A $10,000 donation from Adam DeGroote Real Estate Inc. is helping to ensure that infants, children and teens with physical, communication, and/or developmental needs, and their families, have access to technology that will help them reach their full potential.
BRANTFORD, ON – Niki DeGroote, Adam DeGroote’s wife, said the donation “is in honour of his clients.”
She explained that in the early days of his career, DeGroote would patronize a local business to prepare gifts for his clients during the holiday season, and then spend weeks delivering the gifts to the Brantford, Brant, Oxford and Norfolk counties.
“As his business grew, we realized this was becoming more and more challenging to accomplish successfully. As much as we loved supporting local businesses while spreading Christmas cheer, we knew we there had to be a better way to gift his clients while making an impact on our community,” Niki said.
So, “Adam made it his mission to do something impactful for the youth of our community each year in lieu of client Christmas gifts.”
The first year, he partnered with Gifts of the Heart, which works to address food and clothing insecurity with children in Brantford. The second year, he partnered with the Brant Community Healthcare System Foundation to purchase a pediatric monitor.
Lansdowne Children’s Centre was chosen as the 2024 recipient.
Niki said, “This organization [Lansdowne] has touched our lives in several indirect ways with many friends and clients relying on the support of Lansdowne for their children. We can’t think of a better way to spread holiday cheer than getting involved in supporting the youth of our community and spreading awareness of all these incredible organizations that make a positive impact in so many lives.”
Through the gift, Lansdowne has been able to acquire critical and needed equipment that isn't traditionally funded, including a new SMART board with a laptop, as well as six iPad keyboards.
Susan Battin, Autism Services Manager and Clinical Supervisor for Lansdowne, said these pieces of equipment are invaluable in creating accessibility opportunities for the children of Lansdowne and their families.
The SMART Board is a key component in the Entry to School program, which helps children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder become familiarized with the typical activities and routines of the classroom.
Battin explained that the SMART Board is used to help facilitate things like circle time, educational games, music and dance.
“There’s lots of different things that we can use that for with the kids,” she said. “There’s also whiteboard capability, so the kids can practice their fine motor and printing skills.”
Because the SMART Board is portable, it can be utilized by multiple departments.
“We can move it around the centre to wherever it’s needed,” Battin said.
The keyboards, meanwhile, primarily help families when it comes to “connecting with the resources that they’re eligible for,” Battin said.
She explained that a number of children who access Lansdowne are eligible for government funds to help offset some of the costs associated with their therapies, care, etc. However, their caregivers must apply and/ or resubmit multi-page applications to access these funds.
“It’s a lot of typing,” Battin said. “Trying to complete a 12-page funding application on a smartphone is super challenging. … Not having (adequate technology) can be a barrier for our families to receive funding, so this opens that up.”
Battin was very grateful for the donation and the equipment that will come to Lansdowne because of it.
“It’s kind of them to think of us, for sure,” she said.
ABOUT LANSDOWNE CHILDREN’S CENTRE
Lansdowne Children's Centre is a highly accredited children's treatment centre (CTC) and SmartStart Hub, connecting caregivers with resources, services and supports for infants, children, and youth with physical, communication, and/or developmental needs.
Supporting nearly 4,000 unique children and families annually, Lansdowne works with child and youth clients and their families at centres in Brantford, Caledonia, Dunnville and Simcoe, and in a variety of community settings such as homes, schools, childcares, early learning environments, and camps, as well as through virtual means using streaming video.
Learn more at www.lansdownecentre.ca
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