MEDIA RELEASE / WEB ANNOUNCEMENT
Support from CIBC Children’s Foundation helps kids living with disabilities access assistive devices and equipment
Toronto, April 17, 2019 – Easter Seals Canada is pleased to announce that CIBC has generously donated $75,000 in 2018 to support the Easter Seals AccessAbility Program for children living with disabilities.
“We want to thank CIBC and the CIBC Children’s Foundation for providing financial support to enable children 14 years and under who are living with disabilities to acquire the essential assistive, adaptive, communications and learning technology they require which will dramatically improve their quality of life and equip them for future success,” said Dave Starrett, President and CEO Easter Seals Canada.
Through the AccessAbility Program, Easter Seals removes barriers to participation and communication. By providing financial assistance to individuals and families, and delivering direct -to-client programs to help ensure that children living with disabilities have access to the essential assistive, adaptive and learning technology and equipment they need, Easter Seals is empowering recipients to be more active in their communities, to be more independent and confident in their own abilities, and enhance their day-to-day living and educational experiences.
Thanks to CIBC’s donation, Easter Seals was able to approve more applications, reduce the wait list for families in need of support and also reduced the financial strain and stress experienced by families of children living with disabilities.
Among the recipients is the Bravo family in Alberta. “Our son, Ramon, was diagnosed after birth with Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy. He is 8-years old now and is getting bigger everyday. It has been a big stress for us to be constantly lifting and transferring him safely within our home. Easter Seals has an amazing team that has helped us every step of the way. We want to give our most sincere thank you to CIBC and Easter Seals for providing the funding to purchase a Lift Track System and Chair Lift. Their generosity will help improve our daily lives.”
With the funding from CIBC, Easter Seals Canada and its provincial member organizations in five provinces (Alberta, Manitoba, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick) were able to provide direct financial support to 45 children and families, as well as 50 additional children who will now have access to assistive technology and equipment through a variety of Easter Seals summer camps and year-round programs.
“With the support from the CIBC Children’s Foundation, kids can attend camp and have ‘normal’ life experiences. The new commode chair levels the playing field as it provides support for kids with mild to severe physical impairments. Having this new equipment provides a safe, comfortable, effortless experience for the workers. It is adjustable, flexible and able to adapt to the varying needs of the kids, keeping them safe from harm. In enabling us to purchase this equipment, CIBC Children’s Foundation has provided a fundamental equipment necessary to create a safe, positive impact on the kids of this community and their families,” said Michelle Loader, a parent in Newfoundland.
Thank you to CIBC for supporting Easter Seals Canada and helping Canadians living with disabilties be #UNSTOPPABLETM.
About Easter Seals Canada
Easter Seals is Canada’s largest local provider of programs, services, and issues-leadership and development for the disability community. Since 1922, Easter Seals Canada and its provincial member organizations have been working to create a more inclusive and accessible society that includes and honours the contributions and potential of Canadians of all abilities. Easter Seals responds to the needs and aspirations of Canadians living with disabilities – and their families – by providing services that enhance their independence, well-being and quality of life; and by offering leadership that promote increased awareness, research and investment in disability issues.
For more information about Easter Seals, please contact:
- Ana Maria Faria, Vice-President of National Development, Easter Seals Canada. Email: afaria@easterseals.ca, Tel: 1877376-6362 ext. 226. www.easterseals.ca
- Follow Easter Seals: Facebook (EasterSealsCanada), Twitter (@EasterSeals)