The Centers for Disease Control estimates that nearly 1 in 45 U.S. children has some form of autism. Services and support for these children and their families can have a very positive impact for both. Here is a list of where you may be able to find assistance. 1. www.autismspeaks.org -One of the leading autism science and advocacy organizations. Autism Speaks provides a comprehensive resource …
How Technology Can Help Children Find Their Voice and Share It
The Orange Effect Foundation—created by Content Marketing Institute co-founders Joe Pulizzi and Pam Kozelka—supports children and young adults with speech disorders. While many people are familiar with speech therapy and education, assistive technologies play a big role in helping children overcome their limitations. As program manager Maureen Stanton explains, “Speech-generating technology can …
Discussing Your Child’s Autism With a New Teacher
Parents of children with Autism face special challenges as Autism comes in many forms and no two cases are alike. Many children who have high-functioning Autism are able to attend regular schools, but often times a new school year means that parents need to explain their child's Autism to a new teacher. Doctor Thomas Frazier of The Cleveland Clinic says that it's critical for parents and …
Orange Effect Golf for Autism 2017
Life: An Unpredictable Journey
The following is a guest post from 15-year-old Joshua Pulizzi. Joshua is the son of co-founders Pam and Joe, and the inspiration behind the Orange Effect Foundation. At age two, Joshua was diagnosed with Autism. For a high school writing assignment, Joshua wrote a self-comparison to the character, Odysseus, from The Odyssey. We think his response provides insight into how some of his thinking …
At Airports, Making Travel Easier for Autistic Passengers
For Gearoid Mannion and his wife, Michelle, who live in County Clare, Ireland, air travel with their two autistic sons, Conor, 9, and Darragh, 7, is usually nothing short of a nightmare. The noise level, crowds and announcements at airports overwhelm the boys, and waiting in security and boarding lines is a concept that they don’t understand, Mr. Mannion said. “They get red in the face and start …
A Simple List to Help Parents of Children with Special Needs Find Calm
I have an adult son with special needs and it’s sometimes a struggle to organize our complicated lives and communicate needs and concerns to the many people involved in my son’s care. That’s when I use lists — best-of lists, top 10 lists, checklists in many forms. It calms me to have something that I can keep and share. They are powerful tools for organizing and motivating and teaching. I spend …
A Loss For Words
Our son Micah was two years old when we learned he was profoundly deaf. I remember him wading in the Florida Gulf waters up to his chest, and it suddenly occurred to me that he didn’t know his name. In his fist, he held a handful of pebbles, and he launched the rocks in flight. I watched as the pebbles glistened, tiny sparks of light, and realized if I called his name, if I screamed, the word …
Walk In Her Shoes
A simple trip to the grocery store with a mom and her child who has autism. Walk in her shoes for just a moment. Have you seen her? Is this you? Tell us about your experiences in the comments section below. Source: TODAY Parents …
Orange Effect Foundation Awards Grants to Help 11 Children
The Orange Effect Foundation board is excited to once again award more than $20,000 in grants to children in need during their June board meeting. Now 11 more children across the country will have access to speech therapy, summer speech camp, or even special speech-generating devices that help them communicate like never before. Several of the recipients have been diagnosed with Childhood …
Animating Owen
Pulitzer prize-winning journalist and author Ron Suskind wrote about his son's fascination with Disney movies in his book, Life, Animated. Suskind describes how he used dialogue from these classic movies, particularly the Disney sidekicks, to communicate and ultimately reconnect with his autistic son. That story appeared in the New York Times Magazine in 2014. You can read it here: Reaching My …
Happy Birthday, Pam!
Today is Pam Kozelka's birthday, and we all know that Pam, our executive director, will say "no gifts, no gifts!" So instead, we'd love for you to help us celebrate Pam by supporting our foundation. Here are two ways you could help: 1. Donate! No donation is too small. Please click on the blue button above, or visit our website at www.theorangeeffect.org/supporters/ 2. Help us with raffle …
