Last week, I had the pleasure of meeting with Erik Oliver, Directory of Development and Communications at the Echo, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain. We were meeting to discuss how Kayla’s Directory was interested in getting an adaptive stroller for the Echo Center. With an adaptive stroller, families that have children with special needs would be able to access the beautiful Burlington waterfront.
When I sat down with Eric, I explained to him the reason we wanted a stroller on the waterfront. A wonderful family recently lost a mother and grandmother. In memory of this amazing woman, the family asked that donations be made to Kayla’s Directory. When we asked the family where they wanted the money to be spent, they immediately responded that they’d like it used to purchase an adaptive stroller, and specifically asked to see whether the Echo Center would partner with this idea.
The reasoning behind the stroller is simple; this family has a child with special needs who has difficulty walking. And when her grandmother came to visit they would always go to the Echo Center and the waterfront. But the problem was, the child was not able to walk very far because they didn’t have a stroller. So their time on the waterfront was limited.
Most families do not need to think about outings with their children. They get in the car and go. But when you have a child with special needs, you need to think about everything. If your child has difficulty with mobility, you are constantly thinking about ways to make access easier for them, where the parking is, if there are stairs, or how far the parking lot is from the building.
The other issue is that many families do not have adaptive strollers for their children. Adaptive strollers are very expensive. They start around $1,000 and can reach prices up to $3,000 or more depending on the size of the child and what devices the child needs on the stroller. And getting insurance companies to pay for any adaptive equipment can be a nightmare!
Erik was honored to have an adaptive stroller at the Echo Center. In fact, when talking to him, I came to realize that the Echo Center is all about accommodating everyone! They are all about bringing the community together and making a difference. Whether they are accommodating all the families that speak several different languages, providing memberships to local libraries, or partnering with local agencies, they are committed to creating positive change in our community.
So thank you to the family that graciously donated to Kayla’s Directory and came up with the idea of having a stroller at the waterfront! And thank you Echo Center for partnering with us! This will be a wonderful accommodation for our community and will make life a little easier for those who have a child with special needs.