The Kalamazoo Society for Crippled Children was created by the Kalamazoo Rotary Club in 1924 under the original name of the “Crippled Children’s Committee.” Its creation stemmed out of a recognized need in the Kalamazoo community for physicians specializing in children’s disabilities. To counter this need, the Crippled Children’s Committee began hosting clinics staffed by guest physicians. Being recognized as extremely relevant in the community, it was decided that the Committee could operate as an entity separate from the Rotary Club. No longer affiliated with the Rotary Club, the Committee recruited Easter Seals, an organization dedicated to helping people with disabilities, as a sponsor, and changed its name to the “Kalamazoo Society for Crippled Children.” The “and Adults” would come later.

In addition to providing the original clinics, the Kalamazoo Society for Crippled Children and Adults (KSCCA) ran special school programs for children, which included Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and academics. These programs were housed at Western Michigan University. Later, the KSCCA was absorbed by Kalamazoo Public Schools. This transition allowed the KSCCA to expand the scope of its operations.

Stability for the KSCCA ended when the organization’s newly acquired housing, located on 301 W. Cedar St., proved a great financial strain. Advised to do so for legal reasons in 1974, The KSCCA dissolved its relationship with Easter Seals, and reorganized as independent. The KSCCA was still in operation at the time of publication of the history included within the collection. According to the history, the KSCCA relocated from Cedar St. to Stadium Drive.

For more information regarding the Kalamazoo Society for Crippled Children and Adults, direct attention towards the donors file and folder within collection designated “History.”