2012 City of Albany, "A Visit from St.Nicholas"

A Visit from St. Nicholas

Mrs. Carl Huie made a vow that nothing would stop her until she had activated a rehabilitation center in Albany to serve people with disabilities in southwest Georgia. She spent the next several years talking to those knowledgeable on rehabilitation centers, speaking to woman's groups and writing hundreds of letters outlining the need for a center and asking for help. The first center opened on November 25, 1957. In 1970, a new, larger center was constructed as the first had come to be inadequate in size for the number of people being served.

For many years, the focus of Easterseals was medical rehabilitation. Physical therapy services, speech, and audiology services were provided. In 1982, the center received a contract to provide vocational rehabilitation services.

In 1990, the Georgia Easter Seal Society was dissolved, and Southwest Georgia Easterseals became a direct affiliate of the National organization. Later, the name was changed to Easterseals Southern Georgia. Throughout the 1990's our organization grew to be multi-faceted and even more responsive to the needs of the region.

The Respite Care/Family Support program was initiated in 1993 through an appropriation from the Georgia General Assembly. Respite Care provides short-term relief to caregivers of people with developmental disabilities through in-home or out-of-home care.

In 1994 funding was obtained from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development to construct group homes in Vienna and Unadilla. In 1996, additional grants were awarded for a group home in Tifton and a ten-unit apartment complex in Ashburn. Since then a group home for adults has been built in Cordele and apartments have been built in Moultrie, Cairo, Valdosta and Waycross.

In 2004, Easter Seals opened the doors to Megan's House, the only children's respite home south of Atlanta for medically fragile children. Respite Care services are available for children who are developmentally disabled, who have a diagnosis of autism or are medically fragile.

Easterseals Southern Georgia has experienced a lot of changes over the years. Programs have been created and others discontinued based on the needs of the individuals in our service area. Throughout all of this, the primary goal of Mrs. Huie has remained our focal point; to provide quality care and services to the people of South Georgia that have special needs.

Annually we develop the Official City of Albany Collectible which is proudly made in the USA and supports our cause. The proceeds generated from the ornament sales greatly helps drive our mission of "Creating Solutions, Changing Lives". As you hang this ornament on your tree this year you know that you have helped the many special children, youth and adults with disabilities receiving services through Easterseals Southern Georgia.