I am not sure if I emphasized it enough, but in my last blog post on Thankfulness, I talked about our Program Manager position and how the two people who have filled that role since our inception in 2015 have been vital to our success. Maureen moved on to a full time position where she is continuing to “save the world”, and Krissy is going to continue pursuing her passion helping others plan …
The Gift of Time
When I was in college for social work, which feels like forever ago, I had to do volunteer work and internships. I volunteered at a nursing home and my favorite person I visited with was a woman who really taught me what my career was all about. I was supposed to learn about all her wants and needs and make sure that she had the support necessary from her family. But, as we got to know each other …
Remembering To Say Thank You
I’m actually not a big fan of thank you posts like this. Inevitably, you forget someone. So if you’re that someone, please know that I didn’t forget you on purpose, your thanks may just come later. Why a thank you post you might ask? There are several reasons. The first being that I just don’t think you can say thank you enough. And the second being that when you’re truly grateful you want to …
Finding Resources: How Community and Books Can Help
Have you ever been in a situation where knowing that someone else went through the same thing just helps to make you feel better? For me, who tends to avoid social media, I found parent groups really helpful when I was getting ready to send my kids off to college. I could learn from other parents everything from what would be most helpful for my student to have a successful first year, as well …
What is the Difference between Communication and Speech?
Raising a child is one of the most fulfilling experiences some people feel they have in their lives. Whether it is teaching them to carry on the traditions of generations past, helping them become changemakers for the future, or encouraging them to appreciate every single day, there are so many aspects to parenting. As many of you know, it goes by in a blink. Teaching Through Actions There …
Inclusivity Can Mean So Many Things
Recently, my oldest graduated from college. An exciting time for anyone, but for our family, it was a true milestone that many had told us 20 years ago might not happen. Why not, you ask? Well, we didn’t know then many of the things we know now. For example, the basis for the Orange Effect Foundation is to get early intervention for as many children as possible because we have learned that early …
Autism Awareness and Acceptance
Back In My Day…. According to my Gen Z son, ‘back in my day’ is an expression most proclaimed by the Boomer generation when they are sharing stories about walking back and forth to school, uphill both ways in the ice and snow. I use the expression a lot myself as I go about declaring Gen X the best. We had the good life before the internet and social media. Ha ha. But just today I …
Welcome to Our New Board Members
Welcome New Board Members! I was startled when I realized that Orange Effect Foundation entered its 10th year of operations when the calendar turned to 2024. This realization followed our December board meeting where one of our founding members, Cathy McPhillips, shared that she would be resigning from the board. What would our next steps be, I wondered. Cathy, like all our board members, …
Technology and Speech Therapy
In my “other” life, apart from Orange Effect Foundation, I live in the marketing world. It all began with large brands and corporations who were striving to claim the top spots in a google search or learn how to utilize keywords and search to demonstrate how they were the best of the best. That eventually evolved into assisting what I call solo-preneurs or entrepreneurs in finding their niche in …
The Emotional Journey Behind Every Check Written by the Orange Effect Foundation
The very first check I wrote, I cried. The act of writing a check can hold more weight than the mere transfer of funds. It can symbolize hope, progress, and the tangible impact of collective efforts. During the inaugural meeting of the Orange Effect Foundation, held in a meeting room of a local coffee shop, six of us gathered with a shared mission: to make a difference in the …
Trends for Speech Therapy Careers
Like many industries, I am hearing more and more that service providers are having a hard time hiring enough speech therapists to keep up with the demand for services. As you may know, as many as 1 in 8 children will require some form of speech therapy during their upbringing. This got me researching the growing need for experienced professionals in the field of speech. I went to ASHA, …
Being Resolute
I love making resolutions. For me, it’s permission to keep trying. Whether that is trying something new by setting a new goal or revising a previously set to-do item. For me, resolutions don’t have to be all about doing something better; it can be just getting something done. My birthday is about halfway through the year, which for a resolution maker like myself is pretty handy. I find myself …
