Local girl given the gift of communication thanks to local companies
A child from Hinckley with a rare illness which means that she is unable to speak has been offered a way of communicating with family and friends thanks to the generosity of two local companies who have donated an iPad2 with a specially developed Smartphone app.
Nine year old Mollie Abbott has Pitt Hopkins Syndrome, a genetic disorder which was diagnosed when she was 12 months old. Shortly afterwards, Mollie’s parents, Karen and Darren set up Mollie’s Fund to raise money for her twice yearly visits to The British Institute for Brain Injured Children in Somerset.
Despite being told that she would never walk or have any independence, through a programme of therapy at the centre and at home, Mollie took her first steps in 2007. The family is now working on helping Mollie to develop her communication and sensory skills.
Jim Griffin, Managing Director of Rugby based company car component manufacturers Automotive Insulations, lives near to Mollie. Jim was keen to help and so joined together with Hinckley based Flex Recruitment’s Managing Director Adrian Hobbs who works with Mollie’s mum Karen to buy the iPad. Having the tablet will enable Mollie to use a special app known as Verbal Victor developed by the father of a fellow Pitt Hopkins sufferer.
“Mollie is a great little girl who works hard to overcome the disabilities imposed by her illness, so we are delighted to be able to do something to help her,” comments Jim. “Having access to the iPad and the app will help to improve her communication skills which can be a real source of frustration for her.”
VerbalVictor allows parents to take pictures with accompanying audio of words, phases or sentences which can be turned into buttons. The user then presses the relevant button so they can express themselves more clearly.
“We very appreciative of the generous support from Automotive Insulations and Flex Recruitment,” comments Mollie’s mother Karen. “Being able to connect with our little girl, create closer bonds and understand her needs better is a great gift.”
To find out how The Ideal Marketing Company can increase your press coverage, get in touch and speak with a marketing specialist on 01858 374 170 or email info@idealmarketingcompany.com
You may also like
MD & Head of Digital Marketing
Jessica has worked in digital marketing for over 10 years and has watched it evolve from an experimental marketing option to an essential tool for most businesses. She is driven to help businesses achieve their objectives using the best digital marketing resources available and recognises that each business is different. Jessica devours the latest news about digital marketing and is constantly learning in order to stay ahead of the trends for clients.
