BALTIMORE, March 20, 2026 — The Assistive Technology Clinic at Kennedy Krieger Institute received a $25,650 grant from the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation to purchase new equipment and expand community outreach. The funding will reduce barriers, such as high cost and limited awareness of equipment, so individuals with spinal cord injuries can access the assistive technology they need to achieve greater independence.
The clinic evaluates the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities to recommend equipment that will assist them with completing daily tasks. Through the grant, it will obtain three specialized devices that help people with paralysis perform activities such as feeding themselves, communicating, and operating computers and mobile devices. Acquiring these machines will allow the clinic to serve more people and connect them with tools that support greater autonomy.
“The main focus of this project is to help people be as independent as they can be through matching the right tool to their needs,” says Lauren Tooley, Assistant Director of Assistive Technology at Kennedy Krieger. “Offering different types of devices, including this specialized equipment for higher-level motor access needs, will allow us to better meet their needs.”
Kennedy Krieger occupational therapists will also conduct equipment demonstrations at spinal cord injury support groups in the Baltimore City area. Community members will be able to trial devices, learn about assistive technology options, and receive information on financial assistance and other services.
“These grants represent more than funding—they represent freedom, possibility, and dignity for individuals living with paralysis,” said Dan McNeal, Director of the Quality of Life Grants Program at the Reeve Foundation.
The initiative supports the Reeve Foundation’s mission to improve the quality of life for individuals and families impacted by paralysis.
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About Kennedy Krieger Institute:
Kennedy Krieger Institute, an internationally known, nonprofit organization located in the greater Baltimore/Washington, D.C., region, transforms the lives of nearly 30,000 individuals a year through inpatient and outpatient medical, behavioral health and wellness therapies; home and community services; school-based programs; training and education for professionals; and advocacy. Kennedy Krieger provides a wide range of services for children, adolescents and adults with diseases, disorders and injuries that impact the nervous system, ranging from mild to severe. The Institute is home to a team of investigators who contribute to the understanding of how disorders develop, while at the same time pioneering new interventions and methods of early diagnosis, prevention and treatment. Visit KennedyKrieger.org for more information about Kennedy Krieger.
