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.
Izzy is a 27-year-old woman from Washington, DC, who is blind due to retinitis pigmentosa. The Eric Fund is purchasing life-changing assistive technology for Izzy that is not funded by insurance but will make a huge difference in her life as noted in her evaluation for these specific technologies.
Shelia is a 59-year-old woman from Southern Maryland living with slow-progressing ALS. Shelia is a musician and was training to join the Sheriff ’s department when she received her ALS diagnosis, which has gradually limited her ability to walk and perform daily tasks. The Eric Fund helped Shelia partially purchase a Zeen, a mobility aid that enhances her ability to remain independent and navigate at home and in the community on her own as she does not yet require a power wheelchair.
Derek is a 19-year-old young man with autism from Northern Virginia. A high school graduate, Derek has been involved with many recent programs to assist with his independence and employability including job training and peer mentoring programs. Derek also volunteers at a program for people with disabilities at his church where he helps with socialization and creative activities.
Olivia is a 27-year-old woman from Northern Virginia who loves helping others. Olivia lives with traumatic brain injury (TBI) resulting from a serious car accident when she was an infant. Her traumatic brain injury has resulted in developmental and functional challenges and medical issues. Olivia is working on completing her Associate’s degree and is looking at future employment options.
Manu is an 11-year-old boy from Southern Maryland with speech and language delays and an articulation disorder impacted by a former cleft palate that makes it hard for him to communicate verbally at home and at school. He is socially motivated to communicate, using gestures, his existing speech and other means when connecting with others.
Elodia is an 11-year-old girl from Northern Virginia who has Down syndrome, autism and does not communicate verbally. She received an iPad and apps from The Eric Fund to help her communicate at home and at school. Elodia also received apps on her new device to help improve her motor skills.
Jeffrey is an 11-year-old boy from Southern Maryland who is a wheelchair user with epilepsy and other disabilities. Jeffrey’s mother has been carrying him up and down the stairs for the last two years after the stair lift they received broke. With their benefits exhausted and no way to purchase a new stair lift which costs several thousand dollars, Jeffrey and his family turned to The Eric Fund for help. Jeffrey’s mom said she and the family were very grateful for the new stair lift, as she has been struggling to take Jeffrey up and down the stairs, especially as he has grown over the last two years.
Marshall is 29 years old and lives in Northern Virginia. He was born with traumatic brain injury and other disabilities. Through The Eric Fund, Marshall has received a “FitMi” bundle including a Music Glove, hand therapy device and a Flint Tablet with software which will help him regain function in his right limb and hand allowing him to achieve independent living.
Rodrigo is a 22-year-old student from Northern Virginia with autism who relies on a speech generating device to communicate. The Eric Fund provided Rodrigo with an iPad, and an app called LAMP Words for Life so he can have access to this vital equipment at home to communicate. Rodrigo loves to go on walks. He always has his sweatshirt ready to go. When not on the move, he enjoys relaxing in a bean bag with sensory tools or fidgets like sequined pillows. He enjoys being with others especially in small groups.
Brandon is a 22-year-old young adult from Northern Virginia. Brandon has autism and intellectual disabilities. Brandon received a new iPad and the LAMP Words for Life app to help him communicate and learn at home. Brandon loves going for walks, seeing nature, going to shopping malls, and visiting airplane museums. With the help of the iPad, he can engage more with his peers and community.
Oscar is a 21-year-old student from Southern Maryland with ADHD, autism and a condition affecting his nervous system. Oscar is now starting his second year in college and having an iPad and keyboard will greatly improve his ability to take notes, do his homework and enhance his comprehension skills. Oscar loves spending time with his friends and is an avid fan of the Buffalo Bills NFL Football team.
Noveli is a 7 year old from Northern Virginia with autism and intellectual disabilities. She will use the iPad and Proloquo2Go app she received from The Eric Fund to communicate with others. She has had success with the equipment at school and is excited to have access to it at home. Outside of school, Noveli loves to listen to music, read books and watch nursery rhymes. She also enjoys long car rides and playing with her older sister and cousins on the trampoline or at a pool.
James, 40, from Northern Virginia has chronic pain from fibromyalgia, as well as back and mental health conditions. The Eric Fund provided James with a detachable laptop and stand to allow him to work and engage in activities from different postures and positions. James said he hopes having the convenience of a computer at home will help him communicate more and build confidence.
Jeremy is a 15 year old living in Northern Virginia and has CHARGE syndrome, a genetic disability affecting many parts of the body, as well as autism and anxiety disorder. An iPad and app provided by The Eric Fund will support Jeremy’s independence for self-care, home living and leisure activities. Jeremy does not communicate verbally so having access to assistive technology will improve his inter- action with others, particularly at home and during time spent outside of school. Jeremy enjoys swimming, walking and taking things apart, especially things like ceiling fans or anything with screws.
Niqo is a 14 year old from Northern Virginia with Dandy Walker syndrome, a disability affecting balance and coordination. The adaptive bicycle purchased for him by The Eric Fund will help Niqo with coordination, balance and strengthening his muscles. Being able to ride outdoors will also help address a Vitamin D deficiency. Niqo enjoys spending time with his family while watching videos of school buses or Curious George. He is looking forward to riding his new bike on the trails in his community.
LaShay is a 33-year-old woman from Northern Virginia with cerebral palsy and hand weakness who
is pursuing a college degree in Visual Arts. Her hand weakness makes both art and computer skills challenging. She requires extra time to complete assignments and has difficulty using pencil and paper. She received an iPad Air from another source while The Eric Fund provided an Apple pencil, keyboard and protective case for the iPad. The Eric Fund also purchased special gloves that support LaShay’s hands and a stand which provides better positioning for the iPad while she works on school and art projects.
Amad, an 11-year-old boy from Northern Virginia completed 5th grade this year. Amad has autism and communication challenges. His mother explains that Amad is “very social and loves to read, ride his bicycle, go to the playground, and play football with his older brother;” however, he gets frustrated trying to communicate with his family at home. The new iPad with the TouchChat App purchased by The Eric Fund will help Amad to communicate at home where he doesn’t have access to a communication device like the one he uses at school.
Maximo, a 13-year-old boy with autism, ADHD and cerebral palsy, lives in Northern Virginia. He is the oldest and only boy of four siblings. Maximo received a MacBook Pro computer he uses to run STEM programs, play therapeutic games and do speech therapy remotely. An 8th grade honor roll student, Maximo enjoys zoology and science with a focus on genetics and reptiles. He loves spending time with his bearded dragon, “Mew Mew,” his mom says, and “is happiest talking about animals and science, and he’s happier if you do more of the listening.” She told us that his favorite sport is Track and Field and she is confident the computer will help him to continue to grow and succeed.
Jahmil is an 18-year-old teen from Northern Virginia who is blind. Since high school graduation, he has been training in independent living skills, including tech and home skills, braille, travel skills and shop classes. He has always been active, playing football with his older brother and benefiting from his younger sister’s gymnastic skills, crediting them with indirectly teaching him many life skills. After completing his training course, he plans to pursue a BA in communications and a Masters in “cane travel” so that he can be an instructor for the blind community. The MacBook Jahmil received has a built-in screen reader that will help him with his studies, job search and creating music, his passionate hobby. We’re delighted he found The Eric Fund through the MLK Library in DC.
Michelle, a 15-year-old girl from Northern Virginia who has autism and a communication challenge, received an iPad and the Touch Chat app from The Eric Fund. This software blocks out other apps that may distract her from using the tablet solely for its intended speech output capabilities which will help her communicate more effectively. Her mother said the iPad and app allows her family at home to better understand what she’s saying and what toys, food or other necessities she needs. Because she is noise-sensitive, Michelle prefers to draw and play on her own at home and with friends at school. Her teachers describe her as “loving and caring.”
Valerie is a 65-year-old woman from Washington, DC, who is blind. The Eric Fund purchased a Victor Reader Stream, a handheld wireless device with speech-to-text capability to help Valerie take notes, keep a schedule as well as listen to books, magazines, music and read online content. Valerie had been using a device on loan and is thrilled to have a device of her own to track and manage appointments and manage personal and business information.
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.
