Jenni라는 분이 작성한 글 " Ultimate List of Grants and Resources for Families with Special Needs"를 퍼왔습니다. 메디칼 서포트가 필요하거나 특수교육을 받고 있는 가정에 도움이 될 만한 보조금 및 지원 관련 리스트입니다. 디스카운트 프로그램들도 있고 무료 서비스도 있어서 제정적으로 직접적인 도움이 되길 바랍니다. 이렇게 다양한 프로그램들이 서로에게 좋은 영향을 끼치며 도움을 주려고 존재하고 있다는 것이 참 감동스럽고 감사한 일입니다.
Ultimate Guide to:
-Grants for medical equipment
-Help with medical bills
-Free places to visit
-Free summer camps
-Free gifts to brighten their day
-Free room makeovers
-Wish organizations
Wish Organizations
These organization will grant a wish to a child with a life threatening or sometimes chronic health condition.
Make-A-Wish
Dream Factory
Sunshine Foundation
Kids Wish Network
Hope Kids
Jason’s Dream for Kids
The Marty Lyons Foundation
Angelwish
A Special Wish
Take a Breather Foundation, for children with cystic fibrosis
Clayton Dabney for kids with cancer, assists families in making memories during end stage cancer
*each organization has their own criteria for referring a child and geographical area they serve
Medical Equipment/Medical Assistance
UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation, offers grants for kids 16 years old or younger for services health insurance does not cover
McLindon Family Foundation, provides adaptive bicycles for children with special needs.
Danielle’s Foundation, provides assistance for families of children with cerebral palsy and brain injuries
Alex’s Lemonade Stand, provides travel grants to medical institutions for families battling childhood cancer
The Arya Foundation, provides medical equipment such as ramps, special beds and walking aides
MY GYM Challenged America, provides grants for medical equipment and therapy equipment for families with special needs
The Lindsay Foundation, provides medical care, treatment and rehab equipment grants
Stepping Stones for Stella, provides buggies for children with special needs to enjoy outdoors to its fullest
The Danny Did Foundation, provides seizure/epilepsy devices to children in need
First Hand Foundation, provides financial assistance for medical care, vehicle modification and travel
Chelsea Hutchison Foundation, provides seizure monitoring and seizure assistance dogs
June Brandy Foundation, assists families with children who have pediatric illness/disability
Alyssa V. Phillips Foundation, assists children with cerebral palsy to help with therapies or other medical treatments insurance doesn’t cover
Variety of United States, provides equipment and services for mobility, independence and social inclusion
The Prayer Child Foundation, provides assistance to children with disabilities to enhance quality of life
Wheel to Walk Foundation, assists with equipment not provided by insurance
Small Steps in Speech, grant funds for speech and language disorder therapies
Gwendolyn Strong Foundation, provides iPads for children with spinal muscular atrophy
Silent Stars, provides iPads for children with Childhood Apraxia of Speech
Go Shout Love, features a family battling a rare illness and raises funds for them
Angel Flight, free medical and compassion flights
Aubrey Rose Foundation, assists families with medical expenses
Believe in Tomorrow Children’s Foundation, provides medical and respite housing to critically ill children and their families
Bryan’s Dream Foundation, assist families of children with brain tumors
Eden’s Hope, assists families of children with neuroblastoma
Friend’s of Man, assists with medical and mobility equipment and prothesis
Snap4Kids, provides modest grants to families in need
Fred’s Footsteps, provides financial assistance to families during a child’s illness
Family Reach, financial assistance for families of children with cancer
Matthew Larson Foundation, assists families of children with brain tumors
Wheelchairs 4 Kids, provides assistive devices and medical equipment to families in need
Project Mend, refurbishes mobility devices and assists families with medical equipment needs
TJ Joy Memorial Fund, assists families in obtaining seizure monitoring devices
Gia Nicole Angel Foundation, assist with purchase of medical equipment
Building Blocks for Kids, provides grants for health related needs
Challenged Athletes Foundation, provides grants for paralympic sports related needs
Different Needz Foundation, provides grants for medical equipment and/or services
Hands to Angels, helps families of children with rare genetic disorders
Hannah and Friends, provides quality of life grants for individuals with developmental disabilities in Indiana, the Michiana area, New York, Rhode Island, and Florida
Grotto Humanitarian Foundation, provides dental services for children with special needs
The HIKE Fund, provides hearing devices for children in need
Kya’s Krusade, grants for therapies
Maggie Welby Foundation, provides grants to families in need
Mark’s Money, grants for individuals with Down Syndrome residing in Tennessee or Indiana
Miracle Ear Foundation, provides free hearing aids to individuals in need
Molly Bear Foundation, grants for families of children with Trisomy 18
Ray Tye Medical Foundation, funds life saving medical care and surgeries for those without insurance
The M.O.R.G.A.N. Project, provides the tools for a therapeutic and fun experience to children with physical and developmental needs
Free Gifts and Services
Santa’s Little Hackers, sends children with special needs an adaptive toy at Christmas time
Seedlings Braille Books, free braille books/articles for students in grades 1-12
Wishers and Dreamers, free hospital gowns for your child’s doll/bear
Gracie’s Gowns, free custom made hospital gowns for children with life-threatening illnesses
The Butterfly Fund, clothing, services and care for children with Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB)
Kyler Koat Project, provides warm capes for children and adults in wheelchairs
Ben’s Blankets, free weighted blankets for children with sensory needs
Special Kids Photography of America provides grants for family pictures
Grains of Love, provides love packages for individuals in need of comfort
Blessing Boxes, provide toys for children with chronic illnesses or injuries
Feel Better Friends, sends children with cancer and other illnesses a crochet doll stuffed with love and well wishes
Shadow Buddies, sends a doll buddy to your child for emotional support in time of need
Sweet Dreams for Kids, provides a free pair of pajamas for children who are in hospitals
Lara’s Gowns for Smiles, provides a colorful hospital gown for children who are in hospitals
Hugginz by Angel, provides blankets and pillows to comfort children dealing with serious illness, medical condition or tragedy
Project Fairy Dust & Magic Wands, provides a handmade tiaras for princesses in distress
Peach’s Neet Feet, creates custom decorated shoes for children with a qualifying medical condition
Tiny Superheroes, sends a cape to your little superhero
Bianca’s Kids, provides needed wishes for families
Knitting Rays of Hope, knits hats for cancer patients, babies in NICU and other special deliveries
Ween Dream, collects and delivers Halloween costumes for children with medical conditions and children in need
Butterflies for Courageous Kids, sends a butterfly of encouragement for children battling cancer and other medical conditions
Sharing the Weight, provides free weighted blankets to children who could benefit from one
Special Spaces, creates dream bedrooms for children with critical illnesses
Room to Dream, bedrooms designed for children in need
Graham’s Foundation, sends a care package to families with premature babies
Icing Smiles, works with bakers provide free birthday cake to a child or a sibling impacted by a serious illness
Free Places to Go
Dream Night: ask your local Zoo if they participate in this wonderful program reserved only for medical/special needs families
Surf Dreams Foundation: currently various cities on the east coast, helping children experience surfing for the first time
Give Kids the World: a popular wish organization destination, see database for participating organizations
Buckmaster’s Life Hunts provides a hunting experience for a child with critical illness or severe disability
Camp Sunshine a retreat for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families
Catch-A-Dream, once in a lifetime hunting and fishing experiences for children with life-threatening illnesses
Hunt of a Lifetime, hunting and wishing dreams for children with life-threatening illnesses
Outdoor Dream Foundation, outdoor adventures for children with terminal or lifethreatening illnesses
Ride A Wave, a special day at the beach for children with special needs
United Special Sportsmen Alliance, sends critically ill and terminally ill youth and disabled veterans on outdoor adventures
Epilepsy Foundation-Texas, free summer camps for children with epilepsy
Amputee Coalition, free summer camp for children with limb differences in Ohio
Connecticut Burns Foundation, free summer camp for children with life altering burn injuries
Paul Newman Camps: Double H Ranch, The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp and Camp Boggy Creek (and many more) are all free to campers
Some tips when applying for grants:
1. Read the criteria and requirements carefully. That way you are not wasting your time filling out applications and the non-profit can focus on the people they have set up their program for.
2. Speak with your child’s physician or therapist to see if a particular equipment would be helpful or if there might be a better choice before applying.
3. If you are chosen for a grant, follow up with a thank you letter and pictures. Many non-profits depend on these updates to share with their donors so that other children can be served.
4. Don’t give up. If you are not chosen for a grant, check out local lending closets, ask around in local mom groups or set up a personal fundraiser. We all need a little help sometimes.