Funding Resources for Special Needs & Adaptive Equipment

Make a Wish
(800)722-WISH (9474)
www.wish.org

Together, we create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Wishes inspire and have the power to transform lives. Wishes help kids look past their limitations, families overcome anxiety, and entire communities experience joy. Most importantly, wishes improve a child’s quality of life, giving them a better chance of recovering.

The Able Trust
(850) 224-4493
www.abletrust.org

The Able Trust grant program's goal is to provide funds to qualifying organizations to assist individuals with disabilities gain competitive employment of their choice in their community. The Able Trust recognizes the great diversity of people across the state of Florida and is fully committed to providing grant funding opportunities that serve different disability populations in both Florida’s urban and rural areas.

Action For Autism
(636) 227-2339
www.afastl.org

ACTION FOR AUTISM helps families attain the care, treatment, and educational support they may not otherwise be able to receive. Funds assist with cost of schooling, physical, occupational, and speech therapies; provide care and support for children and families; help parents learn how to better support and teach their child; and also help families attain other services specific to the needs of their child.

Barr Foundation
(561) 391-7601
thebarrfoundation.org

The Barr Foundation is a non-profit organization established in 1992 to assist amputees with prosthetic rehabilitation. Our mission is to advance education and improve community support for amputees of the world. The Barr Foundation strives to improve the amputee's quality of life through access to proper prosthetic care and by encouraging improvements in the care system.

Camp New Hope
(217) 895-2341
www.cnhinc.org

Camp New Hope, Inc. offers summer camp and year-round respite programs for children with developmental disabilities.

Charles N Gorham Memorial Fund
(815) 394-4616

Charles N. Gorham Memorial Fund support only disabled children under the age of 15 years who reside in Winnebago County, Illinois.

Children's Wish Foundation
(800) 323-WISH (3474)
www.childrenswish.org

Since its inception, Children's Wish Foundation has continued to expand its programs to enhance the lives of children with life-threatening illnesses. Recognizing our families' needs outside of the scope of wish fulfillment, we stepped up our commitment to the children by developing a hospital enrichment program wherein we place educational and entertainment materials in children's hospitals throughout the world. We also created a Family Focus program that allows our Wish Families a respite from hospital or treatment life. Children's Wish Foundation is dedicated to bringing joy and happiness to children with life-threatening illness around the world. This dedication has created memorable experiences in 53 countries.

Division of Specialized Care for Children
(800) 322-3722
www.dscc.uic.edu

Division of Specialized Care for Children offers care coordination and cost-supported diagnosis and treatment for children with chronic health impairments determined eligible for program support.

The Dream Factory
(800) 456-7556
www.dreamfactoryinc.org

The Dream Factory is the only children’s wish-granting organization that does not limit its mission to children who have life-threatening illness. The organization believes children with chronic illnesses and disorders also suffer from substantial emotional and physical pain. We strive to provide hope and relief from the trauma and corresponding stress and depression that both the children and their families can endure on a day-to-day basis. Doctors agree that providing a dream can improve the quality of life for these children and extend the life of a critically ill child.

Easter Seals
(800) 221-6827
www.easterseals.com

Easter Seals Disability Services offers help, hope and answers to more than a million children and adults living with autism and other disabilities or special needs and their families each year. Services and support are provided through a network of more than 550 sites in the U.S. and through Ability First Australia. Each center provides exceptional services that are individualized, innovative, family-focused and tailored to meet specific needs of the particular community served.

Elks
(773) 755-4700
www.elks.org

Elks is a fraternal order with nearly a million members and a 141-year history, a network of more than 2000 lodges in communities all over the country, a generous charitable foundation that each year gives millions in scholarships, an inspiration to youth, a friend to veterans and more. To inculcate the principles of Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love and Fidelity; to recognize a belief in God; to promote the welfare and enhance the happiness of its Members; to quicken the spirit of American patriotism; to cultivate good fellowship; to perpetuate itself as a fraternal organization, and to provide for its government, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the United States of America will serve the people and communities through benevolent programs, demonstrating that Elks Care and Elks Share.

First Hand Foundation is a nonprofit organization that helps children with health-related needs when insurance and other financial resources have been exhausted. Our mission is to directly impact the health status of a young life. Since our inception in 1995, First Hand has assisted more than 93,000 children in 73 countries around the world.

George S Weeks Trust

c/o Bank On Trust Co., N.A.
P.O. Box 1308
Milwaukee, WI 53201

Financial assestance to needy, legally blind individuals of Fayette and Bourbon Counties, KY, for equipment, supplies, and training.

Helping From Heaven
(847) 624-LEXI (5394)
www.helpingfromheaven.org

Helping From Heaven - The Lexi Kazian Foundation is a non-profit foundation dedicated to improving the comfort and quality of life for children with special needs. This is accomplised by providing education, therapy and playground equipment, therapy toys, resources and scholarships for families and therapists in need of financial assistance and/or community support.

The Hero Network is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit organization that seeks to supports the community of individuals working online who grant the needs and wants of others making a wish. We believe that no wish is too large, no hero is too small and that everyone can become a hero.

Illinois Assistive Technology Program
(217) 522-7985
www.iltech.org

The Illinois Assistive Technology Program (IATP) is a statewide, not-for-profit agency, in our twentieth year of service. Our mission is to enable people with disabilities so they can fully participate in all aspects of life. We believe disability is a natural part of the human experience and in no way diminishes a person's right.

Illinois Elks Children's Care Corporation
(800) 272-0074
www.illinois-elks.org

The Illinois Elks Children's Care Corporation program generates direct assistance to physically challenged children and scholarship assistance to physical/occupational therapy students in Illinois. The program assists any child under the age of 21 who is a legal resident of the State of Illinois with medical assistance, as long as it falls within the IECCC scope and guidelines.

Illinois Youth with Disabilities Leadership Summit
(866) 224-1197
www.silcofillinois.org

Illinois Youth with Disabilities Leadership Summit assists youths who wish to apply should have a disability, be between the ages of 17-24, live in Illinois and have a strong desire to learn and grow as a leader. This Summit will empower young leaders to learn from each other and from successful adults with disabilities who are recognized leaders and role models.

Founded in 1984, Indiana Children's Wish Fund is the only wish granting organization in the State of Indiana accredited by and a member of the "Association of Wish Granting Organizations". We are not affiliated with, or a part of, any national or other wish granting group. Indiana Children's Wish Fund (ICWF) grants the wishes of only Indiana children between the ages of 3-18 who have been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. The average cost of a wish is $5,500 and funding is made possible through the support of corporate donations, individuals, and fundraising events.

Joni and Friends International Disability Center
(818) 707-9707
www.joniandfriends.org

The Joni and Friends International Disability Center has a Wheels for the World program that provides wheelchairs to children and adults affected by disability worldwide. 21 offices nationwide. International offices in Europe, Pacific Rim, Africa and Asia.

Kids Wish Network
(888) 918-9004
www.kidswishnetwork.org

Since 1997, Kids Wish Network has been making dreams come true for thousands of children all over the country. The charity started out with the single purpose of granting wishes to children suffering with life-threatening conditions. Since then we have created numerous programs benefiting kids nationwide. The catalyst for launching these programs began when it became clear to us that the children we serve demonstrated needs above and beyond the extent of wishes.

Kiwanis International
(800) 549-2647
www.kiwanis.org

Kiwanis International was founded in 1915 in Detroit, Michigan. In the early years, members focused on business networking. In 1916, Kiwanis became an international organization with the creation of the Kiwanis Club of Hamilton, Ontario. In 1919, the organization changed its focus to service. By 1962, worldwide expansion was approved. In 1987, women officially were allowed into the membership.

The Knights of Columbus organization was formed in 1882 to render financial aid to members and their families. Mutual aid and assistance are offered to sick, disabled and needy members and their families. Social and intellectual fellowship is promoted among members and their families through educational, charitable, religious, social welfare, war relief and public relief works. The Knights of Columbus has grown from several members in one council to more than 13,000 councils and 1.7 million members throughout the United States, Canada, the Philippines, Mexico, Poland, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Panama, the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands, Cuba, Guatemala, Guam and Saipan.

Les Turner ALS Foundation
(847) 679-3311
www.lesturnerals.org

The Les Turner ALS Foundation is the only independent publicly supported non-profit organization in the Chicago-area devoted solely to the treatment and elimination of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), better known as Lou Gehrig's disease. The Foundation's programs are available to all ALS patients and caregivers, regardless of where they receive their medical care.

Louis S. Oppenheim Trust
(309) 655-5385

Medical and living expenses to financially needy, blind residents of Peoria County, IL.

The Marty Lyons Foundation's Wish program for any child between the ages of three (3) and seventeen (17) inclusive who has been diagnosed as having a terminal or life threatening illness by their attending physician and confirmed by the Foundation’s medical advisors shall be eligible. OPerates 9 chapters throughout the U.S.

Missouri
(866) 583-2392
www.mofirststeps.com

Missouri First Steps offers coordinated services and assistance to young children with special needs and their families. First Steps is designed for children, birth to age 3, who have delayed development or diagnosed conditions that are associated with developmental disabilities.

Muscular Dystrophy Family Foundation's No Boundries
(317) 615-9140
www.mdff.org

Muscular Dystrophy Family Foundation's No Boundries exists to provide resources, services, and adaptive equipment to enable patients with muscular dystrophy and their family members to live independent and productive lives.

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society's Direct Assistance program relieves some of the financial burden that comes with purchasing the goods and services needed to manage MS when other resources (private insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, or other personal/community resources) aren't available. The Society helps people affected by MS by funding cutting-edge research, driving change through advocacy, facilitating professional education, and providing programs and services that help people with MS and their families move their lives forward.

National Spinal Cord Injury Association
(718) 803-3782
www.spinalcord.org

Founded in 1948, the National Spinal Cord Injury Association is the nation's oldest and largest civilian organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for hundreds of thousands of Americans living with the results of spinal cord injury and disease (SCI/D) and their families. This number grows by thirty newly-injured people each day.

The mission of The Rainbow Connection is to grant wishes to Michigan children with life threatening or terminal illnesses. A child must be between the ages of 2 ½ and 18 years old and be diagnosed with a life threatening illness. A licensed physician will verify the illness and refer the child for a wish. The child must not have received a wish previously from any wish-granting organization. The child must lives in the state of Michigan.

Rest Haven Children's Help Fund is a California
(858) 576-0590
www.resthavenchf.org

Rest Haven Children's Help Fund is a California 501 c (3) nonprofit corporation dedicated to addressing the health needs of children. Rest Haven’s mission is to provide funds for health related services for children in San Diego and Imperial counties when no other funds are available. To fulfill this mission Rest Haven Children’s Health Fund provides one time or short term funding for health related needs for individual children who meet our eligibility requirements. Funds are also provided to assist health care development and to purchase needed services.

Scott Rose Foundation
(606) 862-4221

Support only to disabled, disadvantaged young residents of southeastern KY.

Shriners Hospitals for Children
(813) 281-0300
www.shrinershq.org

Shriners Hospitals for Children® is a health care system of 22 hospitals dedicated to improving the lives of children by providing specialty pediatric care, innovative research and outstanding teaching programs. Every year, Shriners Hospitals for Children® provides care for thousands of kids with orthopaedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate, in a family-centered environment regardless of the patients’ ability to pay. It's how Shriners Hospitals for Children® has been Changing the World through Caring for Kids since 1922.

SKIP of New York
(212) 268-5999
www.skipofny.org

SKIP of New York is the way home for chronically ill and developmentally disabled children. Each child is partnered with a service coordinator and a supervisor. Each service coordinator supports about 20-25 families per month. Those families can be with them for a short period of time or for a lifetime. They are called upon to reach out and assist with every aspect of the child’s life. Service coordinators are involved with educational systems, medical emergencies, appeals processes, anything and everything that touches a family’s life.

The Special Needs Assistance Program
(309) 235-2385
www.cisnap.org

The Special Needs Assistance Program (SNAP) provides specialized equipment, services, and education for children with special needs and their families in order to promote independence and quality of life. In order to be considered for SNAP's assistance, a potential candidate must be between the ages of 3 and 21 with a diagnosed physical or cognitive disability. Priority attention is applied to applicants with a low income status.

Sunshine Foundation's sole purpose is to answer the dreams of chronically ill, seriously ill, physically challenged and abused children, ages three to eighteen, whose families cannot fulfill their requests due to the financial strain that child's illness may cause. Sunshine's mission is to answer the dreams of chronically ill, seriously ill, physically challenged and abused children between the ages of 3 and 18. All children need something to believe in, to know dreams can come true. Whether the dream is a visit with a celebrity hero, a family outing, a trip to Orlando, or a special gift, Sunshine Foundation has granted over 34,500 dreams to these special children. Sunshine Foundation, the original wish-granting organization, is one of the few charities that makes dreams come true not only terminally ill children, but chronically ill and abused children as well.

The Travis Roy Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the life of spinal cord injured individuals and families by providing adaptive equipment and to finding a cure through increased funding of research, resulting in self-reliance and the ability to be as independent as possible.

Variety Club has been helping children in need since 1927, and it all begins with people like you. At the heart of Variety's achievements are the remarkable contributions of people in the community, and it is only through their time and effort that we are able to do so much for special children everywhere. Variety's impact is felt year round in the lives of children of each community where we have a local chapter. Each Board of Directors is made up of altruistic business men and women working at the grassroots level to bring money and assistance where it is needed the most. Because each chapter is the best judge of the needs in its own community, Variety encourages local chapters to create their own fundraising events and decide how to spend the money raised.
info@usvariety.org

The U.S chapters of Variety - The Children’s Charity are a multi-million dollar philanthropic organization with locations throughout the United States. Starting with a baby left on the doorsteps of a movie theater in 1928, we have continued to be a group of local business men and women, many of whom hail from the theater and movie business, reaching out to children in need. Today, through the efforts of our enthusiastic volunteers and generous corporate contributors, we remain true to our heritage by bringing children real, tangible help. Over 26 locations throughout the U.S.

Wheel to Walk Foundation
(503) 257-1401
www.wheeltowalk.com

The Wheel to Walk Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to making a difference in the lives of children age 21 and younger with special needs. We are a 100 percent volunteer organization with no paid employees. We help children who experience difficulty obtaining funding from their insurance companies. To date, we have helped over 625 children obtain essential equipment or services that they needed to make their day to day lives just a little easier. If you need financial assistance with anything from leg braces, bath chairs, gait trainers to therapy tricycles and wheelchairs, please contact us at the phone number on the left or email us so we can email you an application.

Wish Upon A Star
(800) 821-6805
www.wishuponastar.org

Wish Upon A Star is a non-profit, law enforcement effort designed to grant the wishes of children afflicted with high-risk and life threatening illnesses. Our services are available to children throughout the state of California, ages 3 through 18 years. We have granted over 1800 wishes in our 26 years of service.

The mission of Zane’s Foundation Inc. is to provide financial support to families of special needs children through funds designated for respite care, therapies, or other assistive equipment. Zane’s Foundation will help families attain some of those unique things that the special needs child should have to allow for a more productive life. Through fund-raising efforts and grants, Zane’s Foundation will provide financial assistance to families. Funding for families with special needs children is the cornerstone of Zane’s Foundation.

For any additions please contact webmaster@especialneeds.com