As the holiday season approaches, please know how grateful we are for you! Later, we have a holiday treat for you that will fill your heart with joy— but please keep reading to appreciate what’s ahead!

As our day program participants arrive in vans to their programs, many of them become heroes and tech geniuses as they thrive with empathy, kindness and innovation.

At Ability Beyond they thrive thanks to YOUR support.

They thrive as part of the most techie crew among us—the Ability Beyond TIP Squad (Technology Innovation for Peers). Under the direction of Laurie Dale, Ability Beyond’s Senior Leader of Empowering Tech, the TIP Squad has created and continues to support more than 900 devices to serve the needs of people in our Ability Family!

Michael (above) is testing LipSync— a mouth-operated sip-and-puff joystick emulates a mouse. It enables people who have limited upper body mobility to control a computer, gaming console, smart phone, or tablet. TIP Squad works on LipSync with Ability speech pathologist, Lisa Levy, to best adapt to various abilities.

Laurie’s Squad is also creating adaptive controls for toys such as Tickle-Me-Elmo and plans a Spring Hack-a-thon with other technology groups as a think tank to develop controls for other toys and skill levels. They will also begin testing the APP, Look to Speak, another inexpensive game changer.

THANKS TO YOU, THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS!

Our TIP Squad understands that the conveniences we take for granted are impossible for many people we serve in our Ability Family— their friends, their classmates, their Karaoke buddies.

They work with inexpensive, off-the-shelf electronics and hardware, a 3D printer and custom printed circuit boards for LipSync and hundreds of other creations — and they’ve become life changers!

Responding to a need, removing obstacles to allow others to live life as fully as possible — IS A JOY AS MUCH FOR OUR STUDENT INVENTORS AS IT IS FOR THEIR ABILITY FRIENDS WHOSE LIVES THEY’VE ENRICHED.

It’s one of the MANY REASONS WHY YOUR GIFTS ARE SO TRULY TRANSFORMING, and it’s why we need YOU!

Whether they are creating devices to help members of our AB Family communicate, use personal technology, anticipate safety needs in an Ability home, or construct gizmos to help others carry bags, hold a spoon, or to play a game —building adaptive technology for our Ability Family is as loving a process as it is innovative.

Laurie’s TIP SQUAD interns from Ability’s Day Programs learn technology to support others with disabilities— your support of their work provides meaning and purpose in knowing that their innovations make serious improvements in the quality of lives—here at Ability and as their work spreads to impact others with disabilities.

Armed with soldering irons and splicing tools, young adults with autism, traumatic brain injury, neurological and developmental disabilities become heroes within our Ability Family!

They have special TIP Squad uniforms; wear goggles; cheer for each other and are excited by each step as it progresses toward becoming its final product.

They have FUN, and they see people around them enjoying themselves with greater access to the world.

With your support and as part of Laurie’s team—they make the world safer, happier, and more inclusive place for people with disabilities.

AGAIN, thanks to you, the possibilities are endless!

NOW, HERES THE JOY WE PROMISED YOU!

PLEASE WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW then PLEASE DONATE—See how your kindness builds understanding and confidence along with lifechanging technology—AND FEEL LIKE AN ABILITY HERO TOO! Please continue making the world a better place for everyone we serve!

If you don’t think that’s heroism—please plan to spend time in-person witnessing our TIP Squad at work and hearing them tell you how much YOU mean to us—they would love it— and you will be AMAZED!! Please contact Ability Beyond at 203-826-3019 to plan a visit!

Wishing You Peace, Even More Joy and a Happy, Healthy Holiday Season!

Sincerely,

Jane Davis
President and Chief Executive Officer