The Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley Awards Marianjoy $10,000 Grant

WHEATON, Ill., April 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley has awarded Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital a grant in the amount of $10,125 to be used in its Assistive Technology Institute, which provides patients with the opportunity to maximize their overall function and independence through the use of technology.  The Assistive Technology Institute includes the following seven centers: Assistive Communication & Daily Living Center (ACDLC); Wheelchair & Positioning Center; Vestibular & Balance Center; Swallowing & Voice Center; Gait Analysis & Mobility Center; Prosthetic & Orthotic Center; and Drivers Rehabilitation Center.  

People living with a severe disability often experience substantial limitations because of barriers in their own home. Through the use of environmental control systems, individuals can improve the overall function in their daily life. In Marianjoy's Adaptive Apartment, located in the Assistive Communication and Daily Living Center, patients are re-introduced to the daily activities of life at home. With the help of the Community Foundation of Fox River Valley grant, the Adaptive Apartment will be equipped with a variety of functional and communication technologies to assist patients in returning home, enabling the therapist to evaluate, assess and customize the technology for each person's specific need.  

"The use of adaptive environmental controls and computer equipment has been shown to improve a patient's independence and reduce the amount of care he or she may need," states Kathleen Yosko, president and CEO of Marianjoy. "Environmental control systems can allow a person to regain some independence, privacy, and control in their life.  These systems can allow a person to turn on and off lights and small appliances, answer and make telephone calls, control the television, stereo, and DVD player, and even open doors. Adaptive equipment can also be used to access a computer and the Internet."

Based on their professional understanding of particular patients' needs and circumstances, Marianjoy occupational therapists would use the various technologies to determine the most appropriate system for each individual.  The patient would have the opportunity to become a proficient user of the system prior to having the devices installed in their own homes.

"We are very appreciative of the Community Foundation of Fox River Valley for its generosity in providing this grant," notes Yosko. "The installation of these technology systems will be a key component to enhancing the lives of individuals with disabilities, while giving them opportunities to maximize their abilities to reach their personal and employment goals."

The Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley is a non-profit, tax-exempt philanthropic organization that administers individual charitable funds and distributes grants and scholarships to benefit the citizens of the Fox River Valley in Illinois. For more information, visit www.CommunityFoundationFRV.org.

Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital is a 120 all private room hospital dedicated to the delivery of physical medicine and rehabilitation. Marianjoy specializes in treating brain injury, strokes, musculoskeletal conditions, spinal cord injuries, pediatrics, and neuromuscular disorders. Marianjoy maintains an extensive network of inpatient, subacute, and outpatient sites and physician clinics throughout the Chicago area. For further information about Marianjoy, please visit www.marianjoy.org.

SOURCE Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital