Easter Seals West Central Alabama Rehabilitation Center

Front of the main building from Citizen’s Parkway

About Us

Easter Seals West Central Alabama Rehabilitation Center had it’s beginnings in 1957 as an Alaworks program in downtown Selma.  With the support of the Selma Civitan Club, the Dallas County Chapter of the Alabama Society for Crippled Children and Adults (to become better known in later years as Easter Seals) worked to combine resources from several local contributors and the Selma Rehabilitation Facility was founded in 1957.  Operating from a facility located off Jeff Davis Avenue, vocational assessment and adjustment were the primary services.  The facility also offered training in woodworking, upholstery, sewing and small engine repair.  A second floor addition to the building was completed in 1961.

In 1970, a fire destroyed the 2nd floor of the building and heavily damaged the first floor.  While the repairs enabled the programs to re-occupy the bottom floor, structural damage prohibited rebuilding the second floor.  It was quickly recognized that a new facility was necessary in order to return to full service delivery capability.  After the board of directors found a suitable parcel of property, the Selma Civitan Club again stepped to the forefront and assisted the Dallas County Chapter of Easter Seals and the Selma Rehabilitation Center in a month long capital fund drive.  During the month of February 1972, this fund drive succeeded in raising enough money to purchase the property and also provide sufficient match money to secure grant funding to construct a brand new facility.  The new facility was completed and occupied in 1974.  Construction then began on a 5000 sq ft workshop adjacent to the man building.   During this period, the Selma Rehabilitation Center  also was re-christened as the West Central Alabama Rehabilitation Center.

In 1984, Administrator Larry F. Lewis was involved with a  local committee in planning and developing education and rehabilitation services for children from birth until age 6.  In response to a nationwide mandate on providing these services, Early Intervention services were initiated under the direction of the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services and Cahaba Mental Health and Mental Retardation.  Early Intervention would cover from birth to age 3.  The Special Preschool Education Center was started at the Rehabilitation Center to serve children between the ages of 3 and 6.  Working in partnership with the Dallas County Schools, Selma City Schools, and HeadStart (administered through the Dallas County Community Action Agency), the Special Preschool works with children having any disabling condition.  Now in it’s 24th year of operation, the Special Preschool provides these services at no cost to the parents of the children served if they are referred through the school systems.

The board of directors of Easter Seals West Central Alabama Rehabilitation Center are all volunteers representing various sectors of the communities served by the Center. 

We are proud to be an affiliate of, and supporters of, the United Way of Selma and Dallas County.  Our staff has a long history of having 100% participation in the annual United Way fund drives, and the majority are Fair Share donors.

The Center’s adult vocational programs are accredited by The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF).  We have maintained continuous accreditation for over 33 years.