1944
80 years ago, Easterseals Massachusetts had one simple yet powerful mission: to ensure children and adults with disabilities have equal opportunities to live, learn, work, and play.
Over the years, Easterseals Massachusetts has continually developed innovative programs and services to meet the evolving needs of the people we serve. Guided by creativity, expertise, and a person-centered approach, we are known for turning possibilities into practical solutions that help individuals build skills, increase independence, connect with their communities, and achieve their goals.
After eight decades of service, ESMA remains committed to caring purposefully and personally. Today, we serve people of all ages and abilities across Massachusetts, offering a broad range of programs and supports that empower individuals to reach their full potential.
1988
At Easterseals Massachusetts, we recognized early on the transformative potential of technology for children and adults with disabilities. Our Assistive Technology Program began with a few donated computers and one specialist. Today, ESMA's Assistive Technology team includes more than 30 specialists and a broad array of software, hardware, and adaptive devices that help people increase independence at home, in school, at work, and in their communities.
For decades, we have helped individuals access the tools they need to communicate, learn, and achieve their goals. Through Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), adaptive technology, and other assistive devices, we support students and adults in pursuing education, employment, and greater independence.
Today, ESMA is a recognized leader in Assistive Technology, with highly credentialed staff and two regional Assistive Technology Regional Centers. Through our programs, individuals can explore, try, and borrow devices to help them make informed decisions about the technology that best meets their needs and supports their success.
2005
The Massachusetts Alternative Finance Program launched to help individuals with disabilities acquire the assistive technology and adaptive equipment they need to live more independently. Through low-interest Financial Loans, often used for adapted vehicles, and Long-Term Device Loans, MAFP expanded access to technology that supports daily living, education, employment, and community participation. 2018 Update: MAFP introduced a 0% interest Mini Loan Program to help individuals obtain lower-cost assistive technology and adaptive equipment, further expanding access to needed devices and supports.
2018
Easterseals Massachusetts launched the College Navigator program to help college students with disabilities build the skills, confidence, and supports needed to succeed in higher education. Through individualized coaching and guidance, we helped students navigate academics, social life, and campus life while building self-advocacy and organizational skills.
2019
The #TeachDisabilityHistory campaign was formed to promote disability history education, increase awareness of disability rights, and encourage the use of disability history curriculum in Massachusetts schools, while providing leadership opportunities to disabled youth and young adults.
2020
By 2020, Easterseals Massachusetts had grown into one of the state's leading providers of disability services, supporting individuals with disabilities, their families, educators, employers, and caregivers through a wide range of programs and services across Massachusetts. At that time, ESMA's programs spanned Assistive Technology, Employment & Transition Services, Rehabilitation Services, Recreation, and Youth Leadership.
Our Transition Services (Pre-ETS) helped students with disabilities explore careers, build workplace-readiness skills, learn self-advocacy and independent-living skills, and prepare for employment, postsecondary education, vocational training, and life after high school.
Through Job Development & Placement Services, we helped adults with disabilities develop the skills needed to obtain and maintain meaningful employment. The program offered individualized vocational rehabilitation, job development, employment supports, and workplace training designed to help individuals achieve their career goals and succeed in today's workforce.
Through the Youth Leadership Network, we help young people with disabilities discover their strengths, develop leadership skills, build confidence, and become active participants in their schools and communities.
Our Rehabilitation Services program provided physical, occupational, and speech therapy in homes, schools, clinics, nursing homes, day habilitation centers, and other community settings.
We also continued our long-standing commitment to Recreation and community engagement, creating opportunities for individuals with disabilities to build relationships, develop new skills, and participate in enriching experiences. In addition, ESMA expanded its reach through services for veterans and military families, disability information and referral resources, and advocacy efforts that helped inform state legislators and government officials on policies and issues affecting people with disabilities across Massachusetts.
2022
Easterseals Massachusetts is proud to now own The Bridge Center (TBC), a model recreational campus and equestrian center located in Bridgewater, Massachusetts. TBC offers year-round programming for individuals of all ages with disabilities. As a leader in providing disability services across Massachusetts, we were selected by TBC former leadership to become the next stewards of this 22-acre property, which includes multiple buildings, an outdoor pool, a playground, assorted fields, a pond, and an Equestrian Center to hold programs and services such as Adaptive Riding & Horsemanship, Recreation, Camp, and more.
2025
In 2025, we celebrated milestones that brought communities together and reaffirmed our shared commitment to disability rights and opportunity. During the 35th anniversary year of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), we joined advocates, partners, and community members in Worcester, Boston, and Washington, DC, to recognize the law's lasting impact and the progress still to come.
We also marked a major achievement for the Massachusetts Alternative Finance Program, celebrating its 20th anniversary at the Massachusetts State House. Over two decades, MAFP provided more than $20 million in device loans, mini-loans, and low-interest loans, helping thousands of Massachusetts residents with disabilities obtain the assistive technology and adaptive equipment they need to live, learn, work, and participate more independently in their communities.
2026
Easterseals Massachusetts expanded opportunities for individuals with disabilities by launching its groundbreaking Adaptive Carriage Driving Program at the Equestrian Center at The Bridge Center. Featuring the first adaptive carriage in the United States designed to accommodate both power wheelchairs and multiple seating configurations, the program increases access to equine-assisted activities and creates new opportunities for recreation, skill development, and community participation.
In the same year, longtime Bridgewater resident and business owner Milton "Bud" Morris donated 29 acres of land adjacent to The Bridge Center campus. This generous gift expanded the property to 51 acres, creating new opportunities for future growth and enhancing the experiences available to participants and families for generations to come.
