SRC raises funds through concert to help autistic children

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Sep 3 2009

The Sensory Research Center (SRC) held its first benefit, dessert and silent auction concert featuring LA Collaboration on the last week of August 2009. SRC Founder, Jennifer Hoffiz, said, "The concert was well attended and the talent of the performers was absolutely amazing. The concert and the silent auction allow SRC to offer 3 or 4 scholarships for children, whose parents/grandparents simply can not afford the neurosensory program, to receive this much needed therapy." One grandparent, Juanita Torres, who takes care of her twin autistic grandchildren, shared what it would mean to their family to receive a scholarship. She told the audience, "My grandsons need a lot of care and help as they have many challenges. I believe they can benefit from the sensory program that is available through the Sensory Research Center. It would provide us with hope and help. Most insurance do pay little or nothing and we only have MediCal which does not provide care for the boys. I can not put into words on how we feel to have a chance of receiving a scholarship. This gives us hope and much excitement."

The event raised enough money to give out 3-4 scholarships to needy children. These scholarships will go towards SRC's neurosensory program called the Individualized Sensory Program. The program retrains the eyes, ears and vestibular system to be able to process sound, light, and other sensory input in a more balanced fashion. Clients who go through the program see improvements in speech and language, eye contact, focus and concentration, fine motor skills, and processing.

Hoffiz has used this program to help her own son recover from Autism and overcome his sensory processing difficulties. Hoffiz says, "I formed the Sensory Research Center because there are many nonprofits whose focus is research, but very few, who give financial relief for children so they can receive alternative treatments."

SRC is will post future events on their website. They are seeking sponsors, venues and donations to be able to continue offering scholarships for children with disabilities like Autism, Down's Syndrome, and Cerebral Palsy. SRC only offers scholarships for children but also works with adults suffering from stroke, brain injury, narcolepsy, and fibromyalgia.

Source: http://www.sensoryresearchcenter.org/

Posted in: Medical Condition News

Tags: Autism, Brain, Cerebral Palsy, Children, Down Syndrome, Down’s Syndrome, Eye, Fibromyalgia, Language, Narcolepsy, Research, Speech, Stroke

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Please help

Kathy Brannon says:

November 4, 2009 at 5:12 PM

Kathy Brown Brannon
Gaffney High School
149 Twin Lake Road
Gaffney, South Carolina 29341

November 4, 2009

To Whom It May Concern:
I teach Special Education at Gaffney High School in Gaffney, South Carolina. My students attend regular education classes, and receive support depending on the nature of their disability.
In August, I received my caseload list and as I always do, I started looking at the individual needs of my students and began brainstorming ideas that would make each student's school year more successful. In the past, I have taught students with severe learning problems, major emotional problems, autism, and traumatic brain injuries.
I have students with many different disabilities once again this school year; however, the difference is I have an autistic male sixteen-year-old student who is morbidly obese. He weighs between 500 and 600 pounds, possibly more. He has a 71-72 inch waistline and is approximately 5’6” tall. What makes this precious young man different as related to my other students with disabilities is I am afraid he is going to die. His breathing is extremely labored, and after walking only 10-15 feet, he has to rest before he can talk. His mother is very concerned about his health, also, but does not know where to turn. The father died in 2005, and they have no medical insurance. Medicaid dropped the student because of his monthly Social Security allowance from his father’s death benefits exceeded the income level.
The student is very determined to attend school even with the constant ridicule he receives. He has special desks in each classroom, and leaves classes early to get to his next class on time. Due to his obesity, he has a difficult time cleaning himself properly so by mid morning he has a very strong body odor due to his skin rubbing together causing him to perspire profusely as well as the odor of urination and bowel movements.
His daily activities are highly restricted due to the obesity. The autism alone would affect his social and communication skills but in combination with the obesity; making friends has been very difficult for him. His mother has shared with me that many times he has not wanted to come to school because he feels socially unaccepted.
His mother and I met on August 25, 2009, and I promised her I would find some help for Bradley. To see a child struggling academically and socially is hard, but to be with a child daily you feel is going to die without intervention is unbearable. I know God has put this student in my life so I can help him academically and socially as well as seeking help for his obesity.
If there is any assistance, please contact me using the following contact information.

Sincerely,
Kathy B. Brannon
801 College Drive
Gaffney, SC 29340
864-838-3425
[email protected]
Gaffney High School
864-206-2000

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