Easter Seals has received a $1 million software grant from Microsoft Corp. to help the Chicago-based nonprofit link its 105 affiliates and 430 program sites around the nation and provide computer-assisted services to clients.

The donation consists of 1,200 copies each of Microsoft's Windows 98 operating system and Office 97 software programs, and 1,250 client access licenses for the Microsoft Small Business Server network. This will allow Easter Seals offices to communicate and share data with each other, and help workers provide disabled children and adults with computer-aided education and training programs.

Easter Seals is a national health and human services organization that provides physical, occupational and speech-language therapies; vocational evaluation and training; children's early intervention and child care; and other services to more than a million people with disabilities.