Transforming Healthcare Experiences: Medical Equipment Lending Library Success Stories
August 16, 2024
Autism New Jersey is proud to share an update on the successful launch of its Medical Equipment Lending Library, one important part of the Advancing Healthcare Initiative designed to address the significant health disparities faced by the autism community.
This program provides essential medical equipment to Autism New Jersey organizational members, allowing staff to help individuals practice and reinforce needed behaviors in individualized and systematic ways outside of healthcare settings, leading to successful generalization to real medical environments and procedures.
Testimonials From Our Community
We are so proud of our students!
The medical equipment provided by Autism New Jersey has been phenomenal.
We’ve used the phlebotomy chair, cart, and light to simulate real medical procedures for our students. This hands-on practice has desensitized them to these experiences and prepared them for real-life situations. The success rate of generalization has been 100%, with students independently requesting simulations and tolerating various medical procedures.
It is beyond rewarding to assist families in achieving positive experiences in the medical community.
Making future dental appointments more comfortable
REED Academy in Franklin Lakes has enhanced its Life Skills room with a dentist chair borrowed from our Medical Equipment Lending Library.
This specialized equipment allows students to acclimate to the sights, sounds, and sensations of a dental visit in a safe, controlled environment. By simulating real-world experiences, the chair plays a vital role in building students’ confidence and reducing anxiety, making their future dental appointments more comfortable and less intimidating.
Parents of EPIC students have also expressed their gratitude.
She is proud of herself, and so are we!
We are so grateful.
After years of fear and avoidance, our daughter now understands and is compliant during medical visits. Visual schedules, generalization, and desensitizing strategies have been game-changers for her. She is proud of herself, and so are we!
The transformation has been incredible
My son used to be terrified of medical procedures.
Even with social stories, the presence of medical staff would trigger his fight-or-flight response. But with consistent practice at EPIC, he has become confident and cooperative. Now, he sits calmly for blood draws, asks for the tourniquet, and no longer needs to be restrained. The transformation has been incredible, and we owe it all to the work done at EPIC and the support from Autism New Jersey’s Medical Equipment Lending Library.