For many people, an out-of-town trip can be refreshing and invigorating. Experiencing a new place together as a family offers the chance to make lasting memories outside your normal routine. But for individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), traveling brings a host of unique challenges. New sights and sounds paired with the disruption of their usual daily routine can make it difficult to …
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A Golf Social Story
The Orange Effect Foundation just completed their 15th Annual Golf for Autism outing. It was a huge success and one of their two big golf fundraising events that provide funding for children who need speech therapy. I am not a golfer but volunteered to help out for this event – you know, selling raffle tickets, taking pictures, and of course, serving beer – things I know very well how to …
Is it Ever Too Late For Speech Therapy?
This post originally published on the OEF blog on October 4, 2018. Due to its usefulness we are reposting it here for you. Continuing in our series of blog posts answering some of the frequently asked questions that we get here at The Orange Effect Foundation, we have reached out to our experts to find out if you are ever too old to start speech therapy. We started the series last month by …
Four Reasons to Use the 4 Square Writing Approach in Speech Therapy
Speech therapy is such a broad field that it needs to be based on reliable methods combined with creativity. Children struggling with speech delays or any kind of communication issues need their parents and teachers to use innovative methods to help them overcome these issues. This is why speech therapy experts and teachers should always strive to try out new approaches to conducting speech …
Growing Up Without Technology
I’m a Gen Xer. Darn proud of it too. I am one of those who feel that we had the best childhood growing up. I’ll save that tirade for another post though. What I do appreciate, is that there wasn’t any social media when I was growing up. I was reminded of this yesterday, when I got to see a major league baseball game. It was my first time back in a really large crowd since the pandemic hit …
Target Practice
My daughter has come such a long way since first being diagnosed with a speech disorder at age two. She has spoken fluently and in complete sentences for so many years now that I sometimes forget that expressing herself through words can be hard for her. When she was little, this difficulty would manifest itself as tears of frustration when I wasn’t able to understand what she wanted. Now, she …
The Orange Effect Foundation Flips the Script for Kids With Speech Disorders
CLEVELAND - June 21, 2021 - PRLog -- Fully aware that early intervention has the potential to create opportunity and launch futures that are otherwise unattainable, the board of The Orange Effect Foundation has awarded more than $30,000 in grants to needy children across the United States. Funding communication apps, speech devices, and weekly speech therapy for children …
100 Holes of Golf Marathon Raises Money for Children with Autism
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. …
The Story of The Orange Effect Foundation
This post originally published on The Orange Effect Foundation blog on January 26, 2016. Due to its popularity, we are reposting it here for you. The Orange Effect Foundation (OEF) officially launched last spring, but its story began more than a decade ago, when Joe and Pam’s first-born son, Joshua, was diagnosed with autism. In those days, Pam was a stay-at-home mom with a healthy baby …
Ensuring a Path To Success For Everyone
In 1975, two 20-somethings, Brian Daw and Anne McEvoy started Cornucopia, Inc., a non-profit in Cleveland, Ohio. Cornucopia was created to help people with disabilities develop skills and confidence leading to sustainable employment. Over their tenure opening and running The Bin in Lakewood’s Birdtown neighborhood, they helped hundreds and hundreds of young adults live, work and thrive in their …
A Letter To a Friend
Dear Kayla, Hello, my name is Mike. I'm so glad you are an Orange Effect Foundation grant recipient! I know someone who also received speech therapy. He was a young boy when he started going to sessions, probably about your age, and last year he graduated from high school with honors. He now goes to college! I’ll bet you will do big things too. My job is to help The Orange Effect raise money …
