Easter Seals Project ACTION Update April/May 2006 Volume 17 Number 2 This is a bimonthly newsletter. General publication information is provided at the bottom of page 2 of this issue. IN THIS ISSUE: ESPA releases two new products, page 1 San Diego County success story, page 1 2006 MPS Institute faculty, page 2 Subscriber information, page 2 Accessible taxis in Miami-Dade, page 4 Distance learning transcript, page 4 NDSU student accessible transit design projects, page 5 Ask Project ACTION!, page 5 National news and resources, page 6 Rural accessible transportation summit planned for June, page 7 National Steering Committee news, page Statements of Need requested, page 8 Update on requests for proposals, page 8 PAGE 1 HEADLINE: ESPA releases two new products Illustrations: cover pages of the new products are depicted Easter Seals Project ACTION offers two new products, one affecting bus stop accessibility and the other supporting youth learning to use public transportation as they prepare to transition from school toward adulthood. The Toolkit for the Assessment of Bus Stop Accessibility and Safety is designed for inventorying bus stops to determine whether they meet the Americans with Disabilities Act requirements. It can also be used to improve bus stop accessibility by incorporating universal design elements to plan for system-wide accessibility and advocate for improvements. The toolkit was developed by Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, San Francisco, in conjunction with an ESPA advisory committee and project team. Committee members provided the diverse interests and viewpoints of transit agencies, people with disabilities and various local, state and federal agencies. The toolkit includes principles of barrier-free design, two sample bus stop checklists (one for transit and public works agencies and one for transportation advocates and the general public) with instructions for their use, guidelines for creating safe and accessible bus stops, organizational relationships, technology options, and considerations for rural stops. Appendices include sample maintenance guidelines, case studies with examples of agency coordination, and a sample agreement for placing a continued on page 2 HEADLINE: San Diego County shares an MPS success story By Rob Carley, Executive Director, Area Board XIII, State Council on Developmental Disabilities, San Diego, Calif. The beginnings of “FACT” or Full Access & Coordinated Transportation came to life at the Easter Seals Project ACTION’s Mobility Planning Services (MPS) Institute in March 2005. Our team from San Diego County, Calif., had met several times prior to MPS, so we were well prepared for the work we had to do during the three intensive days in Washington, D.C. At MPS, we decided on a vision for our project: All people in San Diego County will have full mobility within their community served by an accessible transportation system that meets individual needs. continued on page 3 PAGE 2 HEADLINE: New ESPA products, from page 1 bus stop on a private road. Communities using the toolkit are encouraged to customize the two checklists according to their needs. Based on field testing, it takes between five and 20 minutes to assess each stop, based on the number and type of amenities at the stop. The other new product is Public Transportation: A Route to Freedom, a new curriculum for students with and without disabilities in grades 8-12. This resource, provided on CD-ROM with files that educators and others working with youth can easily customize for their classes, provides lesson plans introducing young people to public transportation, which is vital for their independent access to post-secondary education, jobs and involvement in community life. Lessons were conceived and developed by three school districts to ensure their generalization to a wide variety of local education agencies. The curriculum includes transportation programs for students in participating in both standardized and alternate assessment, an instructor and resource guide, and a 15-minute DVD showing the curriculum in use. The curriculum reaches out to students in grades 8-12 who have physical, emotional, cognitive or learning disabilities. It provides academic information as well as an opportunity to use public transportation under the supervision of teachers, and combines the skills of the instructor with the resources of the local public transit system. Formal educational standards are addressed in English Language Arts, Social Studies, Mathematics, Science and Technology, Career Development and more, based on and aligned with the Learning Standards and Alternate Performance Indicators used in New York State. Topics covered include the Americans with Disabilities Act, researching destination and transportation information, using route maps and schedules to plan a trip, using the Internet to support trip planning, personal responsibilities as users of public transportation, a public bus demonstration, assessing routes for environmental accessibility and safety, using newly acquired skills to take a trip using public transportation, and reviewing and assessing the trip. To access or order either of these products online, please visit the ESPA Clearinghouse store at www.projectaction.org/clearinghouse. All materials are available at no cost. Alternate formats are available upon request. HEADLINE: Faculty announced for the 2006 MPS Institute Easter Seals Project ACTION’s (ESPA) fifth annual Mobility Planning Services (MPS) Institute, slated for April 22-25, in Washington, D.C., will feature a faculty of some of the best minds and committed hearts in both the transportation industry and the disability community. Instructors will include Ronald Baumgart, River Cities Public Transit, Sue Clark, ESPA, Dan Dalton, ESPA, Rikki S. Epstein, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, WMATA, Richard Garrity, RLS and Associates, Christopher Hart, Adaptive Environments, Karen Hoesch, ACCESS Transportation Systems, Jill Hough, North Dakota State University, Carolyn Jeskey, Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA), Carol Maus, Easter Seals Rural Solutions, Kelly Shawn, CTAA, Donna Smith, ESPA, Ken Thompson, ESPA and Karen Wolf-Branigin, ESPA. Faculty were selected because of knowledge and experience in content specifically indicated as needed by the teams. They will present strategies for increasing transportation options through coordinated public and private networks, creating additional transportation services in rural communities, and increasing funding. Maximizing existing community resources (vehicles, drivers, etc.), increasing fixed-route ridership for people with disabilities and older adults and coalition building will also be described. Other topics will include architectural barriers, incorporating universal design in current and future projects and renovations, improving paratransit eligibility determination processes, and bus familiarization, travel training and other customer supports for using transportation. The 20 participating teams, competitively selected from among 39 applications, will play the biggest role at the event, in developing their plans and sharing ideas with the other teams. MPS brings together community teams of leaders from the disability world and transportation industry to share information and strategies to improve access to transportation services in their communities. For more information on MPS, including this year’s selected teams and information on applying for next year’s Institute, visit www.projectaction.org/MPS. Subscriber information: Update is published bimonthly by Easter Seals Project ACTION (for Accessible Community Transportation In Our Nation) (ESPA) and is available free of charge upon request. Please notify ESPA of any change of address at: Easter Seals Project ACTION 700 13th St. N.W. Suite 200 Washington, DC 20005 Voice (202) 347-3066 or (800) 659-6428 TDD (202) 347-7385 Fax (202) 737-7914 Beth Hamby, Editor; Alan Abeson, Ed.D., Director Current and back issues Update can be found online in text and PDF formats at www.projectaction.org/newsletter. ESPA is funded through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration, and is administered by Easter Seals, Inc. PAGE 3 HEADLINE: San Diego County’s MPS success story, continued from page 1 Illustration: diagram of a wheel labeled "Full Access & Coordinated Transportation" at the center, with spokes to circles the following labels: volunteer drivers, MTS, hospitals, social service agencies, mental health programs, cities, churches, NCTD, private providers, taxis, county, schools Upon returning home, we began working on the goals and outcome plan we had developed at MPS and committed to meeting monthly as a team. We included other members of the community to spread the word and build our support base. Our three goals for the first year were to develop a concept sheet to outline the project, conduct a countywide meeting to educate the community on coordinated transportation, and develop a structure for the group to become organized and capable of implementing the vision. We named our group to express exactly what we wanted to do. We then directed our actions toward a countywide roll-out meeting in October, presenting to groups that requested more information and developing a logo and diagram to explain how FACT would be different from the current transportation system. Through ESPA’s MPS follow-up support, we were able to have Karen Hoesch, executive director of ACCESS Services in Pittsburgh, present information on her coordinated transportation agency at the roll-out meeting. Having this outside support reinforced our message to the community that coordinated transportation is possible and is being done in many areas of the nation. More than 50 people attended, representing transit districts, hospitals, human service organizations and cab companies. Representation also included elected officials and others from cities, county and state offices. Our message was well received and 25 people agreed to be part of a steering committee for FACT, with the first meeting scheduled for November to carry the momentum forward into strategic planning. Also late in 2005, an attorney helped us pro-bono to file the necessary documents to become a non-profit corporation in California, and Full Access & Coordinated Transportation, Inc. was incorporated in February 2006. We established a five-person board of directors made up of two city council persons, an attorney, a business analyst and the executive director of North County Transit District, which meets monthly. FACT has been fortunate to have the support of North County Transit District (NCTD) as we have become more established. NCTD’s executive management staff share the vision of FACT and were instrumental in bringing in full support from the NCTD board of directors, enabling NCTD to apply for grants on behalf of and in conjunction with FACT, Inc. In January NCTD on behalf of FACT successfully applied for a $60,000 grant from the Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA) to conduct planning activities prior to implementing a coordinated transportation system. NCTD will also be submitting an application with FACT Inc. to be designated as the Consolidated Transportation Service Agency (CTSA) in San Diego County. California regulations mandate that the CTSA consolidate services and coordinate transportation for seniors, people with disabilities and human service programs in the county. The FACT team currently includes Alane Haynes, ADA administrator for North County Transit District, Rob Carley, executive director for Area Board 13, State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Loyd Davis, transit consumer and teacher for San Diego Center for the Blind, and Floyd Willis, San Diego County Aging and Independence Services (Area Agency on Aging). It’s one year since we participated in Project ACTION’s MPS Institute. We believe our success is due to our commitment to the vision, our true team approach to accomplishing tasks, and our communication and outreach to the community. And we have many miles to go before we sleep. For more information about FACT, contact Rob Carley at rob.carley@scdd.ca.gov or (619) 645-3046, or Alane Haynes at adacoordinator@nctd.org or (760) 966-6607. PAGE 4 HEADLINE: Miami-Dade County expands accessible cab service Photo caption: Journalist Damian Gregory prepares to board an accessible taxicab in Miami while taxicab chauffeur Jean Casimir stands by ready to offer assistance. Photo courtesy of Miami-Dade County Consumer Services Department. By Diane Kaminsky, Training Specialist, Miami-Dade County Consumer Services Department In 2002, the Miami-Dade County Consumer Services Department, which regulates taxicabs, initiated discussions with the county’s Office of ADA Coordination and members of the transportation and hospitality industries on how to meet the needs of residents and visitors with disabilities. From the outset of the discussions there was consensus about the need to provide this service. Disability organizations pointed to the need to facilitate travel for people with mobility disabilities. The hospitality industry felt that the service would make Miami-Dade a more attractive destination. The overall consideration was that this was simply the right thing to do. As a result, county commissioners amended the county’s taxi ordinance to encourage the availability of cabs accessible to people who use wheelchairs. Prior to that time, none of the county’s 1,900 taxis were accessible. Initially 20 accessible licenses were issued through the county’s taxi lottery process, and subsequent lotteries have brought the total to 54, as Miami-Dade is well on its way to meeting the county’s goal of making 3 percent of the countywide taxicab fleet accessible. Not only is accessible equipment now in operation, drivers have been trained in passenger assistance and securement methods. Like all for-hire drivers in the county, they have undergone an extensive training program which includes customer service, code rules and regulations, safety, professionalism and map reading. Miami-Dade County has many features accessible to the traveler with disabilities, including listings for accommodations that indicate accessibility and roll-in showers, disabled parking permits for international travelers, accessible public beaches with sand chairs and cabana rentals, accessible swimming pools and parks with accessible nature trails and boardwalks. Information and details about requesting an accessible cab in Miami-Dade County can be found on the county’s Web site at www.miamidade.gov/csd. In addition to listing accessible cab operators and their phone numbers, the county’s site provides information on accessible services for air, mass transit, sea travel, tourist information and the office of ADA coordination. A video public service announcement on the accessible taxi service expansion can also be viewed online. For additional information, call the Miami-Dade Consumer Services Department at (305) 375-3677. ESPA offers three resources related to accessible taxi service: “Moving Forward Together: A Workbook for Initiating and Increasing Accessible Taxi Services in Your Community,” the “Taxicab ADA Brochure: The Americans With Disabilities Act and You: Frequently Asked Questions on Taxicab Service,” and the “Taxicab Pocket Guide,” the latter publication also available in Spanish and Farsi. All are free of charge through the Clearinghouse, www.projectaction.org/clearinghouse. ESPA will be hosting a conference call on accessible taxi service as part of its 2006 Distance Learning series. This free audio conference will feature speakers Cleadis Newman from Houston, Texas, and Michael Muehe from Cambridge, Mass., both featured in “Moving Forward Together.” Watch www.projectaction.org and subscribe to Extra, ESPA’s monthly electronic newsletter for details on this and other upcoming distance learning opportunities. SUBHEADING: March distance learning transcript to be posted In March, ESPA hosted a free audio conference titled, “Innovative Funding Practices in Small Urban and Rural Communities,” featuring Terry Parker of Lane Transit District, Eugene, Ore., and Ronald Baumgart of River Cities Public Transit, Pierre, S.D. In early May, a transcript of the discussion will be posted online with a link from ESPA’s home page (www.projectaction.org). PAGE 5 HEADLINE: NDSU students look ahead to accessible transit By Tom Jirik, Communications Coordinator, Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute, North Dakota State University The next generation of architects at North Dakota State University recently had a chance to design the next generation of accessible mass transit facilities. NDSU’s Small Urban and Rural Transit Center (SURTC) helped the university’s Department of Architecture and Landscape Architecture develop a proposal for a class project. Fourth-year students in architecture and landscape architecture were assigned to develop a proposal for either a downtown or suburban mobility center that incorporated multi-modal transit and transit-oriented development while incorporating the concepts of universal design, so that accessibility was considered from the start. The assignment was part of the Advanced Urban Design Studio course. “One of the focuses of the class was the concept of transit-oriented development. Everything we did during the semester revolved around transportation issues,” said Cindy Urness, an instructor for the course. “As future urban planners and architects, these students are a key audience for us,” noted SURTC director Jill Hough. “We want to help make them knowledgeable about mobility and transportation issues and get them started early in incorporating those issues into their concepts and thought processes.” SURTC’s research and outreach programs are designed to increase mobility in small urban and rural areas. “I think the project opened the students’ eyes to transit and mobility issues in people’s lives,” Urness said. “It also gave them a new awareness of accessibility and universal design. The students are all aware of ADA requirements, but this project helped them realize that in many cases designers and builders comply with the letter of the law and not the spirit.” At the end of the intensive two-week project in December, proposals developed by the 15 students were judged by a panel of transit professionals from NDSU, local transit agencies and the North Dakota Department of Transportation. “It was a gift to have people who are actually involved in transit ask questions and talk about practical issues. There’s nothing like having a real client review your work,” Urness said. Student Matt Brehmer is a Fargo native and appreciated the opportunity to develop a transit-oriented vision for his hometown’s future. “I’m always biking and rollerblading so I knew there were some real gaps in accessibility around the community. It was exciting to design a new part of the city and make it completely accessible and pedestrian oriented.” For more information, visit www.surtc.org or call the Small Urban & Rural Transit Center at (701) 231-7767. HEADLINE: Ask Project ACTION! Question: If a person is able to get to the bus stop near his home and ride the bus from that location, would he be eligible for ADA complementary paratransit? Answer: Determination of a person’s ADA paratransit eligibility needs to incorporate consideration of the ability to travel to and from any location in the ADA paratransit service area. Even though an individual can get to the bus stop nearest to his home, he may not be able to get from the stop where exiting the bus to the final destination. The distance might be farther than the person can manage, and there may be other barriers between the stop and a destination. Please keep in mind that not all of a person’s trips will originate from home; the ability to get to bus stops from other locations must be considered. ESPA operates a national toll-free information line. Information and resources are available Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (EST) at (800) 659-6428 (voice) or (202) 347-7385 (TDD). ESPA can answer questions about ADA rights and responsibilities as they pertain to transportation services, direct callers to additional resources, and help members of the disability and transportation communities address diverse accessibility issues. For 24-hour access to information, answers to frequently-asked questions, fact sheets, and links to other resources are posted on the Web site at www.projectaction.org. PAGE 6 HEADLINE: National news and resources SUBHEADING: FTA Publishes Federal Register Notice: SAFETEA-LU The Federal Transit Administration has published a Federal Register notice regarding the Elderly Individuals and Individuals with Disabilities, Job Access Reverse Commute, and the New Freedom programs. The notice provides interim guidance for FY06, and seeks comments for future implementation of all programs, including the coordination requirements that are included in all three programs. Public comments are being accepted via the public docket at http://dms.dot.gov/, docket number FTA-2006-24037, due April 21. The notice is online at http://www.fta.dot.gov/17973_18172_ENG_HTML.htm. SUBHEADING: Amendments proposed to ADA and Section 504 regulations The U.S. Department of Transportation is proposing to amend Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 regulations concerning rail station platforms, clarify that public transit providers are required to make modifications to policies and practices to ensure that their programs are accessible to individuals with disabilities, and codify practices on issuing DOT guidance on disability matters. Comments on the proposed regulatory changes are due April 28. Within the same Notice for Proposed Rulemaking, comments are requested on seven additional issues by May 30. The additional issues involve bus rapid transit (BRT), designating additional key stations, “heritage” streetcars, intercity rail, acquisition of used vehicles for demand-response service, mobility devices that do not fit the existing definition of a “common wheelchair,” priority seating on intercity rail and over-the-road buses and counting trip denials on ADA paratransit. The notice is available in text format at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/06-1658.htm and PDF format at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/06-1658.pdf. SUBHEADING: Over-the-road motorcoach companies cited for ADA violations According to a report in the Washington Post, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration conducted compliance reviews on 14 low-fare bus companies that operate along the Washington-New York-Boston corridor, and cited 11 of these companies with violating provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act in addition to safety-related problems. The article indicated that the ADA violations are now being probed by the U.S. Department of Justice. SUBHEADING: Federal transportation and emergency preparedness partnership announced The Federal Interagency Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility (CCAM) and the Federal Interagency Coordinating Council on Emergency Preparedness and Individuals with Disabilities (ICC) have partnered to research and identify best practices on transportation and emergency preparedness for individuals with disabilities, older adults and others who may need transportation assistance during emergency events. The ICC’s Joint Subcommittee on Emergency Transportation plans to research, evaluate and provide examples of best practices and systems for planning and implementing emergency preparedness transportation policies and programs for people with disabilities, and older adults as well as their family members, their employers and service providers. For information, visit http://www.emergencyprep.dot.gov/. SUBHEADING: Report released on emerging models for transportation planning in rural America The National Association of Development Organizations Research Foundation has released a report that explores the impact, trends and partnerships being forged as a result of federal rural planning and consultation rules. The report examines the relationship between regional development organizations and state transportation officials as they strive to implement the new federal guidelines. The report also highlights the network of rural planning organizations being created and staffed by regional development organizations with the support of state and local officials. Case studies that showcase the activities and results of these regional planning entities are included. The report may be downloaded through http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=5993. SUBHEADING: Guidelines released on developing pedestrian safety action plans The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center (PBIC) has released a framework for state and local agencies to develop and implement pedestrian safety action plans. The guide is designed to help agencies enhance their existing pedestrian safety programs and activities, including identifying safety problems, analyzing information, and selecting optimal solutions. The guide also contains information on how to involve stakeholders, potential sources of funding for implementing projects, and how to evaluate projects. Information is online at http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=5896. continued on page 7 PAGE 7 HEADLINE: National news, from page 6 SUBHEADING: Research problem statements solicited The Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) of the Transportation Research Board seeks research problem statements for FY 2007 research by June 15. These submittals form the basis for selection of the annual TCRP research program. Information is online at http://trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=1086. SUBHEADING: FTA Office of Civil Rights and ESPA to participate in TRANSED 2007 The Federal Transit Administration’s Office of Civil Rights (TCR) will be a part of Transport for Elderly and Disabled Persons (TRANSED) 2007 to be held in Montreal, Canada, June 18-21, 2007. Held every three years, TRANSED is organized under the general auspices of the Transportation Research Board. The conference provides a forum for delegates from around the world to exchange strategies for solving current mobility issues faced by older adults and people with disabilities. TRANSED brings together researchers, policymakers, transportation operators, consumers and other specialists to share innovations and best practices. TCR hopes to pass on its knowledge and experience to delegates so that they can return to their communities to promote accessible transportation, and it encourages participation in responding to international mobility challenges. For more information, visit http://www.tc.gc.ca/transed2007 or contact Nick Coates at TCR, (202) 366-0808. HEADLINE: New Law-New Rides-New Freedom for People with Disabilities in Rural America Summit to be held June 5-6 The Community Transportation Association of America, ESPA and the Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL) will host a two-day national summit on improving rural transportation for people with disabilities and others, using new provisions and funding in Safe, Affordable, Flexible and Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). At this summit, leaders among advocates, people with disabilities, older adults, transit providers and state transportation professionals from around the country will explore models, advocacy tools and resources needed to enhance transportation options for all people in rural communities. The cost to attend this summit, presented in conjunction with the CTAA’s annual conference in Orlando, Fla., is $145. For more information, or to register, visit http://www.ctaa.org/expo/2006/rural.asp or call CTAA toll-free at (800) 527-8279. Illustrations: logos of CTAA, APRIL, and ESPA HEADLINE: Linda Gonzales is new NSC chairman Linda Gonzales, Kent, Ohio, became the new chairman of Easter Seals Project ACTION’s National Steering Committee during a spring meeting in Alexandria, Va., March 24. Gonzales is the executive director of The Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL), a national grass-roots, nonprofit membership organization concerned with the independent living issues of people with disabilities living in rural America. She succeeds outgoing chairman Doug Douglas, Dallas, Texas, vice president for paratransit services of Dallas Area Rapid Transit. Also elected to the office of vice-chairman was Beverly Morris, planning & eligibility officer with the paratransit division of Metropolitan Transportation Authority, New York City Transit. The new officers will preside over their first meeting of the 18-member board in late July. ESPA deeply appreciates the fine service of all current and outgoing National Steering Committee members: Billy Altom (Ark.) Barry Barker (Ky.) Pam Boswell (D.C.) Charlie Dickson (D.C.) Doug Douglas (Texas) Linda Gonzales (Ohio) Cliff Hymowitz (N.Y.) Wendy Klancher (D.C.) Maureen McCloskey (D.C.) Jim McLary (Va.) Beverly Morris (N.Y.) Terry Parker (Ore.) Lopeti Penima’ani (Utah) Jeff Rosenberg (D.C.) Audrey Straight (D.C.) Doug Towne (Fla.) Pete Worthington (Vt.) PAGE 8 HEADLINE: ESPA seeks Statements of Need Project ACTION strives to identify and promote advances and innovations in the availability and use of accessible public and private transportation. As part of the process, the project regularly solicits Statements of Need from individuals and organizations throughout the disability and transportation communities. The due date for this year’s collection is May 31, 2006. After Statements are collected, they are used to identify opportunities for research and technical activities focusing on accessible transportation for people with disabilities. Responses to this announcement will be used by ESPA to identify its funding priorities for the next fiscal year. The announcement that Statements of Need are being solicited is not a call for proposals; contract funds will not be awarded as a direct result of this submission. For more information and an easy template to use to submit Statements of Need, visit Easter Seals Project ACTION’S Web site at www.projectaction.org, or contact ESPA at: Easter Seals Project ACTION, 700 13 St. NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20005, (202)347-3066 (Voice), (800)659-6428 (Voice), (202)347-7385 (TDD), (202)737-7914 (Fax). HEADLINE: Status of RFPs can be found on Web site Easter Seals Project ACTION has several pending requests for proposals in various stages of action and response following their announcement and posting in recent months. An RFP for program evaluation has evolved into contract work awarded to the Oregon Health and Science University, Portland. Proposals on a fixed-route stop announcement project titled, “Effective Approaches for Increasing Stop Announcements by Transit Operators,” are being reviewed for award and announcement shortly on the ESPA Web site. Award of the project titled, “Status Report on the Current Use of Wheelchairs and other Mobility Devices on Public and Private Transportation” will also be announced soon. The status of RFPs, including new ones and announced contract awards, can be tracked through the “Projects and Funding” section of www.projectaction.org. For future RFP announcements, watch the home page or subscribe to Extra, ESPA’s monthly electronic newsletter. Simply log in to the Web site as a returning Easter Seals user or create a new user account, and manage your subscriptions and user information online.