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For immediate release
Contact: Linda S. Magill, Dir. of Development and Community Relations
Family Resource Associates
35 Haddon Ave., Shrewsbury, NJ 07762 732-747-5310
lmagill@frainc.org

PossAbilities Abound for children and adults with disabilities!
Annual walk highlights computer technology
 for children and adults with special needs

Shrewsbury, NJ: The “FRA PossAbilities Walk and TECH Expo” was a held on Sunday, October 15th at The Atlantic Club in Manasquan. Not only did the Family Resource Associates (FRA) PossAbilities Walk raise over $35,000 for their computer lab, but with help from nearly 50 volunteers, they provided a fun, festive afternoon with music, dancing, face painting, games and refreshments.

Nearly 100 checkpoint sponsor signs dotted the one-mile trail around the perimeter of The Atlantic Club, offering personal and encouraging messages from friends and family from as far as Florida and Texas. Volunteers posted as trail guards, cheered the children on and offered high-fives. As the children crossed the finish line, each one was draped with a gold medal in celebration their many accomplishments. The South Monmouth Board of Realtors generously provided the gold medals, and also led games and craft activities, including face painting, pumpkin cut-outs, bean bag toss, and more. Volunteers from the Manasquan High School Honor Society, Red Bank Catholic High School and the Telecom Pioneers stayed throughout the day to help with the walk, and the fun activities that followed. Jay Bowman, one of FRA’s motivational dance instructors, also volunteered his time to do what he does best, get everybody up dancing.

The Atlantic Club also provided use of their Fieldhouse for the TECH Expo, which featured eight computer stations equipped with samples of the most amazing assistive technology devices and software, offering hands-on exploration for tots, right on up to seniors.

Nancy Phalanukorn, the FRA Executive Director, had high praise for community partners like the South Monmouth Board of Realtors and The Atlantic Club. “Their help and support makes it possible for FRA to do a major event like this. They both care deeply about the children we serve.” While the walk is an annual tradition at FRA and provides critical funding for programs and services, Phalanukorn says, “Raising awareness of assistive technology software and devices is at the heart of the event this year. Most people with disabilities are simply not aware that this technology even exists. Connecting children and adults with special needs to computer technology solutions enhances their ability to learn, work, and participate in the community more fully. “

Since 1979, Family Resource Associates (FRA) has helped over 10,000 area children with disabilities and has provided support and education for their families. FRA also provides traditional and modern therapies, early intervention programs, Gymboree, dance classes, teen groups, and summer camp, but that’s only half the story.

With the opening of their TECHConnection computer lab in 1988, FRA emerged as a national leader in making state-of-the-art computer technology more accessible to those with special needs. As the only demo center in NJ open to the public, the FRA TECHConnection offers thousands of software programs and hundreds of computer devices specially developed to help children and adults with disabilities ranging from paraplegia to dyslexia, as well as autism, Down syndrome, vision and hearing impairments, and even reading challenges. While most of the technology is geared towards disabilities, much of it provides solutions for people with common ailments such as carpal tunnel syndrome, or issues related to aging, such as arthritis or diminishing vision.

As one of the founding partners of FRA, a non-profit organization, Phalanukorn is considered by many as a visionary in implementing the use of computer technology for children with special needs as far back as 1975, long before PCs were a common household item. “At that time, there were no computer programs for children with special needs available commercially,” Phalanukorn recalls. Not easily deterred, she collaborated with AT&T volunteers, to get the job done. “Back then, they were the real pioneers and wizards who wrote the programs,” recalls Phalanukorn. “Today, the TECHConnection offers thousands of commercial software programs, some of which actually re-train the brain. But still, you won’t find them at the mall. The TECHConnection is the only place in NJ where you sample all that’s available, and actually test which works best for any given situation.” However, the TECHConnection is not a retail outlet, but serves as a showroom and demo center, as well as a lending library. After meeting a client, and determining where their difficulties lie in using the computer, trained specialists make recommendations and give the client the opportunity to explore the products hands-on. They can facilitate the purchase by putting the client in touch with the appropriate vendor or assist the client in placing the order.

When asked about the cost to purchase some of this technology, Phalanukorn said, “Sophisticated programs, such as iCommunicator, which translates speech into American Sign Language on a computer screen in real time, can cost $6,000. On the other hand, some of the solutions we’re able to provide for free”, referring to the accessibility features built into all Microsoft software.

In addition to being a demo center open to the community, the TECHConnection offers the Tech Tots program for children as young as 1 year old, using a touch screen. On Friday nights, the TECHConnection is a popular spot for teens. Joanne Castellano, Director of the TECHConnection, says “While the teenagers are creating their own movies, Power Point slide shows, calendars, and greeting cards in the computer lab, they’re having so much fun that they don’t even realize it’s all about learning. Even the academic computer software designed to enrich language, reading, writing, math, and money skills are all fun and games. However, underlying every activity is a focus on growing independence, improving self-image, developing friendships, and fostering creativity.”

Castellano’s son, Thomas, attends both Teen Night and summer camp at the TECHConnection. His mother calls FRA a source of light for her these last 19 years. “I always knew I could love a child with Down syndrome, but could I raise him to the best of his potential? FRA taught me how to do that and they stood by my side”, says Castellano. “Thomas has been receiving services from FRA since he was six weeks old. And FRA is still there for Thomas, as he is now getting ready to leave high school and enter the real world.”

New this fall, is Real Life Connections which offers daytime computer classes every Wednesday for those like Thomas, who are transitioning from high school, as well as older adults with disabilities. In addition to a variety of eight different classes, registrants have the option for a mid-day Life Skills ‘N Lunch session, focused on menu planning, food preparation, item cost, and clean up. “Real Life Connections is geared towards having fun, learning, developing hobbies, life skills and socialization and, best of all, requires no prior computer experience,” said Castellano. “Everyone works at their own pace.”

To ensure that every family living with a disability has access to a computer, FRA also has a computer recycling program. Computers that meet certain requirements are accepted from individuals or corporations, and then refurbished and distributed to anyone with a disability for a nominal fee.

To learn more about FRA and the TechConnection ® visit their sister websites, www.frainc.org and www.techconnection.org or contact Linda S. Magill, Director of Development, at 732-747-5310.