Tag Archives: organization

Magic Wheelchair

Magic Wheelchair is a nonprofit organization that makes epic Halloween costumes for children in wheelchairs.

Their vision is to put a smile on the face of every child in a wheelchair by transforming their wheelchairs into awesomeness created by their hands and their imaginations.

Their mission is to give kids in wheelchairs an unforgettable Halloween by creating custom costumes for them at no expense to their families

Kids, with their parents’ permission can submit a 1-3 minute video telling them what they want to be for Halloween and why they should be selected for this year’s Magic Wheelchair Build. They will review the submissions and select 5 children, who will then work with designers and builders to create the ultimate wheelchair costume in time for Halloween!

Being in a wheelchair can be tough, so they want to help kids make something truly epic. To do that requires time, money and the support of people like you. But when they’re done, they will change the life of a young wheelchair rider. See some of the costumes here.or check out their Pinterest account.

For more information about Magic Wheelchair you can visit their website or their Facebook Page.

Asperger Syndrome

About AS:

It is a neurological disorder that affects the way information is processed in the brain.
AS is a hidden disability. Many people appear very competent, but they have difficulties in the areas of communication and social interaction.
AS has a genetic and hereditary component and may have additional or interactive environmental causes as yet unknown.
AS is a developmental disability. All individuals have social/emotional delays, but continued growth seems to be life-long.
The incidence of AS is thought to be 1 in 250. As many as 50% of people with AS may be undiagnosed.
There are currently four males diagnosed with AS for every one female, but the true ratio may be as high as one female for every two males.

AS affects each person differently, although there is a core set of features that most people with AS have, to different extents:

People with AS have normal to very high intelligence and have good verbal skills.
Challenges with the use and understanding of language in a social context.
Trouble understanding what someone else is thinking and feeling (called theory of mind or perspective taking).
Needing to be taught social behavior that is “picked up on” intuitively by others.
Difficulty understanding non-verbal cues such as hand movements, facial expressions, and tone of voice.
Challenges with organization, initiation, prioritizing, all called executive functioning tasks.
Focusing on small details rather than the bigger picture
Most people with AS have intense interest areas such as movies, geography, history, math, physics, cars, horses, dogs or reptiles. These interest areas change every 3 months to several years
Friendships are usually formed through mutual interest areas or activities.
Most people with AS view the world in black and white with difficulty compromising or seeing the gray areas.
Most individuals with AS describe themselves as feeling different, like aliens in our world.
Anxiety and/or depression are major components for many people with AS and may affect their ability to function.
Some individuals with AS have extreme and debilitating hyper- or hypo-sensitivity to light, noise, touch, taste, or smell. The environment can have a profound impact on their ability to function.

Miracle Flights for Kids

Founded in 1985, Miracle Flights for Kids® is a national, 501(c)(3), nonprofit organization dedicated to helping low income very sick children overcome financial obstacles that prevent them from accessing proper medical care and second opinions.

Miracle Flights for Kids® helps fly children who are struggling with serious cancers and other debilitating diseases to specialized medical treatment centers across the U.S. Any child needing medical treatment or seeking out a second opinion not available in their own hometown is eligible to apply for a miracle flight.

Given the growing costs of health care today and how often illnesses can lead to monetary troubles, the Miracle Flights for Kids® program serves those families who are unable to manage the financial burden of getting their children to life-saving treatments far from home. That is why miracle flights are so important to all of America’s children. To date, Miracle Flights has coordinated more than 90,000 free flights, flying over 49 million miles.

Miracle Flights for Kids® exists to help families get the care their child so desperately needs, at no cost to them, as many times as required.