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 Because of her inability to communicate, she was frustrated and withdrawn.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 …
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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 …
For Girls With Autism, Differences Matter
When you think of “autism,” does a male child come to mind? It’s understandable if you answer “yes.” Past estimates have suggested that for every female on the autism spectrum, there are three to four males. On the high-functioning end of the spectrum, estimates have been even higher — in the ream of nine males to one female. But those estimates are changing as we learn more about girls and …
Age-Appropriate Speech and Language Milestones
The ability to hear is essential for proper speech and language development. Hearing problems may be suspected in children who are not responding to sounds or who are not developing their language skills appropriately. The following are some age-related guidelines that may help to decide if your child is experiencing hearing problems. It is important to remember that not every …
The Orange Effect Spreads as Foundation Awards $29,000 in Grants to Children with Speech Disorders
CLEVELAND - Oct. 16, 2017 - PRLog -- The Orange Effect Foundation proudly announces that this month it awarded more than $29,000 in grants to children and young adults in need. Following a thorough review process, recipients were awarded grants to pay for speech therapy that will help them overcome Childhood Apraxia of Speech and other debilitating speech disorders, or received funds to purchase …
Enhancing Fluency For Those Who Stutter
The Orange Effect Foundation recently awarded a grant to a young adult with a severe stutter. The grant funded a SpeechEasy device which uses delayed auditory feedback and frequency altered feedback to enhance fluent speech production. Watch this video to learn more about how this device eased a stutter and improved the quality of life for a teen in Jacksonville, Florida while also boosting his …
Believing In Your Gut: A Pam Kozelka Post
Following the post about Joshua and his chairs, I've had a lot of people reach out to me privately to ask for other signs of Autism that I may have seen in Joshua. Generally people are asking because they have concerns about their own children and they are looking for something concrete to help them decide if their child needs help. From my experience, and from talking with other parents, …
What I Learned Fighting My Insurance Company
… or Keys to Successfully Acquiring Speech Therapy Services through a Managed Care Organization. The Orange Effect Foundation receives applications from families who seek assistance because their insurance does not cover speech therapy. This article lays out specific steps to challenge and possibly overcome a denial. Last spring we learned that our son, Riley was diagnosed with severe …
Spreading the Orange Effect: An Interview With Pam Kozelka
Pam Kozelka, Executive Director and Founder of the Orange Effect Foundation, discusses the work of the foundation and plans for the annual golf fundraiser held this past August. Listen to her interview with WEOL AM930 and learn more about those we assist and how we empower speech through grants for speech therapy and speech devices. …
4 Incredible Reasons Why Your Non-Verbal Child Needs Speech Therapy
Why would a nonverbal person need speech therapy? After all, they can’t talk. Why would they need help with their speech? This is a common misconception that even professional caseworkers have. Yet, with the augmentative and alternative communication available in the field, you are doing your nonverbal child a disservice by not giving them a “voice.” It is imperative that someone who has …
Resources For Improving Lives for Autistic Children and Their Families
The Centers for Disease Control estimates that nearly 1 in 45 U.S. children has some form of autism. Services and support for these children and their families can have a very positive impact for both. Here is a list of where you may be able to find assistance. 1. www.autismspeaks.org -One of the leading autism science and advocacy organizations. Autism Speaks provides a comprehensive resource …
