Updated Sept. 8, 2007

Helping Mobile Area Severely Disabled Project 2006

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This will be our fourth project year! Because of the generosity of ten Alabama foundations in the year 2005, we were able to help over 100 families with services and equipment that are not available from ADRS, Medicaid, or other agencies. Funding for medical equipment was recently cut for Children's Rehabilitation Services, a State agency. Mothers and fathers are constantly injuring their backs by lifting their child in and out of bed, the car, or the bathtub.
The animation above shows a mother loading her child and the wheelchair. This is repeated several times a day, especially if the parents transport their child to and from school.Click here to see grandparents loading their granddaughter and three solutions. The little boy on the right is operating a computer using two switches.

The school systems are unable to provide essential adaptive equipment to many of our disabled students. Last year we purchased educational-related assistive technology for 25 students of Mobile & Baldwin County, helped over 22 families with ramps and home accessibility, assisted in repair of 3 vans used to transport a person in a wheelchair, and many more.

The goal of the project, each year, is to increase the quality of life for about 200 of our most needy citizens by increased independence, lessened number of injuries, better home safety, and raise their educational and vocational potential. This project will assist low-income, quadriplegic, deaf, blind, and other severely disabled citizens by fully or partially funding the following:

• Building or funding materials for wheelchair ramps
• Computers and the necessary adaptations and training (screen reading software for the blind, voice or switch input for quadriplegics, educational oftware for special needs, and large monitors for low vision)
• Blind, deaf, and low vision equipment (large displays, text enlargement, Braille devices, personal FM loops, TTYs)

• Van repairs (that are used to transport a wheelchair) and modifications (hand controls, wheelchair lifts and restraint systems, raised roofs, and automatic door openers)
• Home modifications (door widening, roll-in showers, and grab bars)
• Switch-activated phones
• Wheelchairs, parts and repairs (arm rests, upholstery, tires, batteries,and electronics)
• Door openers with intercoms (increased home safety)
• Aids to daily living (ceiling mounted lifts, walkers, intercoms, bath bench, braces, vestibular swings, and special utensils)
• Other devices, or modifications of equipment or environment that will enhance the quality of life of a technology-dependent disabled citizen

Funds received as of January 2006 --- $65,000

Our Sincere Thanks to:

Infirmary Foundation, Mobile, AL

Helen Glaze Foundation, Mobile, AL

Daniel Foundation, Birmingham, AL

Crampton Trust, Mobile, AL

Caring Foundation, Birmingham, AL

The Alabama Civil Justice Foundation, Montgomery, AL
Click Here to see Press Release


This year we expect to help over 200 citizens. Below is a breakdown of targeted disabilities:


• Spinal Cord Injury - 50
• Brain Injury - 20
• Spina Bifida - 5
• ALS - 3
• Cerebral Palsy - 80
• Multiple Sclerosis - 5
• Muscular Dystrophy - 5
• Blind/Low Vision - 15
• Deaf - 15
• Blind and Deaf - 2

Total number of people helped in calendar year 2003: 130

Total number of people helped in calendar year 2004: 200

Total number of people helped in calender year 2005: 62 (20 promised)

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Some Project Photos

The Team provided this young girl with a Terrier Triad tricycle.












The Children's Rehab. Engineering Team provided this young student with a notebook computer. Her disability, JRA, makes it hard for her to use a pen or pencil.













We purchased a notebook computer and software for this young student. Her disabilty makes it almost impossible to use a pen or pencil.



















We purchased adaptive equipment for this little girl.











We purchased a notebook computer and software for this college student.

















We purchased this young boy a Terrier Trike. This trike will allow him to get exercise for his legs, and provide great recreation.














We helped this young quadriplegic girl's family modify their home and adapt her wheelchair to use an EZLock wheelchair tiedown system. The picture on the right is Hayley trying out a remote control with her mouth stick.










This little boy, shown with the school nurse, was provided a notebook computer. This will allow him to construct sentences. He will use IntelliTools Classroom Suite and MathPad as starters.













We purchased this young boy a notebook computer. This will allow him to finish his writing assignments more quickly. JJ is shown with his vision teacher and CRET Team member, Katherine Hastings.














We purchased this young boy two switch mounts, two switches and a CheapTalk communication device.












We purchased the materials for this family to modify their home to make it more wheelchair accessible.













We purchased a wheelchair carrier for this young lady.














We purchased a special car seat for this baby.













We helped this lady make her shower wheelchair accessible.












We helped purchase a lift mechanism for this man's power wheelchair.



















We helped purchased a van lift for this quadriplegic man.













We purchased the material for these volunteers to build this ramp and deck.
























We helped purchased this young girl a wheelchair lift for her van. This lift will eliminate any lifting by the grandparents.












We purchased this student a notebook computer. The notebook will be used with specialized software to enhance her education. The Team's Rehab. Engineer and Low Vision Teacher posing.



















We purchased this student a desktop computer and a Roller Mouse. Because of his anthrogyopsis he is unble to use his hands. The Roller Mouse and computer will allow him to begin writing sentences as well as all the other benefits of a computer.





















This little girl was provided a touch monitor, IntelliTalk III and Overlay Maker by IntelliTools, and other computer access equipment.













We purchased this student a notebook computer. Because of her cerebral palsy, the computer is her only way to write as well as all the other benefits of a computer.












We helped this quadriplegic's family modify their home to make it more wheelchair accessible.












We purchased this woman a computer. Because of her traumatic brain injury, the computer is her only way to write as well as all the other benefits of a computer.











We helped the family purchase a BowFlex exercise machine for this paraplegic teen.










This young boy shown with his mom and physical therapist was provided a Terrier trike.










This student and her teacher are trying a 2-level communication device. Now she can speak up to 16 phrases by just pushing a button. Robert's shown reading the instructions.













We provided an amplified phone, strobe light fire alarm and door bell to this hearing impaired woman.

















We helped this blind student get upgrades and warranties for her PacMate Braille display note taker. The photo on the left shows her using a Perkins Brailler before she got her PacMate. On the right is her with PacMate.













This girl, shown with her teacher, was provided a Big Mac switch and interface to access her classroom computer. She is also able to operate electrical appliances using her switch and an AbleNet Appliance Module.










This teacher's aid and mother is deaf. CRET provided a SideKick II so that she can send and recieve unlimited text messaging and email for a set rate per month.










Brother and sister with mom using switch-activated toys provided by the Children's Rehabilitation Engineering Team. Their teacher took these photos during a home visit.














This student with low vision was provided a computer system with a large monitor.


















This mother and child were provided a ramp for their van to eliminate the need to lift the child and his wheelchair into their van.












This young man was provided a bath seat to allow his caregivers to bathe him while standing.


























This man was provided a lift-seat.













This quadriplegic was provided a shower chair.













This woman was provided a ramp with a deck.













This man was provided a notebook computer and printer.













The CRET paid for a heating unit for this quadriplegic.

This young man was provided a stroller. Now he can travel with his family without loading and unloading a heavy wheelchair.

This man was provided modifications to his bathroom and shower.













This man was provided a wheelchair.









This boy was provided modifications to his bathroom and shower.

















This little girl was provided a generator. This can be used during power outages for suctioning.

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