Organization name: New Voices Foundation

Purpose/mission: Our mission is to improve the education of children with severe communication and physical disabilities, affecting their ability to speak and move, by increasing awareness of their underestimated potential and elevating the capabilities of families, teachers, and other professionals who work with them. The ultimate goal of New Voices is inclusion in all aspects of life. We accomplish this by increasing community awareness, providing training for professionals working with New Voices (NV) children, improving access to assistive technology, and family support. While New Voices' focus has been in the Triangle region of North Carolina, New Voices is committed to replication across the state and the country. We believe every child should be given the opportunity to fulfill their highest potential.

Population served: Children with severe communication and physical disabilities

Services/programs/resources offered:

• • Resources and Family Support: New Voices maintains a directory of disability resources on our website for national, state, and county specific resources in North Carolina. We also are available to families to discuss the challenges of raising a child with severe disabilities. Please contact us, we would love to hear from you.

  • Scholarships: New Voices funds training scholarships to teachers, speech therapists, and others who work with New Voices kids. Working with these children requires unique skills, different strategies and sophisticated equipment. With the help of your donations, we ensure the dedicated professionals who work with New Voices kids have the opportunity to gain the skills and knowledge necessary to help New Voices children find a method to communicate and learn.

  • The Lara Jane Parker Awards Program was established to provide both reward and recognition to those outstanding teachers, therapists, parents, education and health professionals and leaders who work daily to improve the lives of New Voices children. These individuals help improve their schools and their communities in ways that will allow these children to be fully included in all aspects of their daily lives. Recipients are honored with a $500 cash award at an annual ceremony.

  • Assistive Technology: Assistive Technology makes the world more accessible for New Voices children. It gives children with communication and physical disabilities a way to communicate and live more fulfilled and integrated lives. New Voices provides needed equipment to school systems.

  • Advocacy: Our foundation's motto is "just because you can't speak, doesn't mean you don't have something to say." New Voices Foundation advocates for children with severe disabilities to raise awareness about their underestimated potential.

Costs/requirements to participate:

• • None

How families can access more information if interested in pursuing:

• • Contact info: 919-659-5961, Sandy@newvoicesnc.org

  • Website: https://www.newvoicesnc.org/

  • Social media sites:

    • • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/newvoicesnc/

      • Twitter: https://twitter.com/NewVoicesF