Assistive technology for James

James is our amazing, bright, strong, curious two year old boy with a very unique brain. He has much to teach, and much to learn, and needs extra support t have the experiences that will help him grow to his full potential. Born with a very rare, congenital microcephaly and lissencephaly (small head and smooth brain), James has already far surpassed any medical expectations for his lifespan and abilities. We have endeavored to shower him with love, acceptance, choice, and joyful experiences in the world.

James loves standing and moving, and needs help to maintain his balance and mobility. James does traditional physical, occupational, and speech therapy with a wonderful and dedicated local team every week, and CME/MEDEK physical therapy intensives out of state twice a year which include a home program, which we call James' "big boy work". We're looking for help raising funds for assistive technologies for James to compliment his adult-input therapies, that will give him additional opportunities him to thrive and continue to gain independence and grow along his own unique developmental path. Mobility and inclusion are key for James, as he gets bigger and preschool is on the horizon.

The main need James has currently is a bigger jumper. Moving freely, dancing to music (James is highly auditory oriented), spinning and experiencing his world from an upright position, have been a key aspect of James' journey to independent play and self soothing. We've been anticipating with dread the day he'd grow out of his Jolly Jumper, and that day has come. Thankfully, we were recently told about a Canadian company called Merry Muscles which makes a youth sized, therapeutic jumper/exerciser for kiddos with special needs. This product is only available retail, so insurance won't cover it, as they need devices to be ordered through a medical supplier (DME). The cost of the jumper is about $800, with additional shipping charges.


We're asking for additional funding to cover a portable bath seat, mobility rider, and larger size harness for the Upsee we purchased for James when he was much smaller, and envisioned becoming a key element in his preschool engagement. These are also retail items, which don't have a medical look, and aim at full inclusion for little ones with special needs. They are all made at reasonable costs: each under $500 by a company in Northern Ireland called Firefly.

https://www.fireflyfriends.com/us/our-products

Thank you so much for considering James' unique journey as an educational cause to support. We are grateful for any amount donated, and honored to include you in this amazing learning experience. James presents us all as caregivers an incredible opportunity: to take part in transforming the inspiration we all see in his bright spark, into an as yet unknown potential flame!