grant Archives - Woods Services

TD Provides Woods Grant to Further “Gamifying” for Learning

September 24, 2020

The TD Charitable Foundation has awarded a grant of $10,000 to support Woods’ efforts to incorporate new approaches that use technology to meet the needs of students with severe behavioral and emotional disorders.

This grant will help make it possible to develop customized video modules or “gamification” to teach social and behavioral expectations. The gamification of learning is an innovative, educational approach to motivate students to learn by using video game design and elements. The goal is to maximize engagement through capturing the interest of learners and inspire them to continue to learn. New vocational curricula will focus on STEAM areas such as desktop publishing, computer game design and fashion design. The new modules will have the potential to be replicated in many school settings across the country, to the benefit of some of the most vulnerable students with special needs.

About the TD Charitable Foundation

The TD Charitable Foundation is the charitable giving arm of TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank^®, one of the 10 largest commercial banking organizations in the United States. Since its inception in 2002, the Foundation has distributed over $243 million through donations to local nonprofits from Maine to Florida. More information on the TD Charitable Foundation is available at https://www.tdbank.com/corporate-responsibility/the-ready-commitment/funding-opportunities/

Can You Hear Me? Woods Receives Audiology Grant

July 17, 2020

When any of our senses are compromised, quality of life suffers. A grant award of $30,524 from The Eamon Foundation will improve the quality of life for the individuals served by Woods by providing new audiology screening equipment.

Early detection of hearing loss and treatment for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are critical for their cognitive, social, and vocational development. Unfortunately, studies show that hearing loss is more prevalent for people with IDD than those without a disability. It often goes undetected and untreated, resulting in barriers to skill development. Audiology screenings ensure this does not happen.

Not only that, but screenings can also alert an individual’s treatment team of other serious medical issues. Woods is committed to providing these screenings for all residents within 30 days of admission and annually thereafter, and providing referrals when intervention is needed.

“We are so grateful to The Eamon Foundation for their support,” said Joe Campbell, Director of Allied Services at Woods. “The new audiology equipment will help detect hearing challenges of residents that could account for increased confusion, depression, and social isolation. The new equipment includes a visual reinforcement system that uses video and sound to distract and comfort individuals who are fearful of such examinations.

The resulting treatment of hearing loss will improve our residents’ ability to communicate with families and staff, and allow them to participate in activities like watching a movie and listening to music.”

A better understanding of the hearing needs of each individual will allow staff to improve programming for their needs, and improve their quality of life.

All Aboard!

June 21, 2018

Woods is the proud recipient of two new mini-vans and a 24’ transit bus, made possible by a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT). Since 2007, PennDOT has contributed a total of $477,240 towards the purchase of wheelchair-accessible vehicles.

These grants cover 80 percent of the total cost of the vehicles, and come from a federal capital assistance program that provides transportation services for people with disabilities and the elderly.

Transportation is an essential aspect of daily life at Woods. All three vehicles are wheelchair accessible and are needed to provide transportation to the 605 residents who live in homes on Woods’ campus and in group homes in the local community.

Woods’ Transportation Services runs an average of 1,500 transports each day throughout its 300 acre main campus in Langhorne. Many of these individuals are physically challenged and some require wheelchairs for mobility. In addition, approximately 100 Direct Care Staff, responsible for providing care and assistance to these individuals, accompany them to educational or vocational programs five days per week.

“Our transportation needs require the use of dozens of vehicles each day,” said Leon Dodson, Assistant Transportation Clerk at Woods. “This includes school buses, mini-vans, and transit buses, which are utilized by all of our programs throughout Woods.”

Woods’ residents also rely on transportation to medical appointments. While Woods provides health care and therapies on site, many individuals have serious chronic medical conditions that require them to travel to specialists in Philadelphia and sometimes as far as Delaware, New Jersey or New York.

During the late afternoon and evening hours, vehicles transport individuals to and from recreational activities, making possible greater community integration. Transportation is also provided, on a case by case basis, for home visits with families. Such transports are necessary because the nature of some individual’s disabilities makes it very difficult for them to travel by other modes of transportation.

Every year, some vehicles in Woods’ fleet reach their useful life, and replacement vehicles are needed to sustain Woods’ capacity to provide transportation to those it serves. And, as Woods continues to place more and more residents in community homes, it also needs to expand its fleet.

Woods has learned that PennDOT is awarding Woods with three mini-vans and a small transit bus in 2019.

“We are grateful to PennDOT for their continued support in helping us maintain and grow our fleet of transport vehicles,” said Kevin Whetstine, Transportation Manager at Woods. “Like everyone else, our individuals rely on accessible transportation in many aspects of their lives, including pursuing meaningful social, vocational, and recreational opportunities.”