Meet Kelly Klein | Development Director, Easter Seals Greater Houston

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kelly Klein and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kelly, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
Easter Seals Greater Houston has served our community for over 75 years through life changing programs and services for children and adults with disabilities, caregivers, seniors, veterans, and their families. We are leading the way to 100% equity and access for people with disabilities, families, and communities. We impact where people need us the most – at school, work, home, and in the community.

Why is this even necessary, you may ask. One in four Americans has a disability (61M) and that number is growing with the baby boomers. Insurance and Medicaid do not cover all the services necessary as most people believe.

As I see it, there are two groups of people – those who have disabilities or will have a disability in the future because of injury, illness, or aging and those caregiving for a loved one or who will be caregiving for a loved one in the future. By advocating for disability services, you are advocating for your future self or a loved one. Disabilities do not discriminate – they impact people of all races and socio-economic classes. Over 65% of our clients live under the poverty line simply due to care-giving issues and medical bills, and many middle class families are squeezed – earning too much to be eligible for government services and too little to pay for private services.

I always give this analogy: you and your significant other both work, both have great careers and great health insurance; something happens, whether it’s having a high-risk baby who is in the hospital for months or you yourself are; you leave the hospital with major debt; one of you has to quit your job to either be caregiver for your child or because of your newly acquired disability which equals loss of income, loss of insurance, and loss of community. Then what? Where do you go to find services or support now that you are on a reduced income with less insurance. Add in the major barriers to health care costs, employment, and transportation, not to mention mental stress, anxiety, and isolation.

That’s where Easter Seals Greater Houston comes in. We are here to offer essential resources and supports for every stage of life. Our 13 programs are either free or sliding scale with the exception of our Caroline School for medically fragile children. From Early Intervention to Children’s Therapy, Camp, Mental Health Services for the entire family, High School Programming to ensure graduation and career training, respite for caregivers, employment for disabled veterans, financial education and coaching, down payment assistance and so much more.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Amazingly enough I found my way to this place completely by chance and at the same time specifically on purpose. I think that’s the way the best parts of life work. Flash forward through college, through working and living in NYC, through a marriage and a child and then back to Houston and in the midst of a job search. I decide after having worked for a very large Madison Ave. law firm, that maybe I need to be thinking about the greater good, and I apply for as many non-profit administrative assistant positions as I can find. The only phone call and interview I received was from Easter Seals, formerly United Cerebral Palsy (UCP). I remember walking through the doors of our old building and feeling an overwhelming sensation of coming home, at ease, at peace, and knowing that I would be getting the position. And I did. My “godmother” came to take me to lunch soon after and asked me as we were driving away from the building if I remembered it at all. I didn’t. She told me that my “godbrother” (who is 2 years younger than me and was born with intellectual disabilities and cerebral palsy) had come for services/therapy when we were children, and I had come with him. From coming here as a child, to first working here, to now – we offer so much more now, but we still have so very far to go! I can’t imagine being anywhere else. This place – now Easter Seals – is so special. I have seen so many families, clients, children, and adults struggle and then realize success and achievements that they never even considered as a possibility. That’s a gift! I’m so grateful to have an amazing community of Easter Seals supporters who care deeply for our mission and our clients and make this work possible.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Top of the list would be Rainbow Lodge, maybe followed by an oyster tour from Pier 66 to Gilhooley’s… and everything seafood in between. An Astros game, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo or even HLSR cook off. The museum district of course. Galveston, Buffalo Bayou, Memorial Park, the theatre district… So much to do and so many great people to meet and talk to!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Our entire Executive Team here at Easter Seals Greater Houston! Most of us have made this our life’s work – most of our program directors have been here for over 20 years, some over 50!! I just celebrated my 30 year anniversary alongside our Early Intervention Director, and our CEO, Elise Hough, has been here over 20 years. We could not take this on without each other. The history alone is amazing, but factor in where else we could be, with the salaries we could have made and chose not to. This team right here is extra special, and I certainly wouldn’t have toughed it out without this family.

Website: https://www.eastersealshouston.org

Instagram: @EasterSealsHouston

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/easter-seals-greater-houston

Twitter: @eastersealshou

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/bridgingapps/sets/burden-of-duty

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EasterSealsGreaterHouston

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@eastersealshou