Ted Lindsay Foundation donates $36,000 to Beaumont Center
By Michael Caples –
Despite hanging up his skates decades ago, Detroit hockey legend Ted Lindsay continues to help Hockeytown.
Today, the Hall-of-Famer and his wife Joanne donated $36,000 through the Ted Lindsay Foundation to the Beaumont Children’s Hospital’s HOPE Center to help children with autism.
The foundation, created 11 years ago to support autism research, presented their first gift to Beaumont in Royal Oak. With the generous donation, Beaumont will be able to purchase electronic tablets and netbooks for the center, and to provide autism treatment scholarships for children. A statement from Beaumont said that therapists across the United States have discovered the value of using tablets in treating children with autism; “because of the device’s intuitive interface, crisp graphics and speed, it is ideally suited for use by children with autism, giving them confidence as they master its use.”
Lori Warner, Ph.D., director of the Hope Center (a hands-on parent education program offered through Beaumont’s Center for Human Development) said that the Lindsays’ donation will help Beaumont make great strides in assisting children with autism.
“The amazing generosity and support of Ted and Joanne Lindsay through their foundation has begun to open so many new possibilities for our families,” Warner said.
“Behavioral treatment for autism requires lots of time and lots of caring, and the financial support for our scholarship fund means that more families will be able to access this effective therapy, says Warner.” The Lindsays are also dedicated to helping our families make the most of the latest technology. Our ability to use tablets and specialized applications helps us reach and teach our children in a whole new way. We are so grateful to the Lindsays and the members of their foundation and board for becoming our champions.”
Ted Lindsay said this is only a start for his foundation and Beaumont.
“This is a first step for us,” says Ted Lindsay. “We are committed to fighting autism and helping the people it impacts.”
From the Beaumont press release:
Dozens of applications for electronic tablets have been created to help children with autism or other special needs learn to communicate and express themselves. Because of their ease of use, the devices are also ideal for parents, allowing them to work and play side by side with their children. The tablets do not replace traditional therapies, but they are a powerful, additional treatment tool, allowing caregivers and parents to try new and promising approaches with their children.
The netbook computers will make it easier for therapists to record and save treatment notes as they rotate through different patient activities. They will allow real-time record keeping and the ability to access the system from off-site observational sessions and home visits. Internet wireless connectivity will also introduce more web-based activities into the treatment curriculum.
Because of the intensive and time-consuming nature of autism treatment, getting help for autistic children can be cost-prohibitive for many families, often causing them to delay therapy or not seek it at all. The HOPE Center has focused on easing this financial burden by providing need-based treatment scholarships that cover up to 75 percent of expenses. Scholarships are awarded on a sliding scale.
In 2011, there were more than 6,700 patient visits to the HOPE Center for therapy sessions and classes.
You can contribute to Beaumont’s HOPE Center online at foundation.beaumont.edu or by calling 248-551-5330.
About the Ted Lindsay Foundation
The Ted Lindsay Foundation was established in 2001 by Ted Lindsay and John Czarnecki, the father of a nine-year-old boy with autism. The foundation raises funds through annual celebrity golf outings and other events, as well as through sales of autographed sports memorabilia. Since its inception, the Ted Lindsay Foundation has raised over $2,000,000 for research into the cause and cure of autism.
The Foundation’s mission is to elevate public awareness in the community regarding the need for increased funding and support for children with autism. The Foundation works to raise and dispense funds to new and existing research projects that focus on the cause and treatment of autism. It also provides funding for training programs, educational programs and social services for children with autism and their families. For more information on the Ted Lindsay Foundation, go to www.tedlindsay.com or call (248)202-6194.
About Beaumont Children’s Hospital
The Beaumont Children’s Hospital provides comprehensive services for children from specialized care for premature babies through an entire range of pediatric subspecialty services. Beaumont’s pediatric services include immunizations and well child care, allergy testing, surgery, treatment for children with learning disabilities, heart disease, blood disorders, cancer, gastrointestinal disorders, asthma, diabetes, genetic disorders, infections and emergency care. Beaumont is an associate member of the National Association of Children’s Hospitals and Related Institutions and the only Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals affiliate in Southeast Michigan. Find out more about services of the Beaumont Children’s Hospital at www.beaumontchildrenshospital.com.