(Updated July 31, 2017)
Sometimes it can seem impossible to find funding for a piece of adaptive equipment you know will vastly enrich and enhance your child or client’s life. Start by reading the online guides listed below to check that you have tried all the options that may be available to you. In particular, if you are a parent or pediatric therapist, be sure to read Funding Adaptive Mobility Equipment for Young Children with Disabilities which includes a visual algorithm of funding sources.
Online funding resource guides:
Many funds and foundations have been set up to help with funding for disabilities, but will often only consider an application once all other sources have been exhausted. Some national organizations provide diagnosis-specific assistance, so make sure you know which ones might apply to your situation. Religious and community organizations may also be a source of funding assistance. This list, although by no means exhaustive, is a good starting point. Another place to turn could be your community’s library and/or social service agency, who may know of other local sources of funding for adaptive equipment.
If you know an organization not listed here that provides help with funding adaptive equipment, or if you have feedback on those recommended on this page, please email info@rifton.com.
The following funds and foundations are focused on answering the needs of children and/or adults with disabilities in helping to fill the “funding gaps” where specialized equipment is needed:
- Athletes Helping Athletes
- ATI Foundation (AK, AZ, CA, DE, GA, IA, IL, IN, MA, MD, MI, MS, NC, NB, NM, NV, OH, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, WA, WI)
- First Hand Foundation
- Friends of Man
- Friendship Circle (yearly competition for adaptive tricycles)
- Fund It Forward
- HALO (Help a Little One) Foundation
- Helping from Heaven: The Lexi Kazian Foundation
- Holton's Heroes
- Joey’s Eagles
- Josh’s Ride (funds adaptive tricycles only)
- Ride for Kids
- Reach Your Potential
- Ride to Give
- Special Kids Fund, Inc.
- Speedway Children's Charities
- Two Angels Foundation, Inc.
- Wheel to Walk
- Wheelchairs 4 Kids
- CT and Westchester County NY Mollytango.org
- Florida (Northeast): JT Townsend Foundation
- GA Fragile Kids Foundation
- Greater Cincinnati area: A New Chance Foundation
- Greater New Orleans area: Addie's Angels
- Illinois: Thumbuddy Special
- Indiana: Anna's Celebration of Life, Kiwanis Indiana
- Kansas: Jones Trust Foundation
- Kentucky: Bluegrass Technology Center
- Maine: Robbie Foundation
- Massachusetts REquipment DME Reuse Network
- Michigan: Beaumont Bike Day Program (funds adaptive tricycles only)
- Missouri: The Sarah Lopez Foundation
- Montana: Brondum Foundation
- New Jersey: National Disability Institute
- New York: Joey’s Friends Too, National Disability Institute
- New York, 100 mile radius to Saratoga Springs: Jake's Help From Heaven
- North Carolina: Assistance League Of Charlotte
- Pennsylvania: Golden Rays of Hope
- PA, WV (specific counties): Variety Pittsburgh (funds adaptive tricycles only)
- Texas: BeAnAngel.org
- Utah: Utah Assistive Technology Foundation
- Virginia: FREE Foundation for Rehabilitation Equipment Endowment
- Wisconsin: Compass Wisconsin, Birdies 4 LIFE, Kindred Kids
Community and religious organizations may also be a source for funding AT devices, such as through local fundraising.
National organizations may provide funding assistance for diagnosis–specific AT or therapy needs, and/or help parents request pro–bono durable medical equipment.
Or do it the fun way: sign up at the Tadpole Adaptive Registry, create your own fund drive and get your friends and family on board to help raise funds for the equipment you need.
Here are a couple other online fundraising websites you may want to check out. These sites can help you quickly set up a fundraising campaign that is easy to share with your friends and acquaintances through social media:
Chive Charities is in a class by itself and assists in raising both funds and awareness for rare conditions, veterans' needs, and underfunded special education initiatives.
A reader writes:
The site, courtsystem.org, seems to have a complete database of listings for all emergency, legal and law enforcement government offices in the country – with working phone numbers (at least for the ones I’ve tried!). I wanted to share the site with you because it has saved me a few headaches and I’m sure it would be useful to others as well.
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