We at The Eric Fund feel privileged to be able to help our incredible “family” of children and adults with disabilities to fulfill their dreams and reach goals often unimaginable. We like to keep up with them and we know you do too – to see what an impact your support can make in their lives and their families.
Idriss is a 7-year-old boy from Northern Virginia with autism, ADHD and who does not communicate verbally. The iPad which he uses at school is his sole means of communication. His ability to better communicate with his teachers, peers and family will help address his behavioral issues. A communication device and assistive technology are recommended by his medical team and teachers who believe a device at home will increase his ability to communicate and improve his reading, writing and comprehension skills.
Joshua is a 12-year-old boy from Southern Maryland with autism and ADHD. He has also been diagnosed with encephalopathy which is a group of conditions that impact brain functionality. The conditions include language challenges, repetitive movements, learning disabilities and social communication difficulties. At the request of Joshua’s family and at the recommendation of Joshua’s developmental pediatrician, The Eric Fund provided Joshua with an iPad Air and keyboard needed for his speech and behavioral growth and progress.
Patrick is an 11-year-old boy from Southern Maryland with Osteogenesis Imperfecta, or “Brittle Bone Disease.” He also has autism and digestive challenges. Patrick is non-ambulatory, has outgrown his wheelchair, and it has become difficult for his single mom to transfer him on her own. Patrick is in constant motion and needs greater support for safety and mobility and has received a series of complex surgeries that result in a slow, difficult recovery. Insurance and benefit programs will not cover a Rifton Activity chair that was recommended by his doctor and physical therapists to provide greater security needed to protect Patrick from additional fractures.
Victoria loves to be active with her friends and family. A 62-year-old DC-area resident, Victoria has been experiencing mobility issues lately due to medical challenges she has encountered due to illness, disability and chronic conditions. Victoria could not get funding for a mobility scooter that she could easily manage and that would fold or come apart for travel to appointments or to easily get in and out of her home. After trying out one scooter that didn’t work properly for her that The Eric Fund returned, Victoria will be receiving a new scooter from The Eric Fund before the end of the year. Victoria looks forward to participating in activities outside of her home more independently with equipment she can more easily manage.
John is a 62-year-old man from Northern Virginia who is growing and further exploring his video editing skills thanks to a new computer purchased by The Eric Fund. John worked as an electrician for much of his career. But after a car accident, John suffered serious nerve damage in his leg and foot which prevented him from continuing to work as an electrician, impacting him and his family both financially and emotionally. John uses a scooter and walker for mobility assistance and continues to work with his doctors to improve his functionality.
A 21-year-old young man from Northern Virginia who has autism, epilepsy, speech and intellectual disabilities requested a new, updated computer that he uses to communicate. He has challenges communicating verbally and spends lots of time on his computer, researching and managing his daily activities. An updated laptop was needed to keep him engaged with his day-to-day activities, including online banking, paying bills, applying for jobs and improving his overall quality of life as he connects with the outside world. He is a very busy young man who loves sports and competes in Special Olympics in volleyball, basketball and softball. He also enjoys bowling and golfing. He volunteers for the Salvation Army and the local library. He is focused on pursuing a career as a data analyst in a weather-related field and already has an interview set up with a major airline. We wish him the best of luck!
Cali is 27-year-old college student from Northern Virginia who we awarded an iPad to in 2011. At the time Cali and her mother received serious and life-changing injuries in a car accident that propelled them into homelessness and a year in a shelter. They continue to struggle but with help and counseling, Cali has made it through high school and college and now continues with advanced studies. Cali is a talented writer for which she has received several awards over the years. The accident left Cali with a TBI resulting in hearing and cognitive challenges as well as chronic migraines and seizures, for which she continues to receive therapy. Now that her previously awarded iPad is no longer functioning, Cali requested an upgrade to a MacBook Pro that has the capacity she needs to continue her education and career pursuits and meet requirements to fill out forms, make appointments, access test results and records, attend classes and workshops, submit and sign documents and more – all digitally.
Catherine is a 42-year-old, single mother with two children from Northern Virginia. Catherine has lupus, gait dysfunction and chronic migraines. Catherine has experienced repeated falls due to her gait and balance issues. She has general muscle weakness and experiences pain with weight bearing. Catherine requested a light weight mobile wheelchair as a back up to her heavy power wheelchair which has no insurance coverage for its intermit- tent disrepair. She has missed medical appointments when transportation service cancels due to size of the power chair. The ultralight manual wheelchair will provide Catherine with greater mobility in her home and greater access to her community which the heavier wheelchair often prohibits.
Dream is a 4-year-old girl from southern Maryland with cerebral palsy, epilepsy and other developmental delays that affect speech, motor skills and cognition. Dream currently communicates mostly with an eye gaze device and receives significant early intervention including speech, vision, occupational, and physical therapy. Dream has a table mount for her device and recently received a second mount to use on her adapted stroller so that she can use it outside her home; however, this equipment only allows her to use her device while sitting at a table or in her stroller. Insurance only covers one mount and with her only means of communication being through her eye gaze device, she needed a rolling, standing mount that she can use throughout her home. Dream’s mother has not been able to return to work since COVID and has devoted full-time care to Dream which limits their family financially. The Eric Fund is happy to be able to purchase the rolling mount which now allows Dream to have access to and use her device throughout her home and in multiple positions.
Brandon is a 15-year-old teen from southern Maryland who has autism, cerebral palsy and communication challenges. Brandon, who had challenges communicating verbally, attends public school where he has used a Nova Chat 10, an assistive technology device that helps him communicate with his teachers and peers. Brandon needed a device he can use at home to express his needs and wants with his family. Brandon’s single mother says Brandon gets extremely frustrated when he’s unable to express himself. Having a Nova Chat 10 device at home will help prevent the tantrums that can result from Brandon’s inability to communicate his needs. His mother’s disability and limited income will not allow her to purchase this expensive but life-altering device. The Eric Fund was more than happy to help.
Amanda is a 17 year old from Northern Virginia who just graduated from high school and is now attending a local university in the computer science program. The Eric Fund awarded Amanda an iPad Pro in 2016 when she was in middle school. Her university experience requires a device with more robust capacity. Amanda has a diagnosis of spastic quadriplegia. She uses a wheelchair and often relies on assistive devices, adaptations and adult assistance to pursue her education. The upgraded laptop will allow her to participate in a more advanced university computer science program. Amanda’s mother said, “This device will benefit Amanda to transition between features seamlessly and gain more independence.” Amanda sent a thank you note to The Eric Fund, saying, “The laptop is amazing. Words can’t explain how appreciative I am of this laptop. It will be extremely useful for furthering my education.” We are delighted to be able to help Amanda on her next chapter in college
Jane and her husband are a couple who are both deaf and live in Northern Virginia, with their three hearing children. They requested a Smart Flasher Home Kit, a Wi-Fi system that alerts them with flashing lights when the doorbell or phone rings. In the past, their children have answered the door without their knowledge. The system will let them know when a visitor rings at the door or when a package is delivered. Jane said this new system will provide greater security and better control of their home. She said, “The SquareGlow Home Kit system is a game changer and it’s the perfect solution to our needs and concerns.” Jane sent a “huge thanks” from her family to The Eric Fund.
Look no further than our award winner Hoang to find a young man with a big heart, big dreams and big-time motivation & drive. Hoang, 26, currently works with a job coach to find a job he loves. With his previous experience, joy for work and people, and the MacBook Pro and laptop backpack from The Eric Fund, Hoang should have no problem finding a great fit.
Matthew, a previous Eric Fund award winner from Northern Virginia who is on the autism spectrum, uses the iPad Mini and special communication app we purchased for him in 2015 as his voice device as he does not communicate verbally. While the previous iPad Mini expanded Matthew’s world and helped him communicate more easily at school and at home, the device unfortunately broke and he needs another.
Nick and his family have tried several times to get him an iPad to better communicate, but each time, they hit a brick wall with the insurance company who refused to fund it. They denied the essential equipment “because he can play games on it,” his mother said. So when Nick learned he was receiving an iPad, keyboard and case from The Eric Fund, he spelled out on his laminate letter board: “I am very excited and grateful!”
Caroline can’t wait to get started creating new art with the iPad, keyboard, pencil and case she received from The Eric Fund. Caroline is a 27-year-old artist and graphic designer with cerebral palsy who has her own design business and creates original artwork on the computer that she sells at art shows, craft fairs and on her website: www.labradorabledesigns.com
The Eric Fund purchased an iPad for Leticia to stay on top of bill paying, keep up with daily activities, medical care and case workers she coordinates with, including those that have moved their services to apps and online platforms for transmitting information and communication.
Carvel is a 17-year-old teen with autism, sensory processing and verbal expression challenges. An evaluation showed Carvel would benefit from an iPad for word recall and putting sentences together to increase his communication ability. He currently communicates using two-to three-word phrases, but the iPad will help open Carvel’s world. Carvel’s mom, a single mom raising five children, shared that Carvel also wants to be social but needs technology to assist him in communicating and being independent. She added that the iPad will help her son immensely.
Ibem is a 30-year-old man with developmental and cognitive disabilities, short-term memory challenges, as well as executive functioning and auditory processing conditions. Ibem’s evaluation showed an iPad would be a good fit for him. The iPad he received from The Eric Fund will help him better communicate, organize himself, and use assistive technology as he actively looks for supported employment.
Garvin is an 18-year-old young man with intellectual disabilities, speech & language challenges and other health issues. He was evaluated for an iPad and was shown to have success with it. Assistive technology like an iPad will help Garvin in school and in the community. The iPad he received from The Eric Fund will help him with reminders, visual reminders, cueing and note taking.
Priscilla is a 56-year-old woman from Washington, DC, with visual disabilities and albinism, who works for the DC government. When the existing magnifying screen and reader she received through her job was old and did not work reliably, she sought other options to help her get equipment that would make her job easier.
