The Eric Fund is honored each year to help incredible children and adults with disabilities maximize their potential and live their dreams
Twenty-four years later and The Eric Fund keeps on ticking! The needs of people with disabilities in the DC area do not decrease and they certainly didn’t disappear during the past two years of the COVID pandemic. And, fortunately, the stalwart support of our friends and donors did not wane either. While the number of last year’s applications decreased due to lack of in-person evaluations and communication challenges the pandemic created for the disability community, we are encouraged by this year’s seven deserving applicants who will bring our 24-year total to 118 recipients.
This year’s awards include three laptops, a light- weight wheelchair, sensory technology for parents who are deaf, communication technology for a teen with verbal communication challenges and a special mobile mounting device for a child’s assistive technology. These devices will improve the independence of seven amazing people and bring a greater level of reassurance to their families and friends as they help facilitate more independent lives for their loved ones.
We’re very proud of our 24-year history of providing assistive technology to the disability community in the Washington metro area and remain dedicated to this mission. As many of you know, The Eric Fund steps in to help when applicants have exhausted every other avenue of support, whether through insurance, school or personal resources. We reach out to the disability community and work directly with the applicants, parents, therapists, social workers, teachers and medical professionals to fulfill their recommended and essential requests.
We could not achieve any of this without your continued support that we are so grateful for. Our mission is inspired by Eric Savader, an advocate for people with disabilities who died of cancer in 1997 – 25 years ago, and who was determined to see the playing field leveled for them. We hope you will continue to support our efforts and look forward to seeing you in person in 2023!
Sincerely,
President
Kennidi is a 9-year-old girl from southern Maryland with physical disabilities who has been approved for a wheelchair due to a rapid decline in her motor skills. The tie down system that secures the wheel- chair on her school bus is not covered by insurance. Funding has been secured for the cost of the system except for $50. The provider reached out to The Eric Fund for assistance with this final payment. To us, it was a no-brainer. The Eric Fund happily filled the $50 gap.
With an increase in applications after last year’s COVID-related challenges, we’re happy to announce that The Eric Fund is awarding seven people with disabilities in the Washington metro region (DC, Maryland and Virginia) with vital assistive technology. Receiving MacBook Pros are two returning awardees who have surpassed the capacity of their earlier iPads when they were in middle and high school. The advanced technology will help them continue to thrive independently as they pursue studies in college and a career in the workplace. A couple who is deaf with three children will have a safer household now that they have new sensory devices that provide alarms for their entrances and flashers that alert them to phone calls and door bells.
A young man who does not communicate verbally and is on the autism spectrum is receiving a new laptop that will allow him to better communicate, search for and apply for jobs and help him organize his daily tasks and activities. A light weight wheelchair will provide greater mobility for a woman with lupus and balance issues. A 4-year-old girl will get a special mobile mount for her assistive device that allows her to communicate.
The Eric Fund is a Washington-based nonprofit organization that purchases needed but often expensive assistive technology that helps children and adults with disabilities live on their own terms in their communities. We are grateful that we’ve been able to continue this work during the past three challenging years of the pandemic that halted our annual fundraising event. We have you to thank for your continued support and generous donations and hope you will stick with us! We also hope that we’ll be able to once again host our reception and silent auction event in 2023 where we can see you again in person.
Founded in 1998, The Eric Fund’s mission is inspired by the memory of Eric Savader, who died from cancer in 1997 and who worked on behalf of several disability causes.
Please read on to see the compelling stories of The Eric Fund’s 2022 award recipients and catch up on some of our past awardees you have supported.
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.
As The Eric Fund completes its 24th year of providing assistive devices to people with disabilities, we are thrilled by the meaningful impact of your generous donations. Because of your generosity, we are able to provide seven deserving people with equipment that will allow them to live more independent lives.
The Eric Fund is honored each year to help incredible children and adults with disabilities maximize their potential and live their dreams. Here is an update on some of our past winners.
Hoang is a 27-year old young man with Down syndrome from Northern Virginia who was awarded a MacBook Air. Hoang’s mother reports: “Hoang was so happy to receive the MacBook Air from The Eric Fund. It is a great gift that helps him as he learns to access the world. He used it to read about how a baby is born and how to take care of a baby and has dreamed of having his own family with two babies. He has used the device to learn to cook simple foods, bake and listen to music. He also joined friends in a Zumba Zoom and now he is using the computer to learn piano online. The device helps him to stay busy and learn about the environment around him and grow more independent. He loves the device and protects it carefully, allowing no one to borrow it. He looks lovely carrying the device in his red back- pack to all the sport activities that he enjoys. Once again, we thank The Eric Fund very much for the gift that has made such a positive change in Hoang’s life.”
Matthew is an 18-year-old young man who lives in Northern Virginia. Matthew, who is on the autism spectrum, does not communicate verbally. Since 2015 he has used an iPad mini that The Eric Fund provided to communicate. The device stopped working but with the insurance plan that we purchased, he was able to replace it with new one. Matthew’s mother reports that Matthew “uses his iPad for everything. He types his needs, and he answers academic questions. The iPad is his voice and he would be very frustrated without this means to communicate. It is incredible how much he improves, thanks to the IPad. It makes all the difference in our lives. (I/we) feel very blessed for this gift.”
Alonzo lives with his parents in Northern Virginia and recently his mother sent us a note about Alonzo’s progress:
“I just want to thank you again for giving Alonzo an iPad Pro last year. It has really made a huge difference in his life, enabling independence and greater opportunities. Alonzo is 39 years old and has (had) cerebral palsy since birth. (For) an adult with a disability, services (can be) limited and many times (may) require the individual to be on long waiting lists. In Alonzo’s case, when COVID hit, he lost his job and was house-bound with limited access to his friends and activities. He became very lonely and sad because he was unable to find another job and no longer had access to communicate with his friends.
The Eric Fund stepped in and provided an iPad which was exactly what he needed to get connected socially and provide him the tool needed to start looking for a job. He reconnected with many of his friends and was able to search for work opportunities to get back into the work- force. As a result, he found a program that helps (adults with disabilities) find jobs and volunteer opportunities. It was such a blessing to Alonzo, and we are so pleased to see him thrive again both in his social wellbeing and community support. As an adult with cerebral palsy, the iPad is a better electronic device to use because of its features and portability. It has made a huge impact in his life enabling him with more independence and opportunities. Thank you so much.”
As you can imagine, narrowing down the application pool each year is difficult, and often leaves many worthy candidates without the funding for the assistive technology they need to lead more independent lives in the community. Your generous donations will help us continue to change lives, by putting vital equipment in the hands of people with disabilities to help them live life on their own terms. Help us expand our reach. More donations mean more grants and fewer people we need to turn away each year. We will continue to put every dollar to work!
