75 years of empowering individuals and creating independence

Welcome to this exploration and celebration of the people, places and events that laid the foundation for who Easterseals-Goodwill is today. Our organization was founded in 1947 to help address the growing need for services to assist children afflicted by cerebral palsy, polio and other crippling diseases in the state of Montana.

Our 75th Anniversary provides an opportunity to not only look back on previous accomplishments, but also forward as we set a strong course for the future; one that enhances quality of life, expands access to healthcare, employment and education opportunities, and empowers individuals we serve to be full and equal participants in their communities.

Note: You’ll see some terms included on the pages of this website that don’t reflect at all how we would speak about disabilities today. However, we chose to leave them, since the terms were those commonly used at that time in our history. Also, our organization, has gone through many name changes through the years so you may notice some discrepancies, for instance the use of both Easter Seal and Easter Seals. We chose to keep the names consistent with the historical event being described.