November 20, 2006
Cerebral Palsy: Financial Grants for Equipment
Disabled Children’s Relief Fund (www.dcrf.com), a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, provides disabled children with assistance to obtain wheelchairs, orthopedic braces, walkers, lifts, hearing aids, eyeglasses, medical equipment, physical therapy, and surgery. Blind, Deaf, Amputees, and children with Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, Spastic Quadriplegia, Encephalitis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Spina Bifida, Down Syndrome, and other disabilities receive assistance. DCRF focuses special attention on helping children throughout the U.S. that do not have adequate health insurance, especially the physically challenged. In some cases, DCRF may be the last resort
You can apply once a year, maximum grant is $200. I know that they will help cover cost of brachiation ladders.
Children’s Charity Fund, Inc. provides grants for medical equipment such as incline floors, overheard ladders, etc. You can apply once a year, maximum grant is $500.
November 18, 2006
Girl Scouts Work to Help Those with Disabilities “Belong”
I came across this neat site, a blog that offers stories of “belonging being nurtured.” The goal of the blog is to foster a sense of belonging to people who feel isolated by disabilities. The blog, The Belonging Initiative, looks for submissions and stories about people who have done something to encourage inclusivity of people with disabilities.
For example, a series of stories about girl scouts. One story that struck me was the one about 5 Girl Scouts who got together, they all live with cerebral palsy, and met with a physical therapist and invented some adaptive tools. What did they work on? An adaptive tool to put on mascara, another came up with tools to use one hand to apply nail polish and another girl came up with a key assist, so she could use a key on her own.
For more stories visit:
http://www.plan.ca/belong/2006/11/in-girl-scouts-abilities-vary-and.html
Do you have story about helping some one feel like they “belong?” Please post in the comments section and share with our readers. Read more inspirational stories about cerebral palsy.
November 16, 2006
Junior Overcomes Cerebral Palsy To Play Game He Loves
Joseph Avila, a junior in Arkansas plays football for the varsity team, despite being afflicted with cerebral palsy.
From Arkansas’s The Daily News:
ROGERS — There is no question that quarterback Cody Kirby makes Rogers go.
After all, Kirby has thrown for 2,938 yards and 30 touchdowns while rushing for 590 yards and 15 more touchdowns. Coaches and players alike say Kirby’s work ethic, love of the game and heart are second to none.
However, Kirby begs to differ about his impact and instead points to a player unknown to most Mounties fans as the true inspirational leader for Rogers.
Meet Joseph Avila.
You probably won’t hear Avila’s name called Friday night when the Mountaineers (11-0) entertain fellow 7A-West Conference member Fayetteville in a Class 7A semifinal playoff game in Gates Stadium. You also won’t find Avila’s name listed on the Mounties defensive stat sheet.
Avila, a 5-foot-9, 188-pound junior, doesn’t get much playing time with the varsity, but just being in uniform is a major accomplishment for the defensive lineman.
“If everybody had half the heart of Joseph and what he has gone through, we wouldn’t be touched,” Rogers trainer David Roller said.
Avila has Cerebral Palsy, and though it is a mild form of the disease, it still affects his running and his lateral movement, two key elements of football.
Read the full story, or read more inspirational stories about cerebral palsy.
October 12, 2006
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Bliven Family
The hugely popular Extreme Makeover: Home Edition comes to North Dakota to help the Bliven Family. The show airs Sunday October 15 8pm EST.
Bill and Michelle Bliven have a son with cerebral palsy, Aaron Bliven. When their son’s baseball team told him that he was too much of a health risk to have on the local team. Michelle took this as an opportunity to start her own little league team , Dream Catchers, a baseball league for special needs kids.
Aaron, now 14 has moved up to a larger wheelchair and it no longer fits in the 20 year old home, and the family has resorted to carrying Aaron to each room of the house. His dad, Bill suffered 2 heart attacks and can no longer carry his son which leaves only his mom, Michelle.
Extreme Makeover steps in to totally redesign the family home to accommodate Aaron’s special needs. Read more inspirational stories about cerebral palsy.
