Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis serves as a regional center for specialty medical care for children. The new Robotic Rehabilitation Center at Riley provides innovative treatment for children with cerebral palsy and other movement disorders. This center is the first of its kind in Indiana and uses interactive robots and computer games to help re-program children’s brains and improve their motor functions. The generous donation of the first two pieces of equipment from the Robots to the Rescue organization, helped make this state-of-the-art center a reality for children with special needs in Indiana and the Midwest region.
Physical and occupational therapies have long been considered the mainstay treatments for cerebral palsy, but increasingly, therapists, patients and families are turning to robotic therapy for help. While robotic therapy is well documented in adults, the Robotic Rehabilitation Center at Riley Hospital hopes to lead the way in state-of-the-art care for children with special needs. The support provided by Robots to the Rescue has been a critical contributor to this goal.
D. Wade Clapp
Chair, Department of Pediatrics
Physician-in-Chief
Riley Hospital for Children
Words can't express how thankful I am to R2R! Not only has their hard work and dedication in bringing the Lokomats to Riley Hospital benefited my child tremendously but their continued support and concern for Kala and kids like her at Riley Hospital speaks volumes of the character of this organization and the people behind it. R2R is second to none and will always have my deepest gratitude and support.
Many thanks to Margaret Goldsmith, Pam Sokow, and Riley Hospital!!!
Thanks to Robots to the Rescue, we have successfully developed a Robotic Rehabilitation Center at Riley Hospital for Children. It was because of their generosity and initial donation that we have been able to grow our program and dream big. As a result, we have introduced many children with cerebral palsy to a completely new type of rehabilitation therapy. It has been a wonderful to see the children experience movement in new ways and progress with functional activities. We are very grateful to Robots to the Rescue.
For the past two years, I have had the honor of volunteering for the Robots to the Rescue organisation. Being a media engineer, I am always interested in new ways to use technology. Incorporating robots to help re-train the brains of children with CP, is an inspiring concept. Each year, I experience more than one "teary eyed moment". Not only from knowing that the idea works, and is helping children, but also from seeing how many people do truly care. I look forward to working with them each year.
Robots to the Rescue has been so important to me and my family, I can not thank Pam enough for everything she's done to help us. I contacted her (R2R) because my 4 year old nephew from Brazil had suffered a stroke last year. He's been doing physical therapy since then, and his arm shows slow recovery (from being paralyzed). We read an article in a Brazilian magazine showing the great benefits of the robotic therapy, and I found Robot to the REscue and Pam, who was able to introduce me to a doctor who has a program in Brazil. My nephew will begin robotic therapy as part of the research.
I am so looking forward to seeing the benefits.
I was privileged to work with Margaret Goldsmith and Pam Sakow who conducted the Robots to the Rescue benefit at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis last summer. Seeing the beautiful children in person who have benefited exponentially from this program was so touching that it stayed with me and is still embedded in my heart and mind. There is nothing more honorable than supporting this program and I trust that support continues to grow by leaps and bounds as people familiarize themselves with it's miraculous impact.
I became a donor after seeing a very compelling video about some of the children benefiting from the program at Riley Hospital for Children. This organization is giving freedom to people suffering with CP and brain injuries and they are changing lives in ways that could not be changed any other way. I am hoping to see more of them in New York City soon.
I was introduced to Robots to the Rescue by Margaret Goldsmith and was immediately excited about the opportunities robotics could create for children with cerebral palsy and similar disorders.
I was introduced to the Organization because my mother volunteers with them and I think R2R is doing such a good job getting the word out about facilities across the country that offer the technology. I hope to hear that it will be coming to New York City before long to help children with CP and brain injuries in this area. I am a proud donor to this very important cause.
Having been involved with hospitalized children in Los Angeles for the past 7 years I am interested in new techniques to assist children who do not have use of their arms or legs. This charity opens the doors to a disorder that needs to be connected with the technological advances that our world has to offer. Their involvement is spearheading projects that can aide in the betterment of so many lives.
A friend sent me to this website when we were talking about my cousin's issues with cerebral palsy. I'm hoping that this great new technology and therapy can be brought to the Arizona area soon. This charity is doing an awesome job in helping parents, therapist an the rehabilitation community to realize the potencial of robotic therapy for children and stroke victims.
I love this charity. I work in the healthcare industry and am intrigued on how robotic therapy helps adult stroke victims and are delighted that the technology is now being used for children. I am a donor and think the site is helpful to therapists trying to locate facilities with the technology Keep up the good work.
I have volunteered for the past 2 years to Robots to the Rescue and feel honored each year they ask me back. When I was first asked to help, I felt honored to be a part of such a great event that is selfless to all those individuals who put this event together.
Knowing that this event is designed to raise money for kids with gross and fine motor skill deficits, specifically for kids with cerebral palsy (CP), makes a special education teacher and those who work with kids with CP, warm at heart
I am a special education teacher who has worked with students with multiple disabilities from autism to cerebral palsy for the past eight years. I work at a middle school and I see students who have had early intervention to only public school support. Public schools are limited to the amount of support they can offer an individual with a disability. Robots to the Rescue offer support to families who have children with cerebral palsy at a very young age. When a child has independence in their gross motor skills, like walking and running, and fine motor skills, like writing or brushing their teeth, it also increases their cognitive development.
Robots to the Rescue does not discriminate upon your income, socio-economic status or race. They solely are there to raise money so anyone that is applicable is able to benefit from the Robots.
I work in the IT industry and was introduced to this site by a friend because of my interest in using technology to improve the lives of children with special needs. I have a friend who has a child with a severe case of cerebral palsy. Robots to the Rescue is using technology to give her parents hope.
A wonderful organization which is spreading the word to therapists and families as to where they can find pediatric robotic therapy. They do an excellent job in providing updates which is very encouraging to parents. With their enthusiasm and effort they increase the awareness of modern rehabilitation by using cutting edge technology.
What a fantastic organization. The impact this organization makes far exceeds the impact of organizations that have been around far longer.
I have a friend who has a child with cerebral palsy who introduced me to the site. I have been following some of the stories and progress being made. I have been involved with several non-profits including Glendale Health Kids and Aids Service center. Robots appears to be a top flight organization.
Bill Wilkie
Executive Director
Verdugo Hills medical Associates
In my 45 years in this field (first as a mother, then as a professional), I have NEVER been as excited or as optimistic for children with cerebral palsy as I have been since the opening of the Riley Robotic Therapy Center. Thanks to Robots to the Rescue's effort to raise funds for this center, I've watched children use their affected arm all the time and I've watch one little girl walk the equivalent of 10 football fields while having FUN doing therapy!
I volunteered to photograph the Robots to the Rescue event in September of 2010. I was amazed by the children and found so much satisfaction in helping the organization. I had the opportunity to meet the kids and was aaw-struck by the progress of the R2R ambassador Kala from last year. Speaking to her mother, Kala would not have the opportunities that are opening to her without the help of R2R.
A dear friend has a child with CP and she told me about the amazing new therapy her child was recieving as a result of robotic therapy at Riley Hospital. My friend is so grateful that her child helped to walk on her own because of the equipment that was purchased by Robots to the Rescue for Riley. I hope my small contribution will help to provide other children with the same opportunity.