Communication is critical in my line of work. If you know me, you might think that's just because I'm in marketing. But really, what career today can you succeed without the ability to communicate? Manufacturers, hair stylists, programmers, lawyers, bus drivers, doctors, educators, fast food workers, financial planners…I could go on. We often take for granted our ability to communicate, don’t …
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To Siri, With Love
How One Boy With Autism Became BFF With Apple's Siri In this New York Times article, Judith Newman contemplates the relationship between Siri and her son with autism. She wonders whether Siri's "soothing voice and puckish humor" make her more worthy of his care and affection. …
The Orange Effect Foundation Makes The Season Brighter For Children With Speech Disorders
The holiday season glowed brighter for the 19 families that received Orange Effect Foundation grants in December 2017. Following a thorough review process, more than $56,000 was awarded to families in need to fund speech therapy and to purchase speech technology. Grants were awarded to children in Minnesota, Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, New York, Florida, New Jersey, Michigan, Missouri, …
Making the Best Investments for Your Child
From autism to stutters, there are many reasons why children experience speech difficulties. Support can come in many forms too, from grant-funded speech-easy devices to high-tech speech therapy innovations, but without a solid financial plan in place it can be difficult to cover the expenses of all the treatment that your son or daughter needs. While even considering the notion that we might not …
Living on the Spectrum and on Sesame Street
Julia, a Muppet with autism, was welcomed to Sesame Street in April 2017. She's an old friend of Elmo's but a new addition to the neighborhood. Watch the clip below to see her debut. For more information about why Sesame Street team created a character with autism, be sure to read this Smithsonian Magazine article. Written by Ron Suskind, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who explored life …
The Season of Giving
The Season of Giving. We all know the phrase and hear it regularly throughout November and December every year. A cursory search for its origins turns up speculation, at best. But its meaning is implicitly understood – the end of the calendar year is marked by holiday celebrations which provide opportunities to both receive tokens of love and regard from friends and family, as well as to give to …
Happy Holidays From the Orange Effect Foundation
Sharing the Christmas message from this special needs family that things get better, there is hope, and children do adapt. Happy Holidays from the Orange Effect Foundation! https://youtu.be/Bzi2R2wslfQ …
Find the Perfect Gift With These Special Needs Gift Guides
If you won’t be caught within 1,000 feet of a mall this time of year, you’ll probably be doing a lot of online shopping, and scouring for those specialty items your child might enjoy. This online gift guide is just what you need to find the perfect toy or therapy item for a special needs child. Therapist Recommendations 1. 2017 Holiday Gift Guide From pediatric occupational therapist Meghan …
The Battle For Insurance Coverage–We Won!
Let me just start by saying that this blog post is not to bash our insurance company. In fact, you will rarely hear me speak in a negative way about our insurance company because of the incredible coverage that we have and the benefits that our company provides. I have learned that most families that have their children in regular speech therapy run into some trouble with getting insurance to …
Recipient Spotlight: Maya
Maya has a severe phonological processes disorder. At age 4, she could only make vowel sounds and not a single consonant sound. Because of her inability to communicate, she was frustrated and withdrawn. Lacking insurance coverage for speech therapy, two years of twice-weekly sessions cost her family more than $11,000. Maya’s family reached out to the Orange Effect Foundation for help. The …
Happy Thanksgiving!
5 Things That Made Holidays Hard For My Autistic Son
As the holidays approach, I reflect on how tricky they were for my son Joshua. There are a number of things going on at one time, which often challenge an Autistic child, regardless of where they are on the spectrum. By no means did we ever expect our family and friends to cater to us, but there are issues that affect an Autistic child that often do not affect a “typical” child. Here are some …
