Our Stories

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DOROTHY

Dorothy Read

Dorothy Read received a power wheelchair through our Assistive Devices program.

“After three and a half years of being unable to leave my house or get out into my yard, I was feeling incredibly isolated.

Somehow, “thank you” seems totally inadequate for the gift of freedom that the Easter Seals Assistive Devices program has given to me. I must confess, when I navigated into the yard, I had to stop as I was overcome with emotion…just tears of joy.

What a wonderful program you have created! You can be certain I shall be singing.” | Dorothy Read of rural Nova Scotia, 2020

Supported completely by the fundraising efforts of Easter Seals Nova Scotia, the Assistive Devices program offers new and refurbished mobility equipment and adaptive aids to youth, adults and seniors throughout the province.

All of our equipment is professionally sanitized, repaired and then catalogued for Occupational Therapists to easily access the information through our digitalized system. Families can also access our inventory directly through our staff where we can arrange to deliver the equipment for an easy transition.

Our current caseload is well over 500 families and the demand for this program steadily rises each year.

JILL

JILLIANNE

Jillianne is an energetic, caring and charismatic Grade 5 student who loves dancing and being with her friends at school. She has cerebral palsy, epilepsy and global developmental delays and requires mobility support for her entire school day. She self-propels a manual wheelchair and since the start of her schooling has used a body support walker. This piece of equipment is vital to help her support her body to stand and participate in social and academic activities such as cooking, gym games, and art.

This incredibly adjustable piece of equipment allows Jillianne to continue to mobilize independently at school, taking a break from her wheelchair, so she can interact with her peers and participate in learning activities. It allows her to continue with her daily physiotherapy program at school that focuses on maintaining her strength and flexibility so she does not lose her ability to assist with sit-to-stand transfers, and maintain her muscle length and strength. More importantly for Jillianne is the social and communication benefits of being at face to face level with her peers this independent mobility equipment provides her.

Jillianne (that is her teacher in the picture) received grant money through the CIBC AccessABILITY program grants that Assistive Devices administers on behalf of ES Nova Scotia.

Cade

Cade

Cade recently received a trike through Easter Seals Nova Scotia’s Assistive Devices program and has been enjoying it!

Cade is a six-year-old with autism, hydrocephalus, and gross development delays. His twin brother Didier also has autism and has mastered riding a bike but unfortunately, Cade cannot ride a regular bike. The CIBC AccessABILITY grant was used to purchase an adaptive tricycle so that he can ride a bike with his brother and his whole family.

Our Assisted Mobility Program provides equipment for Nova Scotians, enabling mobility and independence within our communities.

Josh

JOSHUA MARTIN

“For so many years we have struggled to find activities that Joshua could participate in with his peers. There just aren’t many opportunities in our area. And especially now that he is a teenager and all of the local sports for his age are so competitive. Learn to Sledge has provided Joshua an opportunity to level the playing field. He has cerebral palsy and his lower limbs are more affected than his upper, so he is able to go faster on the ice than in his walker. The first session on the ice, Joshua required a push bar for assistance. By midway through the third session, we removed it and he was moving on his own. Now, nearing the end of the second season he is racing with his peers! Joshua loves learning to manoeuvre his sledge and learn the technique and is able to do it without any physical assistance. He has a sense of pride coming off the ice that we haven’t seen in him before. This program has really boosted his confidence and that has been carrying over to other aspects of his life. It has been amazing and heartwarming to watch his progress and see the change in his personality. We are so grateful to Easter Seals for bringing this program to our community.

Lorne, Judy, and Joshua Martin <3”

THEO

THEODORE

“When Theo first tried sledge hockey, he was an inhibited 13 year-old who avoided unfamiliar social-situations and fled anything that looked like “learning something new.” But he was drawn to hockey, and he quickly realized that the peculiar looking contraption called a sledge allowed him to move around on the ice in ways that he couldn’t manage to do on skates. The combination of the freedom offered by the sledge and the encouragement of the volunteer coaches soon had him hooked, and bit by bit, he was transformed. Within a month of sledge practice, Theo began engaging with people more, at sledge and elsewhere. He smiled more. He did better work at school. He was open to little challenges in a way that he hadn’t been in years. A few months after starting sledge, he performed in a play in front of an audience with the Club Inclusion. He made a friend at school. He took an archery course. Eventually, he started playing softball, basketball and floor hockey with the Halifax Special Olympics. All of these things have been built on the base of safe, fun, and stimulating learning offered by the Easters Seals sledge hockey program. We are extremely grateful for this program and the for the people who run it. Thank you!”
Parents of Theodore: Lisa and Carl