11 Aug CHOP Grant Restores a Young Girl’s Voice with New iPad

Through the Community Health Outreach Project (CHOP), CP State – funded by the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation – provides vital financial assistance to individuals with disabilities when all other funding avenues fall short. CHOP helps bridge the gaps in existing systems by covering essential services, equipment, and supports that promote health, independence, and community inclusion for people with disabilities across New York State.

Thanks to CHOP, a young girl named Alexandra – or Ali, as her family calls her – recently received a new iPad and protective case. For nearly eight years, Ali has used her iPad with Proloquo2go software as her AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) device, serving as her voice. But her old iPad was failing, glitching, losing charge, and often needing restarts – making it harder for her to communicate her needs, share her sense of humor, and connect with those around her.

Her mother, Kim, shared that everyone – from Ali’s therapists to her teachers, aides, and family – was thrilled when the new iPad arrived and could be put to use immediately. “Ali has her voice back,” Kim wrote. “She can continue making strides in communication to live her best life!”

Read the full letter below:

Dear CP State and Mother Cabrini Health Foundation,
I would like to express my sincerest thanks for the funding from CHOP and Mother Cabrini Health Foundation that generously granted Alexandra (or Ali, as we call her) a new iPad and protective case.
As a non-speaking child, she has use d an iPad with Proloquo2go software for nearly eight years now as an AAC device, and the original iPad was at the end of its life. It would “glitch” and not speak at times, needing to be restarted many times per day, and it would not hold a charge, which greatly hindered Ali’s ability to communicate her wants, needs, and sense of humor. This was extremely frustrating for Ali, as well as for her team of therapists, teachers, aides, and family who rely on it to be her voice. Everyone was thrilled when we received the new iPad and were able to put it in use immediately.
Thank you for making the process easy and quick – two words not usually used to describe funding for our special-needs kiddos! Ali has her voice back and can continue making strides in communication to live her best life!
Thanks again, and we hope you can continue your mission of helping individuals with disabilities like Ali for many years to come!
Sincerely,
Kim & Ali Santucci