Our very own Mike Balzano was interviewed recently by Spectrum News about The Orange Effect Foundation and our unique 100 Holes of Golf Marathon. Mike explains that our mission is "...very simple and direct. The children who get the speech therapy help when they're kids have better confidence, grow, and have a better chance of having a great adult life." Because of his tremendous efforts, the …
Speaking His Mind Without Using His Voice
National Public Radio (NPR) calls them 'driveway moments' and I can personally attest that they're real. Driveway moments stay with you and are often so good you want to talk about them and share them with others. If you're not familiar with the term, driveway moments are stories so compelling that you can't possibly turn off your car radio and get out of your car even though you've arrived home. …
Creative Fundraising in 2020 Helps Fund Orange Effect Foundation Grant Recipients
CLEVELAND - March 22, 2021 - PRLog -- 2020 challenged us all. Faced with an unexpected economic constriction, the Orange Effect Foundation took the opportunity to try something new. By adding two new fundraisers, the 100 Holes of Golf Marathon and Silence For Speech Therapy, this grant making organization was able once again to meet the needs of children with speech …
Orange Effect Foundation Reaches Milestone 5,000 Hours of Speech Therapy Grants
CLEVELAND - Dec. 16, 2020 - PRLog -- It is fitting that in addition to celebrating the fifth consecutive year of awarding grants for speech therapy and speech devices, the Orange Effect Foundation celebrates another exciting milestone. The Orange Effect Foundation has now funded 5,000 hours of speech therapy for children throughout the United States who otherwise would be …
Speech Therapy for Those Who Speak English as a Second Language
Languages across the world have unique phonemic systems. For individuals learning English as a second language, it is common for the phonemic system of their first language to influence the production of sounds in English. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) has excellent resources for working with speech language clients for whom English is not their first language. ASHA …
Orange Effect Foundation Grants Thirty Thousand Dollars for Speech Therapy
CLEVELAND - Sept. 23, 2020 - PRLog -- The Orange Effect Foundation is proud to announce that in September, the board of directors awarded $30,000 to needy children to fund speech therapy and speech devices. In the United States, one in nine children needs speech therapy. Unfortunately, many go without because their families simply cannot afford to pay. As board member …
6 Ways to Support Kids’ Mental Health Right Now
I am a big fan of Common Sense Media. I have always found it to be an incredibly useful tool when deciding which family movie to choose. Truth be told, I also use it to read the synopsis of a film I'm too much of a wimp to actually watch. (One word: It.) Commonsense Media is wonderful at providing realistic reviews of movies and other media. Though my kids my groan when they see me researching …
Scenes From a Quarantine
So much has changed in just a few short weeks. I now share an office with a sixth grader. We work well together but tensions run higher when my other coworkers, two ravenous high schoolers, stop by our water cooler. A home gym has sprung up in my basement. Grocery shopping feels like an episode of Mission Impossible. I buy food in bulk and food is consumed in bulk. Speed puzzle races are …
Scientists Discover Clue to Autism
Scientists have discovered a significant clue as to how autism spectrum disorder affects the brain. This was an unexpected and exciting discovery for researchers who had been studying brain cells for another purpose. The findings, reported in the February 2020 issue of the journal, Nature Neuroscience, offer new insight into possible treatment. This latest research identified abnormalities in …
Early Treatment for Autism Is Critical, New Report Says
Citing 12 years of research and clinical study, the American Academy of Pediatrics as issued a new clinical report on autism that urges early identification and referral for treatment, even if a formal diagnosis has not been confirmed. Although the average age of diagnosis is age four, the new goal is to obtain a diagnosis by age two. In addition, diagnostic categories such as Asperger's syndrome …
“Apraxia…What is that?”
Childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) is a challenging and complicated neurological speech disorder which makes speaking difficult. Generally, kids who are diagnosed with CAS have an understanding of language and what they want to say; however, they have difficulty carrying out the complex sequenced movements that are necessary to create intelligible speech. This creates the challenge to accurately …
Meet Expressable, An Affordable Alternative for Speech Therapy
Everyone deserves access to amazing speech therapy. Unfortunately, between insurance coverage denials, ridiculously high out-of-pocket costs for non-covered services, and access issues for rural residents, too many families go without the care they need. At the Orange Effect Foundation (OEF), we’re dedicated to providing grants to children who desperately need consistent speech therapy …
