Welcome New Board Members! I was startled when I realized that Orange Effect Foundation entered its 10th year of operations when the calendar turned to 2024. This realization followed our December board meeting where one of our founding members, Cathy McPhillips, shared that she would be resigning from the board. What would our next steps be, I wondered. Cathy, like all our board members, …
communication
Unlocking Communication: Navigating the Complexities of Communication Disorders and Empowerment
In today's blog post, we're excited to share an insightful article from Pacific Medical Training on the critical topic of communication disorders and their impact on individuals' lives. From developmental delays to acquired conditions, communication disorders encompass a wide spectrum of challenges that can significantly affect one's ability to interact, learn, and thrive. Join us as we explore …
Technology and Speech Therapy
In my “other” life, apart from Orange Effect Foundation, I live in the marketing world. It all began with large brands and corporations who were striving to claim the top spots in a google search or learn how to utilize keywords and search to demonstrate how they were the best of the best. That eventually evolved into assisting what I call solo-preneurs or entrepreneurs in finding their niche in …
The Emotional Journey Behind Every Check Written by the Orange Effect Foundation
The very first check I wrote, I cried. The act of writing a check can hold more weight than the mere transfer of funds. It can symbolize hope, progress, and the tangible impact of collective efforts. During the inaugural meeting of the Orange Effect Foundation, held in a meeting room of a local coffee shop, six of us gathered with a shared mission: to make a difference in the …
Trends for Speech Therapy Careers
Like many industries, I am hearing more and more that service providers are having a hard time hiring enough speech therapists to keep up with the demand for services. As you may know, as many as 1 in 8 children will require some form of speech therapy during their upbringing. This got me researching the growing need for experienced professionals in the field of speech. I went to ASHA, …
Tech Talk: Revolutionizing Speech Therapy
How technology is changing speech and language therapy Embarking on a journey through the changing world of speech and language therapy, this Orange Effect Foundation blog post shines a light on an important article, originally published on theguardian.com, by Lucy Ward, a well-respected writer and former Guardian social affairs correspondent. Her article, "How technology is changing speech and …
Being Resolute
I love making resolutions. For me, it’s permission to keep trying. Whether that is trying something new by setting a new goal or revising a previously set to-do item. For me, resolutions don’t have to be all about doing something better; it can be just getting something done. My birthday is about halfway through the year, which for a resolution maker like myself is pretty handy. I find myself …
Navigating the Holidays with an Autistic Child: A Guide to Creating Joyful Moments
The holiday season is a time filled with joy, laughter, and cherished moments. For families with autistic children, it can also bring unique challenges. Understanding and addressing these challenges can make the holidays a more enjoyable and inclusive experience for everyone involved. In this blog post, we'll explore some tips and strategies for navigating the holidays with an autistic …
Why and How Tech Could Be the Future of Speech Language Therapy
Communication is an essential part of the human experience. Being unable to do so rids a person of passing on information, expressing their ideas and feelings, and understanding others' thoughts. Unfortunately, Medical News Today's article on communication disorders reveals that about 5–10% of Americans experience difficulties communicating that prevent them from receiving, processing, sending, …
Grateful Hearts, Shared Stories: The Orange Effect Foundation’s Impact
At the Orange Effect Foundation, we find it easy to be grateful, and we have 388 compelling reasons for it. Since December 2015, we’ve had the privilege of touching the lives of 388 children across the country. We provided them with 100 speech devices and an impressive 7,248 hours of speech therapy. Our impact is undeniable, and it’s all thanks to our generous sponsors and individual donors! In …
Hard Work Can Pay Off
You’ve heard the expression, ‘if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again’. But you’ve probably also heard that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Put those two things together and you have quite a conundrum. For the past few years we ran a fundraising campaign asking people not to talk for 24 or 12 …
What’s in a Name?
“Being autistic” vs “having autism” and why it even matters to me In this week's blog, we share the insights of late-diagnosed autistic writer Melanie Deziel who says, "I found this thing, and I thought it was pretty interesting. Maybe you will too." Have you ever contemplated the intricacies of language and its profound connection with identity, all while sipping your morning coffee? If …