Albany Herald

Jimmy Hasty, left, and Ty West were selected Tuesday as the 2013 ambassadors for Easter Seals of Southern Georgia. In their new roles, the adult and child ambassadors will appear at various Easter Seals events and services.

ALBANY, Ga. -- Easter Seals of Southern Georgia has selected two new ambassadors to represent the organization's services, Executive Director Beth English said Tuesday.

As in years past, the organization chose one adult and one child as ambassadors for the coming twelve-month period.

Jimmy Hasty, adult ambassador for 2013, has an intellectual disability and has been employed with the vocational program of Easter Seals for four years, said Amy Martin, Vocational Director, Easter Seals of Southern Georgia.

"We are so proud of all the work Jimmy has done at Easter Seals," Martin said. "He has such a great attitude about helping employees and other clients. They really look up to him."

Ty Christian West, six-year-old son of Ann and Ken West, is the new child ambassador. Ty West was born with neuromuscular scoliosis Down syndrome and autism. When he was 16 months old, he received ground-breaking surgery to allow him to walk. According to Easter Seals, that Ty West remains a happy, active child with a positive outlook in the face of his many challenges made him a good choice to be child ambassador.

"This is very special to us," said Ann West. "Whenever you have a child with special needs you need resources. You need answers. Easter Seals was there when he was born and they've been there his entire life."

English said the ambassador program began "many years ago" with the idea of putting a human face on Easter Seal services.

"A lot of the services we provide are actually in the community, so there's not a place to see much of what we do," English said. "Having a person who represents one of the services we provide makes it easier for people to understand."