The Society is on Facebook! Become a fan
Special Needs Fund
Special Needs Fund Program converting challenges into opportunities
By Carole McFarlane
Director of Operations
Many individuals of all ages in our community do not have health insurance or the financial resources to purchase the medical and adapted equipment they need to maintain their health and independence.
The Society for Handicapped Special Needs Fund Program was born in 1987 to help meet these basic needs and become a safety net for those who need it most. Today, as more of our population is uninsured, our community ages and health care costs rise, more and more people need assistance to purchase necessary health aids and adapted equipment. Many times even those who have health insurance discover it will not cover the cost of a piece of medical equipment that an individual really needs. Most of these items can be very expensive and completely out of reach financially for the person needing it. As the costs continue to rise and the coverage for the items decrease, more people are left without the items they need to live a healthy and independent life.
Our Special Needs Program really has no boundaries. We have provided funding for a motorized wheelchair for a disabled veteran, , a portable electric wheelchair for a woman needing more mobility, leg braces for a young mom who had not walked since she was a young child, a rehab bike for a man who suffered a stroke and wanted his mobility back, and a wheelchair ramp for an amputee wanting to get out of her house, enjoy the fresh air and her independence. These are very basic needs being fulfilled and are just a few examples of how the Special Needs program enhances the quality of life and self sufficiency for the most needy in our community.
We have also expanded our education outreach through the Special Needs Program by funding a sensory room for John F. Kennedy School; purchasing two therapy dogs, one for a deaf and hard of hearing class and one for emotionally disturbed children, providing hearing aid batteries for young children; and also funding a technology room for emotionally disturbed children at Riverbank School District.
The Special Needs program has provided over $245,000 in equipment and medical aids. Our goal is to help everyone who needs it; to provide independence and ensure healthier lifestyle; in order to do that we need the community to donate to this program. Your neighbor needs your help. You literally can make a huge difference in a person’s life by donating money to this program, providing independence and improved health.
If you want more information about this program or know someone who needs assistance to purchase adapted equipment, medical supplies or needs a wheelchair ramp and can benefit from the assistance of the Special Needs Program please call the Carole McFarlane, Director of Operations at 209-524-3536.
If you would like to donate to this valuable program please call Carole McFarlane, Director of Operations. We always will need your help to continue providing these valuable tools for the disabled children and adults in Stanislaus County to live fuller and healthier lives. Please join us in enlarging and strengthening our safety net so that everyone in our community can have the tools to live the best life possible.