TDC Raises Money for Elle's Enchanted Forest
Donation protected
TDC is excited to announce Elle's Enchanted Forest as the local charity our students, staff, parents, families, and affiliates will support through various fundraising efforts and a Benefit Show during our 2022-2023 season! In partnership with Community West Foundation, please consider donating and sharing so we can help Elle's Enchanted Forest build "a playground for all" here in Rocky River!
The Butler family is part of our TDC Family, and they founded Elle's Enchanted Forest. The mission of Elle's Enchanted Forest is to have a playground for all children, including children with disabilities, and for parents/grandparents/Veterans that are disabled to have a place to play with their kids/grandkids. There will also be elements for children/adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder, as their needs are unique from those with physical disabilities. The playground will be inclusive to everyone and will truly be an excellent place for all families!
Elle's Enchanted Forest will be located in our community, behind Rocky River City Hall. The park will offer:
- Accessibility - Most playgounds lack access or adaptive ramps for strollers, wheelchairs or walkers both for the child or parent/grandparent.
- Adaptiveness - Most playgrounds lack adaptive playground equipment for children with special needs or physical disabilities.
- Community - There are other families with similar situations, and we want to create a social aspect by allowing them to play in the same place.
- Close Location - Similar parks are not local. We will be easily accessible to those living on the Westside of Cleveland.
- Sensory Components - Our park will have a space geared toward kids with ASD as well as visual & hearing impairments.
Elle’s Enchanted Forest is inspired by the unconditional love Elle’s sister, Nikita, has for her younger sister and the dream of having a place to go with her Grandpappy, a disabled Veteran.
Elle was born with bi-vocal chord paralysis and couldn’t breathe. Elle had to spend time in the NICU and spent three months at Cleveland Clinic Children’s Rehab Center. After many tests and all the specialists coming back with inconclusive results, the genetic results finally showed a large deletion of chromosome #4. It is De Novo, meaning it is new in the medical world. The doctors could not give a clear picture of what to expect. They could only compare cases of patients missing only 5-10% of what Elle is missing. They said she might never walk or talk. The Butler family also had to make the hard choice of giving her a tracheostomy and g-tube. They strongly believe that Elle will prove all the doctors wrong, and they are trying to give Elle the best chances and support possible. She is a busy girl working with multiple pediatric therapists and playing with her big sister, Nikita. We want to see our girls play together without limits and believe all children and families should have this same opportunity.
Learn more about Elle's Echanted Forest HERE!
Organizer and beneficiary
The Dance Centre
Organizer
Rocky River, OH
Community West Foundation
Beneficiary