My oldest (who is autistic) just returned from a weeklong trip going to theme parks on the East Coast with the goal to ride as many roller coasters as possible! Not my idea of a great time but something they’ve been looking forward to for a long time. The trip made me a little sentimental. First off, my baby was covering over 1000 miles of driving on their own and second managing all the things …
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What is the Orange Effect Foundation?
Empowering Voices, Transforming Lives: Discover the Orange Effect Foundation Welcome to our blog post dedicated to the Orange Effect Foundation. We are a non-profit foundation committed to empowering children and young adults with speech disorders. In this post, we will explore the incredible work done by the foundation, the impact it has made, introduce you to the dedicated board members …
Resources for Improving the Lives of Autistic Children and Their Families
The Centers for Disease Control estimates that 1 in 36 U.S. children has some form of autism. Services and support for children and their families can have a profoundly positive impact on both. Here are some resources that may be helpful: www.allconnect.com/autism-online-safety -An informative guide that includes helpful information on the risks associated with internet use and ASD, including a …
Board Member Spotlight: Dana Gore
Get ready to explore the vibrant city of Cleveland through the eyes of Dana Gore, an enthusiastic member of the Orange Effect Foundation's board. In her engaging Board Member Spotlight, Dana shares her deep love for her hometown and offers valuable insights to make your visit or stay in Cleveland truly memorable. Let Me Tell You About Cleveland Are you new to Cleveland, visiting the city, …
Board Member Spotlight: Melissa Meehan
In this week’s Board Member Spotlight we learn a little about Melissa Meehan, a passionate board member of the Orange Effect Foundation, as she shares her passion for summertime and live music. I love Cleveland in the Summer! The Cleveland Metroparks hosts Thursday night Summer Concerts all over town. I attended the concert at one of my favorite spots in Cleveland, the historic U.S. Coast …
Six Fun Summer Speech Therapy Activities to Boost Language Skills at Home
We’ve written about ChatGPT twice before on this blog so I decided to give it a try, and wasn’t sure what to expect. Would ChatGPT spout out a bunch of facts regarding the activities I suggested? Would it put together a simple paragraph with the information I provided? To find out, I told ChatGPT that I wanted to write a blog post about summer speech therapy activities to do at home. I gave …
People with Autism Finding a Lifeline with ChatGPT
Have you heard all the rage? ChatGPT is making headlines across a huge array of topics. From kids using it to complete homework assignments to folks worried about losing their job because of it. ChatGPT is a force that is not likely to slow down anytime soon. I previously wrote about ChatGPT when sharing the struggles I often find when working to come up with content for this blog, or other …
Board Member Spotlight: Kristin Erbacher
Welcome to our Board Member Spotlight, featuring Kristin Erbacher, the Board Chair of the Orange Effect Foundation. Kristin is a driving force behind the Orange Effect Foundation's impactful work. Today, we take a break from our usual topics as Kristin shares her insights about the local dining scene in and around Cleveland. From cozy neighborhood bistros to trendy fusion eateries, Cleveland has …
The Orange Effect Foundation Announces Second Quarter Grants for 2023.
The Orange Effect Foundation is proud to announce it's Second Quarter Grants for 2023. With a commitment to empowering children and young adults with speech disorders, the foundation has awarded a total of $43,254 to 21 individuals across the United States. These grants have been selected through a rigorous review process led by the dedicated members of the Orange Effect Board of Directors. …
Honoring Dads this Father’s Day
Happy Fathers Day to anyone out there who has been a role model in a child's life. Remember you are a crucial part of that child's upbringing. And to those of us who have lost a parent, I know these holidays can be difficult, but let’s remember how important our parents were in our upbringing and do our best to carry that tradition on to younger generations. Many of those present …
Board Member Spotlight: Pam Pulizzi
Have You Ever Been To Pickwick and Frolic? Cleveland has an eclectic and all inclusive food and entertainment scene. To be honest we have come such a long way just in the last 10 years. So much so that it is often hard to decide where to entertain friends and family when they come to town. One of my favorites though, is Pickwick and Frolic, located on E. 4th Street and also home to …
A Speech Therapy Success Story
Adam* was six when he first walked into my speech therapy office. He had bright, curious eyes and the energy of eight children at their first sleepover. He wanted to touch every toy in the room — and he definitely wanted to talk! When he tried to speak, however, the words rumbled around his mouth like a toddler holding an open lemonade — his words were ice, unable to decide whether to stay …