Six-year-old Roxie did not take kindly to being mistaken for a baby. Roxie, who lives in Maryland and has cerebral palsy, was going back and forth to school in an adaptive stroller she had outgrown that was being held together by duct tape. The stroller required another person to push Roxie, and did not permit her to move on her own.

Her single mom had tried for more than two years to get insurance to pay for a proper power wheelchair for Roxie, but unfortunately, the more than $4,300 copay for the wheelchair and all of the necessary accessories were out of reach financially. This year, Roxie finally received the wheelchair she had been waiting for, thanks to help from The Eric Fund, which paid the copay for Roxie’s new power wheelchair.

Roxie now steers her own future, whether it is down the hallway at school, at home with her mom, or out in the community. Since the new wheelchair was customized for Roxie, it will accommodate her as she grows and will assure proper positioning.  “(Roxie) has a drive and strong desire to be independent,” says her mom. “She is ready to soar… (and with her new wheelchair she will) be empowered to be more independent in her daily activities.”

Chaya is a 23-year old Washington, DC woman with cerebral palsy that affects her ability to swallow and communicate verbally. The Eric Fund purchased an iPad Pro with a case and large switch to help Chaya communicate more effectively so she no longer has to rely on facial expressions alone to share her thoughts. Chaya, who is a wheelchair user, can use the switch to operate the iPad from her wheelchair and communicate with her family, friends, caregivers, and the community. Chaya’s mother and therapists tried to help Chaya secure funding for the device several times before, but insurance and other funding streams deemed the iPad, and in turn Chaya’s ability to communicate, not “medically necessary” and she was denied the device until The Eric Fund was able to provide it. Now Chaya plans to use the iPad to communicate with her family and friends and share her thoughts and ideas.

Marshall is a 21-year-old young man from Fairfax Station, VA who has a brain injury, cerebral palsy, epilepsy and hydrocephalus. Marshall has had more than 20 brain surgeries in his young life and, due his disabilities, he needed assistance communicating more effectively, performing daily tasks and activities and additional technological support as he prepares to find a job. The Eric Fund purchased an iPad Pro with a stand and adaptive applications for Marshall to help him with these activities. iBlason, a company that makes tough cases and accessories for tablets and other devices, generously donated not one but two cases, and also sent an extended battery and cables in kind when contacted by The Eric Fund so Marshall could get the most out of his new equipment. Marshall plans to use some of the adaptive applications not only to help him become more independent, but also to help him pursue his interest in cooking which he enjoys greatly.

Jonathan is a nine-year-old boy from Woodbridge, VA who loves to be outdoors riding bicycles with his family and friends. Jonathan, who has autism, developmental delays and hypotonia, had difficulty operating a bicycle on his own and would ride along with his mother and father in a sidecar or other adaptive equipment. Since Jonathan outgrew the equipment and couldn’t ride along, his family had to face the tough choice of sometimes leaving him home or not biking as a family like they used to do. The Eric Fund purchased a special adaptive bicycle with a motor for Jonathan that will grow with him. The Eric Fund was able to purchase the Duet bicycle, which normally costs $9,000, thanks to a generous discount from the manufacturer, a division of Alber USA with whom we have worked before, and Jonathan’s extended family making up the small remainder. 

This adaptive bicycle has allowed Jonathan to once again enjoy one of his favorite activities and spend quality time with his family

Max is an 11-year old boy from Warrenton, VA. He is completely blind and is very impacted by autism.

Max attends a public school where he receives both regular and dedicated classroom instruction. He has been learning Braille and making great strides. The Eric Fund provided Max with a Refreshabraille 18 and an iPad to enhance his learning. In November, his father took a class on how to use the Refreshabraille, so he can help Max use it at home in addition to school. 

Max is a talented musician and has played piano in the school talent show. Recently, Max was invited to join the 5th grade chorus. One of Max’s biggest challenges is that he has a hard time adjusting when something he enjoys ends. His mom hopes he will learn to manage this anxiety through participation in chorus.

Max also loves books, and two of his favorites are Whistle for Willie and Tacky the Penguin. In time, Max will be able to use his new technology devices to download and read independently

Joshua is a 36-year-old man who works as a mail clerk near his home in Silver Spring, MD. He has Down Syndrome and vision impairment, which makes it difficult for him to read the fine print on mail, a recurring challenge of his job sorting mail. The Eric Fund awarded Joshua a device called a Smart flux Digital CCTV Hand Magnifier that magnifies text and makes it easier for Josh to see and read. Improved vision will lead to improved comprehension, which will result in Josh being able to perform more efficiently and independently at work.

Being able to see and read better will not only help Joshua with his on-the-job skills, but also with community integration, performing the duties required of him at home, and allow him to be more social outside his home. Joshua has been using the hand magnifier at home to read and to make healthier food choices, as he can now read food labels, recipes and preparation instructions.

The device was purchased from a store not far from where Josh works. His father said that they often stopped in to “test-drive” the device while walking to or from Josh’s job but were unable to afford it. They are very grateful to The Eric Fund for awarding Josh this technology that will allow him to perform better at work and live more independently.

Heidi is a two-year-old girl who was born with a host of disabilities that include low muscle tone, visual and hearing disabilities, seizures and dysphasia. When she was younger, she was dependent on oxygen 24-hours-day. Heidi’s needs have put an emotional and financial strain on the family. Her mother was forced to quit working and stay home to take care of Heidi, so they now must rely on a single-income to cover all the additional costs that accompany taking care of a special needs child.

Heidi’s parents very much hope that she will eventually be able to attend school like her older brother. In order to help her along that path, early intervention is imperative to both her physical and cognitive development. They applied for an Eric Fund grant primarily to secure assistive technology toys and tools that will help Heidi develop the necessary skills to enter the DC Public School System at some point in the future. Additionally, playing with adaptive toys and devices enhances Heidi’s ability to interact and “play” with her brother, which improves the quality of both of their lives.

In order to maximize her potential as she grows, Heidi will require more and more consistent access to age-appropriate assistive technology. The Eric Fund is happy to get her started down that path by providing the Geiger family with a variety of adaptive toys, switches and a “sensory wall” that will benefit Heidi at this vital early stage of her development. 

Amanda Chu, an 11-year-old girl who started middle school this fall, was awarded an iPad Pro, case and keyboard from The Eric Fund to increase her independence both at school and at home.

Amanda’s mother and the people who assisted with assessing Amanda’s technology needs, feared that she was at risk for developing a “learned helplessness” and low self-esteem if she had to continue to rely on others to help her communicate and do her school work. Amanda is able to both write and type, but her spastic quadriplegia makes it difficult for her to write for long periods of time, so her preference has always been typing. She uses a computer at school and her mother’s iPad at home to do homework and FaceTime her teachers with questions. Her mother’s iPad is old, and does not have the necessary storage to accommodate both her work and Amanda’s work.

With her own iPad, Amanda will be more organized and be able to work more efficiently since she can use the same device at school and at home. The WiFi and cellular will ensure that she is covered in an emergency should she need to text or FaceTime her mother, a teacher or a friend. Lastly, and most importantly, having an iPad will – over time - increase Amanda’s ability to live a more independent and full life. 

Elliott was born with vision impairments and developmental delays that impact his capacity to interact with his family and peers.  His parents had Elliott's first speech/hearing evaluation when he was not yet two, in hopes of getting a jump on determining which adaptive devices could help him thrive in his toddler years and hit the ground running in pre-school.  It was determined Elliott engaged well with speech generating devices and cause/effect switches to explore his environment.  The Eric Fund provided colorful toys and adaptive switches to help him learn to communicate and interact with is family. 

Benjamin is a 17-year-old student who attends public school in Fairfax, Virginia. Despite a robust special needs program, the budgetary restrictions at Benjamin’s school makes access to technological devices difficult. Benjamin’s mom was thrilled to find out The Eric Fund helped fill the gaps in assistive technology funding and that the Eric Fund granted her son an iPad Air2®, a protective case, communication software and a two-year warranty for the device.

Benjamin’s mother is a single mom and has spent years working with the public school to maximize Benjamin’s potential. Benjamin has autism and has challenges communicating verbally. Upon hearing the news of the grant, she said, “I can’t believe it. Such wonderful news! There are so many things that Ben will now be able to do. The iPad will not only give him pleasure but will allow him to interact with those around him.” Benjamin’s iPad and new software will give him the means to communicate with his family, classmates and friends who will be able to follow Benjamin’s activities on the blog his parents created for him. His mom is also looking to Benjamin’s future needs when she is no longer able to support him. She feels his success will be greatly enhanced by his access and use of technology like the iPad and software Proloquo2go.

A bright 7-year-old boy from Damascus, Maryland, Nate has Asperger’s syndrome, dyslexia and ADHD. He is looking forward to an assistive technology grant from The Eric Fund to help him expand learning opportunities at school and communicate more easily with family and friends. His parents’ request to The Eric Fund for electronic aids such as an iPad, plus a special adaptive chair and desk, is an outgrowth of recommendations from his school and Children’s Hospital where he works with therapists. Nate has access to some of the equipment that assists him in learning and improving his communication skills at these locations, but needed the supports at home as well.

The school Nate attends focuses on supporting children with disabilities; however, the technology that is available to him at school and in his occupational therapy is not provided for his use away from the school or hospital environment. Because he experiences social and academic challenges, his teachers and doctors recommend that he use technology to enhance his education program and better communicate his thoughts by writing his assignments on a computer. According to Nate’s mother, the family is hopeful that The Eric Fund award of an iPad Air2® will help build his confidence and allow Nate to develop life-long strategies he will use in school and once he graduates.

The Eric Fund is pleased to provide Nate with some of the assistance he needs to help him advance as he meets the challenges of each new level of school. A 2-year warranty will accompany the iPad.

Marisa Laios is a young woman living with cerebral palsy who is determined to take part in community life as independently as possible. She uses a power wheelchair to navigate her home and community and, with the help of a care companion, is able to successfully tend to activities of daily living.

Like many people her age, Marisa loves going to the beach and enjoys it even more when she is able to sit in the sand, like her peers. However, due to her mobility limitations, Marisa often encounters many barriers when trying to access recreational and social activities that her friends and peers take for granted. Going to the beach – and transferring to the sand – is an example of one such activity that Marisa has challenges accessing, made all the more frustrating by the fact that she loves it so much.

When Marisa contacted The Eric Fund to request an adaptive beach chair that would allow her to sit upright and be supported in the sand, she had already been denied funding by a variety of different sources on the grounds that it wasn’t “medically necessary.” While perhaps it is not, the beach chair is just the sort of adaptive device that The Eric Fund loves to provide to enable Marisa to access – and fully experience – going to the beach. In turn, this will enable Marisa to more thoroughly interact with her friends and enjoy the types of experiences that are essential to a good quality of life. Bring on the sand!

Manuel Perez Medellin is a 38-year-old man who, before the onset of multiple sclerosis (MS), worked as a home remodeler. He lives with his family in College Park, Maryland. Due to his physical disabilities as a result of MS, Manuel is no longer able to work and has difficulty standing for long periods of time or walking any distance. He has been seeking treatment and physical therapy at Johns Hopkins Hospital where it was determined that the Bioness L300 Foot Drop System would be of great help to Manuel. This system will allow him to regain his freedom and independence by helping him walk with greater speed, stability and confidence. The physical therapy sessions at Johns Hopkins also included training classes on how to operate and maintain the Bioness L300 Foot Drop System, so Manuel is ready and able to make the best possible use of this medical device awarded to him by The Eric Fund. Manuel was very happy to be notified of this award and he said that it would help him immeasurably in his daily activities.

Steven Moshuris is a 10-year-old, energetic kid who lives with his family, including two siblings, in Alexandria, Virginia. He has autism and has challenges expressing himself verbally. After Steven broke the screen on the iPad his school provided, he was no longer allowed to bring it home. According to his dad, Demetrious, Steven’s communication suffered, and because his lack of communication frustrates him, he’s had a tough time with other behaviors.

The iPad2® and Proloquo2go software provided by The Eric Fund will enable Steven to communicate at a much higher level with his family. His dad told us, “The first and second order effects of that cannot be overstated. His difficult behaviors will be tempered; he will be able to articulate his wants and needs to everyone he encounters, and he will be able to communicate with his brother and sister. Steven’s quality of life is going to increase. We know from experience that breaking the communication hurdle is crucial to Steven’s development.”

Kayla Mallory is an 8-year-old girl who lives with her parents and brother in Washington, D.C. Kayla is a person with autism and complex behavioral issues. Kayla received an Eric Fund grant for multi-sensory equipment that will turn a room in her home into a multi-sensory room to provide Kayla a place to receive sensory therapy. Cheri, Kayla’s mother, was excited to learn of her daughter’s grant award from The Eric Fund. Cheri explained that one of Kayla’s primary sensory activities she enjoys is spending time on her swing outside. “Since winter time is coming, it will be so great to have this equipment in the house,” Cheri said. The equipment package includes various lights, switches, sound devices, projectors and even a bubble machine. Cheri said the equipment will help not only Kayla, but also her brother who experiences sensory challenges. “We are so excited!” Cheri said.

Enrique Oviedo is a 12 year old from Bristow, VA who has Down syndrome. Enrique has intellectual disabilities and a very limited vocabulary. Enrique has had trouble responding to the available communication devices available at his school and has been mostly sedentary at home and shown little interest in academic activity. With the help of a therapist, Enrique has been introduced and learned to use an iPad. 

Kujuan Grimes is a senior student at St. Coletta Special Education Public Charter School. He is 21-years-old and will be graduating from the school’s vocation-based program next year. The Eric Fund is providing him with an iPod Touch that has a speaking feature to assist him with communicating to his peers, teachers and potential new employers after graduation.

Brian Tran, a 10-year-old from Fredericksburg, VA, has autism that results in speech delay and difficulty integrating with his environment. Brian attends a school that specializes in teaching kids with severe autism where his mother Christine has witnessed the profound effect that technology can have on kids like her son. Currently, Brian primarily echoes words he hears others say and only speaks about 4 words on his own.

Twenty six year-old Vincent of Woodbridge, VA had a life changing moment at his most recent assistive technology evaluation last winter when he was given an opportunity to use an iPad. Vincent, who has autism, intellectual disabilities and apraxia of speech, is difficult to understand when he speaks. “Vincent is a very loving and happy young man,” says his mom Theresa, “but he becomes frustrated and upset when people can’t understand him.”Theresa went on to describe his reaction to test driving the iPad at his last AT evaluation. “He was able to clearly express his feelings and was so very happy to be able to communicate with me and the instructor.” Vincent works 5 days a week at a workshop, but is very motivated to become more independent. Now that he can communicate his thoughts and feelings, we are certain that he is on his way!

The Eric Fund was pleased to help 21 year-old Brittany Lea Landers of Stafford, VA with the purchase of a Dragon Naturally Speaking 11 and a wireless headset. Brittany, who has quadriplegia, will use the device to help her with her college work. The device works by converting the spoken word into typed print. “It will help me type [web addresses] so I can use the internet,” Brittany said. “And it will help write my college English papers so I can get an English degree and become a teacher.” With a little help from the Eric Fund, we know that Brittany will achieve this goal of living a more independent life.