual Easterseals Nights thus far.

On the field before the game, ESSC Board Vice Chair Maria Serrao delivered the game ball to the pitcher’s mound, alongside ESSC Board Chair Mark Bertrand and ESSC President & CEO Mark Whitley.

From left to right: ESSC President & CEO Mark Whitley, Board Member Maria Serrao, and Board Chair Mark Bertrand, carry the game ball out to the pitcher’s mound.

Additionally, ESSC individual donors and partners from PNC Bank, T-Mobile, The Anaheim Ducks, Banc of California, REI, and Cox Communications enjoyed the game from a donated suite.  

Easterseals Night at the Angels 2024 was a success thanks to the many supporters and partners who made it possible. 

 Learn more about supporting Easterseals disability and community services on our website.  

Written by Kasey Galik, Adapted Physical Education Specialist & ‘Disability is Not a Dirty Word’ PSA cast member

In the second grade, I was diagnosed with dyslexia, a learning disability that made reading and writing a significant challenge. At that young age, I was already facing obstacles that set me apart from my peers. Little did I know that my journey with disability was only beginning. Several years later, a boating accident resulted in the loss of my left arm. This physical challenge compounded my learning difficulties, but it ultimately laid the foundation for my growth and self-acceptance.

Initially, I felt the need to prove to everyone that I was just as capable with one arm as I had been with two. This led to overuse and exhaustion of my remaining arm as I pushed myself to the limit to demonstrate my abilities. However, through time, growth, and support, I learned a crucial lesson: I did not need to prove my worth to anyone. I needed to be proud of who I was, regardless of my disabilities.

Self-reflection played a significant role in this journey. I realized that I had to prioritize my well-being and ask for help when needed. This was not a sign of weakness but a recognition of my humanity. I began to practice daily self-care routines, including working out, stretching, icing, and heating my overused arm to maintain its health and functionality. These practices were essential, not just for my physical health, but for my mental and emotional well-being as well.

One of the most profound changes came in my interactions with others. For instance, when going to the grocery store and unloading my car, I began to ask for help. Rather than feeling ashamed, I found joy in these connections. People were often more than willing to assist, and these small moments of kindness brightened my day and reinforced my sense of community.

My goal now is to make the world a better place for individuals with disabilities. I want to empower others to be proud of who they are, despite any differences. We all have challenges, and it is through acceptance and support that we can genuinely uplift one another. By seeing the positive light in all aspects of life, we can appreciate the beautiful world we are blessed to have.

Disability is not a dirty word. It is a part of who we are, and it deserves to be celebrated. During Disability Pride Month and beyond, let us raise each other up, embrace our unique journeys, and strive to create a world where everyone feels valued and proud of who they are.

Learn more about Easterseals Southern California’s ‘Disability is Not a Dirty Word’ campaign by visiting DisabilityPride.com. Discover interactive tools, purchase merchandise, hear real stories from people with disabilities, and become involved by sharing your own story.

Written by Mark Whitley, Easterseals Southern California President & CEO

Disability Pride is demonstrated daily at Easterseals Southern California. Here, we honor the history, struggles, achievements, and diverse culture of our disability community to realize a more accessible and inclusive world. Simply put, Disability Pride is at the heart of our organization.

We couldn’t think of a better time to launch our boldest multi-media campaign yet than during Disability Pride Month. Disability has long been mired by outdated misperceptions, stigmas, and attitudes, leading to barriers for far too many in our community. Harmful stereotypes and often misguided uses of language have steered people away from just saying the word – disability.

Easterseals and the disability community have come together to say, ‘Disability is Not a Dirty Word’! We are proud to leverage our platform and access to many forms of media to elevate the voices of the disability community. From its very concept, language, and design, through to its launch, this campaign is built by people with disabilities.

The core idea of disability – and that it shouldn’t be viewed as a bad word – is one with deep roots and understanding in disability culture. Our aim is to amplify, and in some ways introduce, this critical message to all, building awareness among those who may not be as familiar with disability culture, inclusion, and pride.

Easterseals is at the forefront of changing this narrative toward true belonging and opportunity. Building upon the success of our prior media campaigns, ‘Disability is Not a Dirty Word’ changes the way people see disability – embracing the word itself, and the entire disability experience for good.

By spreading this important message far and wide – on billboards, in media, across digital platforms, streaming services, broadcast channels, and alongside disability advocates and influencers – our goal is to change people’s attitudes around disability once and for all. Our campaign website was designed to include all of us in the conversation. Authentic stories and perspectives will be what truly radiates Disability Pride through this online space. Our words matter; they spark action, and we want to hear your voice.

All together now, let’s ‘Say it. Celebrate it. Share it.’ Because disability is not a dirty word. Disability is pride.

Visit DisabilityPride.com to discover interactive tools, purchase merchandise, hear real stories from people with disabilities, and become involved by sharing your own story.

Easterseals Southern California said ‘goodbye’ to spring and ‘hello’ to summer with a wave of exciting events and activities! Take a look at some of the recent happenings across Easterseals and beyond.

Easterseals Participants and Staff Rally for Disability Funding

A group of staff and participants gathered outside of the Van Nuys State Building.

On May 31, Easterseals was proud to rally in Van Nuys, CA alongside fellow advocates from throughout Southern California to remind California Governor Gavin Newsom of his promise to fund essential disability programming. The group gathered at the Van Nuys State Building with Easterseals associates and participants from our Adult Day Services sites in Glendale, Pacoima, and Van Nuys. Together, they stood strong against the proposed $1 billion budget cuts that threaten the disability community. Join us in this effort and make your voices heard by sending an email to legislative leaders today.

Autism Services Celebrates Grand Opening of New Covina Therapy Center

Easterseals employees gathered with community leaders who showed their support and joined us in celebrating this significant milestone with a ribbon cutting.

On Saturday, June 1, Easterseals Southern California celebrated the Grand Opening of our New Autism Therapy Center in Covina, CA. During the event, attendees enjoyed exciting booths, fun games, prizes, and delicious food and drinks. Our partners at Mattel were also in attendance to donate toys to children as part of their “Play it Forward” initiative. We are deeply grateful to the volunteers and community leaders who showed their support and joined us in celebrating this significant milestone.

Easterseals at the Social Innovation Summit

From left to right, Andraea LaVant of LaVant Consulting, Vijay Ravindran of Floreo, Debbie Wishart of T-Mobile, and Nancy Weintraub of Easterseals SoCal

Easterseals Southern California was honored to contribute to a lively panel discussion during the Social Innovation Summit in early June. Chief Advancement Officer Nancy Weintraub and Easterseals consultant Andraea LaVant of LaVant Consulting sat on a panel titled “Innovative Tech for Building Inclusive Communities” along with our partners at T-Mobile and Floreo. It was an incredible time of growth, learning and building new partnerships in the disability community and beyond!

Rexford Industrial Volunteers at Easterseals Adult Day Services in Brea

A group of volunteers and participants gathered for a photo at Easterseals Adult & Senior Day Services location in Brea, CA.

On June 5^th, Rexford Industrial and their dedicated volunteers, joined by Interface and Delco Sales, transformed Easterseals Adult & Senior Day Services Center in Brea, CA. The day was filled with gardening, building wheelchair-accessible garden boxes, artistic endeavors, refreshing popsicles, and many fun games. Thank you to all the volunteers for bringing joy and making a lasting impact.

Tribeca Film Festival Panel & Cocktail Reception

From left to right, panelists Emily Ladau, Sofiya Cheyenne, Rachel Handler, and Ryan J. Haddad.

Easterseals was proud to be a sponsor at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival. On June 8th, we hosted a panel discussion titled “Big Wins and Benefits for Disability Inclusion and Workplace Culture” with panelists Rachel Handler, Ryan J. Haddad, Emily Ladau, and Sofiya Cheyenne. Each panelist shared insights on creating an inclusive film set experience, best practices for accessibility, and fostering a more inclusive workplace culture. This panel was followed by the Industry Cocktail Reception, which was co-hosted with Indeed.

Here at Easterseals Southern California, we are excited to expand our social media family by joining the TikTok universe. With the continued growth and expansion of our organization, it’s important we reach a broader audience across multiple platforms and channels.

Joining TikTok allows us to share engaging, inspiring, and educational content with a wider community. We’ll be posting a variety of content, including stories of empowerment, behind-the-scenes looks at our events, tips on creating inclusive environments, and much more.

This initiative aligns with our mission of  leading the way to full equity, inclusion and access by sharing content that aims to change minds and inspire action. By reaching more people, we can amplify our message and impact even further.

We invite you to follow us on our TikTok and be sure to like, comment, and share. Thank you so much for your support and enthusiasm as we embark on this exciting TikTok journey. Let’s make it amazing together!

@eastersealssocal

Here’s a look at our Tik Tok content:

@eastersealssocal “You have a voice. Use your voice. Because if you don’t use your voice, who’s going to hear you?” – Betty, Easterseals advocate #DisabilityRights #SpeakUp #EastersealsSoCal #OurVoicesMatter ♬ original sound – EastersealsSoCal