For nearly 100 years, Easterseals has been working to better the lives and experiences of people with disabilities through many avenues. In Nebraska, Easterseals has played an integral role in helping individuals with disabilities live a fulfilling life through programs like Camp, Alternative Financing Solutions, AgrAbility, and Benefits Planning.
One such program is Ticket to Work, a free employment service program developed by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to offer assistance to individuals to achieve greater independence and self-sufficiency through employment. This program has not only impacted many Nebraskans, but individuals nationwide – equipping them with the knowledge and tools to earn more money, keep their benefits, and have a positive work experience – leading to a better quality of life.
Another such organization is SPINALpedia, a Maryland based organization that serves the needs of individuals and families who have been impacted or affected by a spinal cord injury all over the world. SPINALpedia was founded by Joshua Basile, who has unfortunately experienced the difficulties that come with living with a disability. Josh suffered a severe spinal cord injury at the age of 18 and has since become a fierce advocate for individuals living and working with disabilities.
In a very midwestern small world situation, Heather Miller (a previous Easterseals Nebraska employee) now works as a benefits counselor for SPINALpedia. It was then in August of 2024 that Heather reached out to her former supervisor and dear friend, Vice President of Easterseals Nebraska Angie Howell, to discuss the possibility of a partnership in the Ticket to Work Program.
With the introduction from Heather, Angie Howell and Josh Basile very quickly realized how similar their goals were, and it didn't take long before a formal agreement was in place. Helping people with disabilities achieve self-sufficiency through employment is something that requires expertise in multiple areas. With Easterseals Nebraska’s experience with the administrative tasks and SPINALpedia’s expertise with employment services and clientele access, they are able to serve an even greater population with an even greater experience. As of January 31, the partnership has assigned over 40 tickets to the program and continues to grow daily.
This partnership allows both SPINALpedia and Easterseals Nebraska to continue serving people, but in an even more effective way. SPINALpedia provides the employment services and benefits planning to individuals, and Easterseals Nebraska handles the administrative tasks of payment filing and paperwork.
Along with changing lives through SPINALpedia, Josh continues to improve the lives of those living with disabilities through other ventures. His foundation, Determined2Heal, helps to simplify the transition to living with paralysis, providing information and advice for individuals and families experiencing this life change. The foundation created and now manages the Fuel Service App, which helps disabled drivers find locations and assistance when refueling their vehicle. Josh also created AdapTee Golf, allowing those with disabilities to continue to enjoy the game of golf through teamwork and adaptive devices.
Josh lives in the DC area with his fiancé Katie and their two children, Calder and Faeble, where he is currently a trial attorney at Jack H. Olender & Associates located in Washington DC, fighting on behalf of the catastrophically injured. He has been featured on Alexa commercials during the Super Bowl demonstrating the power of voice controls with daily living. Heather currently lives in Geneva with her son, Jaxon.
Learn more about SPINALpedia, Determined2Heal, and AdapTee Golf.
