News » Indiana Assistive Technology Blog

Greenfield Girl's Lemonade Stand Raises Over $1,000 for Charity

Jul 122010

Lemonade Stand

An eight-year old girl raised hundreds of dollars for a second year in a row selling lemonade for a good cause. Anna Scott sold lemonade at her lemonade stand during her family’s garage sale this past weekend.

Anna plans to split her money raised between Easter Seals Crossroads Autism Resource Center and her uncle recently diagnosed with stage four lung cancer. Anna raised $1,600 last year from her lemonade stand, and has set a goal to raise $2,000 this year. This past weekend, Anna raised $1,400 for her cause.

Anna has gotten inspiration from the book, Lemonade for Sale, and her hard work has been a success for a good cause.

Best Buddies of Indiana Volunteer Search

Events, News No Responses »

Jun 162010

Kids Holding Hands

Best Buddies is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, and leadership training. As they approach their 21st Annual Best Buddies International Leadership Conference, they are thrilled to welcome over 1,000 high school and college students with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities from around the world to Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana on July 23-26, 2010.

Best Buddies are in need of over 100 volunteers to assist us in these four days of learning, leadership development, and FUN! Please contact Rebecca at rebeccascherpelz@bestbuddies.org or (317) 436-8440, extension 45 for more information.

CICOA Provides Weekend Meals for Homebound Seniors

Events, News No Responses »

Jun 112010

Hands at 87 Years

INDATA congratulates CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions for receiving a $70,000 grant from the Indianapolis Retirement Home Fund (IRH Fund), a CICF Fund, to provide weekend meals for 240 vulnerable homebound seniors. The grant was made possible by the Elders at the Table project (EAT), which improves the fragmented food provision system for seniors in central Indiana.

CICOA’s nutrition program, Meals and More, serves more than a half-million meals annually to seniors who are predominately homebound, have difficulty with access to food or are at risk of institutionalized care. In addition to providing hot, nutritious meals each weekday, in the past CICOA also offered the option of receiving two frozen meals, which clients could reheat as needed on weekends.

Because of funding cuts, CICOA discontinued weekend meal delivery in February 2010. The IRH Fund grant will enable CICOA to reinstate weekend meals beginning July 1.

“This client population is among the most vulnerable,” said CICOA President and CEO Orion H. Bell IV. “Many have serious health and mobility issues which prevent them from supplying food on their own. We are grateful for partners like the Indianapolis Retirement Home Fund that promote quality of life for older adults in central Indiana.”

For the May 2010 grant round, The Indianapolis Retirement Home Fund awarded $207,000 in grants to six organizations including CICOA. The Indianapolis Retirement Home Fund financially supports programs and services that promote overall good health and wellness, ensure that the basic needs of the low-income are met, enable older adults to reside in the environments of their choice, and provide life-affirming opportunities.

Learn more about CICOA on their web site or visit them on Facebook.

Hear Indiana Youth Leadership Camp

Events, News 2 Responses »

Jun 092010

Girl Giving Thumbs Up

Hear Indiana Youth Leadership Camp offers children and teenagers with hearing loss who are mainstreamed and using auditory oral communication, the opportunity to further their leadership and assertiveness skills in a structured atmosphere of “fun with a purpose.”

The exciting camp experience is for youth ages 8-18. Activities are specifically designed for older campers ages 12-18 and younger campers ages 8-11. Great care has been given to tailoring activities and supervision to each age group ensuring each camper a safe, fulfilling and fun experience.

The programs promote open discussion on many topics unique to individuals with hearing loss who are mainstreamed. The use of positive coping skills is stressed in discussions as well as activities. Campers will participate in dialogue and outdoor activities specifically designed to provide them with opportunities to develop leadership skills and build self-confidence.

Camp is held at Bradford Woods, State Road 67 North, in Martinsville, Indiana and takes place July 18-23, 2010. For more information, visit hearindiana.org.

Ball State Student with Disabilities Wins National Debate Tournament

News 1 Response »

May 262010

Person using Braille display, photo credited to holisticmonkey on flickr

R.J. Crace is the first student ever to win the President’s Award for outstanding contribution to public debate. This award is typically given to teams or coaches, but this year Crace took home the prize for his hard-earned accomplishments. Completely blind and hearing impaired, Crace went up against many challenges to help his team win 2010 NEDA tournament for Ball State University. Congratulations!

Crace graduated with honors from Ball State University this Spring. As a Communications major, he reported for the university’s television station and is fond of doing radio. Watch a video interview with Crace on Fox 59.

Technology for Aging - Device Demo in Evansville, Indiana

AT Basics, AT Loan Library, INDATA Team, News No Responses »

May 212010

Hands at 87 Years

There are an estimated 80 million Baby Boomers in the United States, and more than 8,000 people are turning the age of 60 each day. Aging can cause physiological changes, including vision and hearing loss and decreased mobility.

The INDATA Project at Easter Seals Crossroads is hosting a year-long series of free statewide “Demo Days” showcasing assistive technology devices for a wide variety of disabilities. The next “Demo Day” will feature devices that assist people as they age and will take place Thursday, June 3, at Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center, 3701 Bellemeade Ave., in Evansville.

To register for your free half-hour appointment during “Demo Day,” contact Carol Girt at 1-888-466-1314. Please register by 4 p.m. on Wednesday, June 2. If you are interested in learning about assistive technology devices for other disabilities, please contact Carol Girt.

A variety of devices will be demonstrated, with a particular emphasis on aging, including: phones, handheld magnifiers, handheld CCTVs, pill splitters, smart shoppers, card holders and TV ears.

The “Demo Day” gives those individuals who make an appointment the opportunity to experience an abbreviated one-on-one device demonstration, during which they learn how assistive technology can increase independence through a hands-on session with the many low-tech and high-tech assistive technology devices available.

In some cases, the assistive technology provided can ultimately determine whether someone is able to work outside of their home or attend a public school. In addition, that technology can be used to help better the interaction and communication between individuals and their families or friends.