The Orange Effect Foundation—created by Content Marketing Institute co-founders Joe Pulizzi and Pam Kozelka—supports children and young adults with speech disorders. While many people are familiar with speech therapy and education, assistive technologies play a big role in helping children overcome their limitations. As program manager Maureen Stanton explains, “Speech-generating technology can …
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Discussing Your Child’s Autism With a New Teacher
Parents of children with Autism face special challenges as Autism comes in many forms and no two cases are alike. Many children who have high-functioning Autism are able to attend regular schools, but often times a new school year means that parents need to explain their child's Autism to a new teacher. Doctor Thomas Frazier of The Cleveland Clinic says that it's critical for parents and …
Raising Funds for Those Who Cannot (OEF Golf for Autism Raises Over $30,000)
It’s hard to believe, but this year was our 11th year holding the Orange Effect Foundation Golf for Autism. This year was our biggest ever, with over 160 golfers participating, and major support from our premier sponsor Petco, and our gold sponsors GIE Media and Aon (as well as a number of others). This year we were able to raise over $30,000. That money will be used immediately to make sure …
Raising An Autistic Son: Four Things I’d Change
My son is a successful sophomore in high school and I wouldn’t change a single thing about him now. He was diagnosed with Autism at age 2 and received countless hours of speech and occupational therapy to get where we are today. Often as he goes through life’s milestones, I reflect back on how much we have learned and how much our family has grown. Along with that, I often think about things I …
Orange Effect Golf for Autism 2017
Life: An Unpredictable Journey
The following is a guest post from 15-year-old Joshua Pulizzi. Joshua is the son of co-founders Pam and Joe, and the inspiration behind the Orange Effect Foundation. At age two, Joshua was diagnosed with Autism. For a high school writing assignment, Joshua wrote a self-comparison to the character, Odysseus, from The Odyssey. We think his response provides insight into how some of his thinking …
At Airports, Making Travel Easier for Autistic Passengers
For Gearoid Mannion and his wife, Michelle, who live in County Clare, Ireland, air travel with their two autistic sons, Conor, 9, and Darragh, 7, is usually nothing short of a nightmare. The noise level, crowds and announcements at airports overwhelm the boys, and waiting in security and boarding lines is a concept that they don’t understand, Mr. Mannion said. “They get red in the face and start …
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time (and Chairs)
I love the theatre. I have learned though, that in order for me to actually go, I need to subscribe and commit to go on a regular basis. Can you relate? I won’t buy one-off tickets even with the best of intentions. Our Playhouse Square in Cleveland has an amazing Broadway Series that is great for this. I often call them my “seven dates per year.” There have been many times that I’ve arrived at the …
A Simple List to Help Parents of Children with Special Needs Find Calm
I have an adult son with special needs and it’s sometimes a struggle to organize our complicated lives and communicate needs and concerns to the many people involved in my son’s care. That’s when I use lists — best-of lists, top 10 lists, checklists in many forms. It calms me to have something that I can keep and share. They are powerful tools for organizing and motivating and teaching. I spend …
A Loss For Words
Our son Micah was two years old when we learned he was profoundly deaf. I remember him wading in the Florida Gulf waters up to his chest, and it suddenly occurred to me that he didn’t know his name. In his fist, he held a handful of pebbles, and he launched the rocks in flight. I watched as the pebbles glistened, tiny sparks of light, and realized if I called his name, if I screamed, the word …
Walk In Her Shoes
A simple trip to the grocery store with a mom and her child who has autism. Walk in her shoes for just a moment. Have you seen her? Is this you? Tell us about your experiences in the comments section below. Source: TODAY Parents …
Orange Effect Foundation Awards Grants to Help 11 Children
The Orange Effect Foundation board is excited to once again award more than $20,000 in grants to children in need during their June board meeting. Now 11 more children across the country will have access to speech therapy, summer speech camp, or even special speech-generating devices that help them communicate like never before. Several of the recipients have been diagnosed with Childhood …
