Updated Oct. 6, 2007

Helping Mobile Area Severely Disabled Project 2007

Helping 08 page

This will be our fifth project year! Because of the generosity of Alabama foundations in the year 2006, we were able to help over 190 families with services and equipment that are not available from ADRS, Medicaid, or other agencies. Mothers and fathers are constantly injuring their backs by lifting their child in and out of bed, the car, or the bathtub.

The animation on the right 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 school systems are unable to provide essential adaptive equipment to many of our disabled students. Last year we purchased educational-related assistive technology for 62 students of Mobile & Baldwin County, helped over 34 families with ramps and home accessibility, assisted in repair of 16 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 February 2007 --- $32,500

Our Sincere Thanks to:

The Mobile Infirmary Foundation, See their brochure

Hearin-Chandler Foundation, Mobile, AL

A. S. Mitchell Foundation, Mobile, AL

Daniel Foundation of Alabama, Birmingham, AL

The Crampton Trust, 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 calendar year 2005: 220

Total number of people helped in calendar year 2006: 190

Some project photos

The Team was able to help this family by installing new doors. The old doors were in such disrepair that this young boy couldn't get outside. He was even missing school.














The Team was able to help this family by purchasing the materials needed to build a wheelchair ramp.














The Team was able to help this family by purchasing a wheelchair carrier for their car.














The Team was able to help this family by partially funding the purchase of a home generator.














The Team was able to help this family by purchasing a wheelchair carrier from Team Adaptive located in Mobile, Alabama.


















The Team was able to help this family by purchasing a Cheap Talk communication device from Enabling Devices, a Jelly Bean Switch and a Universal Switch Mount, a switch interface from AbleNet for using switch training software from R. J. Cooper.
















The Children's Team provided funding to buy the materials for these M-Fuge volunteers to build these two ramps for two families.



































The Team was able to purchase a Terrier trike for this little boy using funds from the Hearin-Chandler and Mobile Infirmary Foundations. The trike has trunk support and foot restraints.

















The Team was able to help this family by partially funding bathroom modifications to make it more accessible.
















The above photos are during our clinic evaluation. Using funds from the Hearin-Chandler Foundation, we purchases switches, switch-toys, two communication devices, and an appliance control module. Now this little girl can communicate, turn lights on or off and activate other things using a single switch.

The photos below show her using the Cheap Talk communication device from Enabling Devices.
































We purchased this girl a computer with a specialized keyTeam and Classroom Suite software by IntelliTools, Inc. Her teacher will be working with her at school and at home.

















The Team was able to purchase this little boy a universal switch mount and a jellybean switch. Because of cerebral palsy he is unable to use his hands effectively. On the left he is trying his head switch to activate a battery operated toy. On the right is Seth just having fun at school.















The Team provided this man with a notebook computer. Even after a traumatic brain injury, this young man plans to start college at Pensacola Junior College. This notebook computer will help him overcome many of his limitations.














This child was provided a 26-inch monitor to accommodate her low vision.

















We helped this young lady purchase a wheelchair lift for her van.





















The Children's Team provided a computer and specialized software for this 1st grader. The program strongly emphasizes handwriting and spelling via intensive use of multisensory techniques and computer handwriting recognition. See some input from his teacher.















The Children's Team provided a Cheap Talk communication device for this little boy. He is shown with his sister and Murray Wiggles. About 2 years ago Ethan, at 2 years old, was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia. Over the past two years he has really been fighting for his life. During this fight he has lost the ability to speak and walk. The Children's Rehab. Engineering Team with the generous funding of local foundations, purchased Ethan a communication device called Cheap Talk. Read this web entry from his mom.

"One thing he has done great with this week and I'm going to make a video and put on his links... is we have made him use his communication device to tell us when he wants to eat and wants more and is all done. He is doing great. The communicator starts out at one square and goes all the way up to 16. Each square they push and it says something out loud. He has mastered the 1 square page, and now has been working on the 2 square page, but I think he is ready for the 4 square page. We program each square to say what we want it to. The one we use most is the more/all done page. I am going to start him on the four square page today I think so we will see how he does." Read the latest update now by using this link

















This child was provided a Saucer Dome Switch and a support swing and frame.






























The Team was able to help purchase a shower chair and an E-Stim machine for this young lady.















The Children's Team provided a Triaid Terrier Trike for this little boy. He is shown with his physical therapist, mom and little sister during therapy. The PT is using the trike as part of his intensive therapy. She reports a gain in leg strength. What a great way to exercise.





































The team purchased this man a Dell computer with a 19-inch monitor.















We purchased a computer with a large monitor for this middle school student. Because of her low vision, the large monitor with ZoomText software will greatly enhance her education and quality of life.















We helped this man have a ramp installed at his home.













The Children's Team provided a notebook computer for this high school senior. Because of his JRA (Junior Rheumatoid Arthritis) his fingers and wrists become painful using a pen or pencil.

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