Helping Verbally Disabled Children with Donation of 36 iPads
Helping Verbally Disabled Children with Donation of 36 iPads
Donation made possible by generous financial contribution from 100 Women Who Care Salt Lake City chapter
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – As the new school year begins, 36 students in the Canyons School District’s Special Education programs will receive brand new Apple iPads and adaptive accessories to help them communicate. This generous donation from Uplift Community Alliance was made possible by a $26,505 Impact Award from the Salt Lake City chapter of 100 Women Who Care.
“We are incredibly grateful to 100 Women Who Care for their support,” said Uplift Board Member Carol Coulter. “This donation will provide these students with additional ways to communicate, improving their ability to connect with their families, teachers, and peers. It’s an honor to contribute to such a meaningful cause.”
Our organization has worked with the Canyons School District for eight years to provide new clothing to students in need through its Operation School Bell program. However, when the district approached us with an urgent need for iPad “talkers” equipped with Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) software, the organization knew it needed to seek additional financial and community support. “While classrooms in the Canyons School District have iPad talkers available, these newly donated devices will be given to students for their personal use at home. The students will own these devices, sparing families the expense of purchasing their own,” said Nathan Edvalson,Canyons School District’s Special Education Director. “Having access to these devices outside of school will empower students to practice and use their communication skills during evenings, weekends, and school holidays.”
Uplift Community Alliance submitted a proposal to the Salt Lake City chapter of 100 Women Who Care, a group of 250 women in the Salt Lake community who each commit to donating $100 quarterly towards a local nonprofit or charity. Since its inception in 2015, the Salt Lake City chapter has contributed over $700,000 to local charities. Their collective monetary donation is going directly to providing iPads and adaptive accessories tailored to each student’s needs.
Uplift Community Alliance provided the AAC software, ensuring the students can use these devices to communicate effectively both at school and at home. Canyons School District will be supporting School Teams and Parents with software training, support for access, and using the software purchased for students in the District.