A very heartwarming presentation by SIDAF and Ancaster Lions Club was made Tuesday evening to Fiona Campbell of the Technology Access Clinic, McMaster Children’s Hospital.
The money donated is to assist with the outright purchase of speech generating software for a lady named Jennifer in Hamilton who is unable to speak due to a rare, degenerative condition called Central Nervous System Vasculitus; Jen has lost her ability to speak and she also uses a wheelchair, as she can no longer walk. This software is her only means of communication with the outside world and in particular with her daughter who is also challenged with developmental delay.
Fiona made a wonderful presentation, which included a short video of the lady who now has the software to keep instead of it just being leased annually. In the video it shows Jennifer typing out a message of thanks to us all and in turn her computer then spoke the words for her.
The lease on this expensive equipment expires in February, but the Provincial Government (Ministry of Health) offers an 89% subsidy on its renewal through a program called the Assisted Devices Program (ADP). That leaves a one-year lease renewal is $573.31, or alternatively the equipment could be purchased for $1,368.93. Jennifer cannot provide this money herself, because she is unable to work, and her husband is her full-time caregiver.
The Ancaster Lions Club and Soroptimist International of Dundas-Ancaster-Flamborough shared the cost of the purchase price.
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- Jane, Pauline and Shirley from SI-DAF at the Lions meeting
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- Soroptimist and the Ancaster Lions present a cheque to McMaster
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- Fiona Campbell of the Technology Access Clinic gave a presentation
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- Don Stevely – Chairman of the Ancaster Lions with Fiona and Shirley McCoy
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- Shirley, Jane and Pauline from SI-DAF with Fiona