Making wishes come true

You can make a direct and immediate impact on children with special needs by helping to purchase vital equipment used in therapies, family services and education.

The Amazing Wish List includes requests of varying amounts to support items not typically funded through a department’s regular budget. Wishes may include equipment, staff development and training, items for children, or any wish that could be fulfilled with a single gift ranging from $100 to $5,000.

One hundred percent of your donation will go towards the purchase of the wish item of your choice*. As a donor to The Children's Institute’s Amazing Wish List you or your organization will be listed in Amazing Kids, our quarterly publication, and on The Children’s Institute’s website with the wish you fulfilled.

For more information about donating funds for the purchase of an item(s) from The Amazing Wish List, please contact Deb Desjardins at 412.420.2216.

Support one or more of the following amazing wishes:

Outpatient Physician Clinic Supplies - Squirrel Hill
Our clinic promotes a healthy, safe and chemical-free envirinment, however our current inventory of toys and supplies do not support this program. If granted, this wish will provide patients and their families with tactile and interactive toys, games and books that will help ease children's fears and promote interaction and a caring environment for all age groups.
Cost of wish:: $2,000; quantity needed:: 1

Scrambler Mobility Rider - The Hospital, Wexford
Kids are both motivated by play and use it to enhance the skills needed for all aspects of life. The Real Design Scrambler Mobility Rider is a toy that would be engaging and rewarding as well as challenging for children who use it. The Scrambler is designed for kids with neurological deficits, developmental delay and neurodevelopmental challenges who cannot handle a pedal style tricycle.
Cost of wish:: $1,900; quantity needed::1

AM-12 AmTryke Therapeutic Tricycle with Bucket Seat - The Hospital, Norwin Hills
Equipped with a special hand cycle and foot pedals, this therapeutic tricycle will help children with limited or no use of their lower extremities. They will be able to increase strength and endurance in their upper extremities while engaging in the typical activity of riding a bike.  If granted, amazing kids at the Norwin Hills satellite facility will be able to increase overall endurance by participating in this fun cardiovascular exercise.
Cost of wish:: $700; quantity needed:: 1

32 Gigabyte iPad 2 - The Hospital 
To be used in speech/language therapy, these devices are used for augmentative communication, reinforcement activites, reading stories and other therapeutic activites. The iPad is lightweight and is easy to access by patients with physical handicaps. It also has a large amount of applications that are geared towards childrens with Autism. Many of these applications are both educational and motivational. The iPads will be used at the Squirrel Hill, Bridgeville, Norwin Hills, and Wexford sites. 
Cost of wish:: $600; quantity needed:: 10

Suite of Six 32 Gigabyte iPad 2 with Heavy Duty Protective Cases and iTunes Gift Card - The Day School
Students of The Day School often have special communication needs. With the latest technology, they can share their thoughts in a way they never thought imaginable. If granted, these six iPads would be shared among the student population and used as a motivational learning tool. Enclosed in special protective cases, these lightweight devices can be used time and time again, while staff members explore educational "apps" to make learning and communicating less of an obstacle with our amazing students. 
Cost of wish:: $5,000; quantity needed:: 1

16 Gigabyte iPad 2 with Wi-Fi - Library Services
You can help bring the library directly to our clinicians, families, staff and patients. If granted, this mobile device will serve a multitude of prurposes including research, staff and patient education, performance improvement and child/family-centered brainstorming sessions and remote library functions like material checkins/checkouts and patron setup.
Cost of wish:: $550; quantity needed:: 1

 Vocational Training Task Kits - The Hospital
Patients in the Prader-Willi Syndrome program are all ages and have varied needs.  Since this is the only program at The Children's Institute that includes adults over the age of 21, there is a need for equipment and activities that provide adult-appropriate therapy for this specialized patient population. These work simulation assembly kits include durable materials and offer realistic challenges in problem solving, organization, fine motor skills, and successful task completion.
Cost of wish:: $100; quantity needed:: 4

*If the final cost of an item is less than the amount contributed, any remaining funds will be dedicated to complementary needs or, if not possible, released into the general fund.