Helping Kids, Be Kids

Variety – the Children’s Charity (of Pittsburgh) provides children with disabilities with unique programs, experiences, and equipment throughout 56 counties in Pennsylvania and West Virginia

Quite simply, Variety strives to enable kids with disabilities to live life to the fullest with a focus on mobility, communication, and social inclusion / interaction.

Variety believes that no child should be left out, left behind, or isolated, and through its programs / experiences, Variety strives to give children opportunities to discover the possibilities for their own lives, and be a kid, first and foremost.


 

Specifically, Variety provides:

• individually tailored adaptive bikes for eligible kids to give them those same feeling of joy, freedom, and fun that most of us felt while riding a bike through its “My Bike” Program;
• individually customized adaptive strollers to eligible children for easy, on-the-go mobility and participation through its “My Stroller” Program; and
• individually designed communication devices for eligible kids living with a communication disorder to give them a voice at all times through its “My Voice” Program.

To give you an idea of Variety’s impact, here are two brief video clips.

• A Day of Joy & Inclusion:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYLubjaSGjs

• Tyler’s Journey & Smiles Galore:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmr4s8iDXyQ

Giving kids a voice at all times.

Imagine if you couldn’t talk… how would you communicate? How would you tell someone if you’re hurt or what’s hurting? If you’re thirsty or hungry? Or simply want to share your thoughts or feelings?

As one mother said, “The core of our being is communication.”

For many children, they have the chance to use a communication device in school to talk, but many only get to use it for brief periods of time and a majority are not able to take it home. So, when school ends, children have to shut off their voice.

A communication device and a prescribed communication app on it are costly and out of reach for many, and Variety wants to help families with it.

Click here for more information on a communication device for your child.

 

Creating Fun, Freedom, & Belonging

Adaptive Bikes Make Riding Possible

Do you remember your first bike? Its color? The feelings of independence and freedom as you raced down the street and felt the wind in your hair?

Well, imagine having those memories taken away from you. It’s a sad reality for a lot of kids who are not able to ride a typical two-wheeled bike, due to physical limitations, challenges with balance or steering, or simply not feeling safe enough to ride.

An adaptive bike helps to make riding a bike possible for kids with disabilities. The only obstacle here is that these individually customized adaptive bikes are very expensive, and for many families, it is something that is completely out of reach for them. Fortunately, Variety can help!
Click here for more information about getting an adaptive bike for your child.

Not Your Typical Stroller

Imagine not being able get up and go wherever and whenever you wanted, especially as a family unit. Nothing in life could be spontaneous or unplanned. Unfortunately for families of children with disabilities, this is a reality.

For some kids that use a wheelchair, it can be very heavy (especially for parents), it usually does not break down to fit easily in a car, it can be unsafe in large crowds, especially to maneuver, or it can restrict where a child is able to go. For families that only have a wheelchair, it means missing out on events in the community, or not being with family and friends.

For other kids that might not need a wheelchair, but would be considered runners, bolters, or are simply unaware of their surroundings, it becomes unsafe when they are out in the community, and therefore, they might miss out on experiences with their family.

An adaptive strollers can fill the gap for all the times when you need a simpler way to get around and to ensure safety. Without it, many families are isolated, and kids are left out or left behind.
Click here for more information on applying to get an adaptive stroller for your child.