Various Kinds of Children’s Charitable Foundation Gives Out 5,000th Piece of Adaptive Device – CBS Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – A big Wednesday milestone in helping local children who are just kids.

Many children’s charities have given the 5,000th adaptive device to a local child with special needs.

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Rylie Jenkins from Sewickley got a pink bike for her 11th birthday. She and local leaders joined a parade inside PNC Park on Wednesday. In attendance were former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett, Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, Highmark’s Deb Rice-Johnson, PNC’s Andrea Carelli and Pirates’ Travis Williams.

These adaptive bikes and strollers give kids the freedom to ride, play and experience life like other kids.

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“It means I can do what other kids can do, and I’m proving to myself that I can,” says Jenkins.

Charles LaVallee, CEO of Variety’s Children’s Charity, said, “They get along, don’t feel left out anymore, which if we think about it, it’s not. Feeling involved and belonging is important? So it is life changing. ”

Variety also offers adaptive speech devices for children with speech difficulties. KDKA’s Kristine Sorensen did a story about Tyler Winfield from Westmoreland County, who is autistic and cannot speak. He had one, and a year later when she returned to see how he was using the device, he learned to speak for himself.

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If you know someone who wants an adaptive bike, stroller, or speaking device, Variety is looking for kids to buy these free devices. Click here for more.