I support the Orange Penguin Foundation, because this is unique organization that provides different types of special equipment and devices for children with disabilities in post-soviet countries. As a speech therapist and special education teacher working with disabled children for many years I know how assistive technology is important for improving social, educational, communication and physical abilities of individuals with special needs. Sometimes small thing can change the life dramatically! The first word saying by a child even with support of a simple communication device is priceless for his/her parents.
Assistive technology can make a critical impact on the lives of children with disabilities and enable them to enjoy opportunities like any other children. research shows that assistive technology can help young children with disabilities to learn developmental skills. With assistive technology they can often learn the same things that nondisabled peers learn at the same age, only in a different way. Communication skills at this age are especially important since most of what an infant or toddler learns is through interacting with other people. This is especially true with family members and other primary caregivers.
Unfortunately families with disabled children in post-soviet countries are the poorest group of population because social support to this group has low priority for the state and the governmental social support system. They can't purchase technical devices; often they just don't have an access to them. Thanks to the OPF hundreds of children got needed devices that help them to move, to learn and to communicate.
Cooperation with professionals like me is very important characteristic of the foundation. Orange Penguin Foundation seriously pays attention to individual features of every child who needs support. Consultation of therapists helps to choose most appropriate devices for each child. I am glad that my professional linkages help to involve professionals from different countries and cities to consult children whose families apply to OPF.
Besides individual support this foundation provides equipment for professional NGOs and governmental organizations working with children and adolescents with disabilities. Such partnership allows to improve quality of the professional support programs and to help the bigger number of the needing children to get services and equipment.
There are many foundations that help to save lives, but it is also important to improve the quality of life for those who straggle with disabilities. They deserve a better life! Have you ever seen a smile of a happy child who feels that she/he can move, play or communicate with parents first time in his/her life? Likely I have seen many such smiles and I hope that with support of the Orange Penguin Foundation many children will get a chance for better life and new smiles.
Review from #MyGivingStory