This post originally appeared in the monthly Orange Effect Foundation e-newsletter. It’s February. Here in Cleveland that can often mean a lot of time at home because the weather can be so cold and the skies so gray. For me that means the new year's resolutions start wearing off. Exercise becomes less frequent and dessert becomes more frequent. I tried to do some reading on …
blog
How Many Kids Can We Help on August 3rd?
Announcing the 14th Annual OEF Golf for Autism I remember the day my wife and I walked into the clinic to get the results on our oldest boy. He was two-years-old. He couldn’t talk yet and rarely made eye contact. We were young parents without a clue of what to do. The therapist at the clinic was going to tell us what to do with our son. We were thankful for that. Unfortunately, what we …
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 …
Ryan’s Story
I've listened enough. It's time for me to speak, however it may sound. Through an electronic device, my hands, or my mouth. Now it's your time to listen. Are you ready? Neal Katz, Self-advocate A few weeks ago, Ryan, with his fuzzy PJ pants on, galloped into the kitchen with a determined look in his eyes. He approached the drawer that holds his GoTalk device so he could request his …
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 …
Why I Wanted Vaccines to Cause Autism*
*Controversial Blog Post Title On Purpose Last year, yet another study of over 650,000 kids showed no link between vaccines and autism. This article from Business Insider is thorough in the review of the study and the reason it is so important--mainly because we need to vaccinate kids. Parents who fear that vaccines cause any form of birth defects are not getting their children …
“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 …
We Spend a Lot of Time Waiting. One Mom’s Thoughts.
I’m starting this post during the holiday season (you’re reading it after). I tried this year to shop small and shop local, so I’ve been standing in a lot of lines. It got me thinking about time and how much waiting one person might do in their lifetime. It could be waiting for a friend to show for lunch. Waiting for a call from a loved one. Waiting for a store to open to get a limited edition …
Leaning into Being Different: How One University Got My Autistic Son’s Attention
My son Joshua recently turned 18 and is now formally applying to colleges and universities. It’s hard to believe. He (and his mother) worked so hard to get him to this point. I remember when he was diagnosed on the autism spectrum at age two. The doctor said that Joshua would never go to a regular school. We are all so excited for him to begin his college experience. Like most high …
Highlighting Orange Effect Kids
As 2019 has come to a close we want to share with you just a few of the amazing kids that we have been able to help because of you. Liam Age 5 His family’s insurance covers less than two speech therapy visits a month, but 2x/weekly sessions were recommended by his therapist. OEF helped close that gap. His family is over the moon with his progress with the additional …
Orange Effect Foundation 2019 Grants Exceed $130,000
Communication devices and therapy provided for dozens of children across the United States CLEVELAND - Dec. 17, 2019 - PRLog -- The Orange Effect Foundation Board of Directors is proud to announce that in 2019, more than $130,000 was awarded to children in need across the United States. These grants for speech therapy and speech devices will ensure that the recipients, …