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Communicating in A New Way  Imagine yourself raising a child who is four years old. Now, imagine that child being unable to tell you he/she is thirsty. Unable to say they need to go to the bathroom. Unable to tell you good night.
This is the reality for Gracie and her four year old son Guillermo. Variety recently presented Gracie and Guillermo with an adaptive communication device. The device is built off of the process of a child using photo cards to communicate their needs and desires (i.e.  pointing to a card with a glass of water for a drink).
The device will be used by the family both at home and during his therapy programs as builds his vocabulary and begins to communicate his needs and  desires. You can see more photos of Guillermo and his first day using the new device here. This device, and the countless other items like this, are made possible by donations from Variety's supporters. |
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Only One Per Family...Really? 
Bikes for Kids is not a new program for Variety. In fact, this year marked the 14th year for Bikes for Kids to be held in north Texas.
But, with each year comes new stories of kids and their very first new bike and, in most cases, their very first bike.
This year was no different.
At the conclusion of this year's program, Variety's Executive Director noticed something that touched him. Here is what Lance had to say about it:
"At the conclusion of the event this year, I noticed these two young girls walking out together pushing a single bicycle. Both were beaming with this infectious smile, and it was obvious they were sisters. What struck me was that only one had a Bikes for Kids t-shirt on which signifies the children receiving bicycles.
I stopped them, and asked the sister without the bike if she already had a bicycle. She shook her head no, and the mother looked at me and said, 'I was told only one child per family could participate. So, I told the girls that they could share the bike.'
I asked them if they were okay with that, and they both said, 'We share everything.'
That comment really hit home with me as a father of four."
 In true Variety style, Lance asked the family to wait where they were for just a moment. He then turned to one of the teenage volunteers from Jesuit Prep and asked him to go into the storage room and get one more of the female bicycles and an appropriate helmet and lock.  The photos in this story are of the two girls, and their very own bicycles. |
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MARMADUKE!!! 
As part of its continuing Special Needs Screening Series, Variety is pleased to announce the next film is the series will be Marmaduke.
Screening with take place at Studio Movie Grill locations in , Houston's City Centre and Copperfield locations and Studio Movie Grill locations in Lewisville and Plano on Saturday, June 12 at 11:00 AM.
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