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Our Charities
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North
Carolina Scottish Rite Masonic Foundation, Inc. The
Southern Jurisdiction supports aiding the aphasic and dyslexic child
through its’ “RiteCare” Centers. Thousands of children are
terribly afflicted by their inability to communicate. Unless helped,
they face a lifetime of the inability to read or understand. They are
not lazy or retarded; they are not emotionally disturbed. They all have
a problem of communication. In
North Carolina, help is available through the North Carolina Scottish
Rite Masonic Foundation. Clinics have been established at Appalachian
State University and East Carolina University. A third clinic was
originally established at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte,
and we are proud that, with our support, this clinic is now housed at
our Scottish Rite Temple (Charlotte
Children's Language Learning Center). Specialists have been trained, equipment and
materials have been made available to these specialists, and mobile
units have been provided to some children in their own community. |
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The
Almoner's Fund The
Almoner's Fund is set up in every Scottish Rite Temple to receive funds
for the assistance of widows and orphans, and the destitute and
physically handicapped, regardless of race or creed. Applications for
assistance are often made from the Lodges in our jurisdiction whose
members are more intimately aware, on a local basic, of those people in
need of charitable assistance. Applications for assistance can also be
made directly to the Almoner for investigation and disposition. |
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Scottish
RiteCare - Children's Language Learning Center
To
Hear – To Speak – To Understand These
are the basic steps of language development in the young mind. Yet,
there are otherwise normal, healthy children, rich and poor alike, who
are shut off from communication, even with their own parents. These
children's hearing, speech, language, or learning problems could arise
from a variety of reasons. Research continues on the causes of poor
speech and language development, as well as associated learning
disabilities in children. In Tennessee, Scottish Rite Masons support a
Research Institute for these communication disorders. Because there is a
wide age range for children to begin talking, parents may not at first
recognize these communication disorders. As they wait expectantly for
the first intelligible word uttered by their child, they may gradually
become concerned that something is amiss. Speech-language disorders
affect approximately six million children in the United States. However,
many of these childhood problems do not mean mental deficiency or
emotional disturbance. Often, these children have at least average or
even superior intelligence. What they lack is the ability to exercise
this intelligence through normal speech and language channels. Today, at
Rite Care clinics, centers, and programs in every Orient (state) of the
Southern Jurisdiction, many children with communication disorders can be
helped to hear, to speak, to understand. The
Miracle of Rite Care Clinics, Centers, and Programs In
the early 1950s in Colorado, the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry of the
Southern Jurisdiction of the United States initiated a program to help
children with speech and language disorders. The results obtained from
this program led to the establishment of Rite Care clinics to provide
diagnostic evaluation and treatment of speech and language disorders, as
well as learning disabilities. Today
there are 165 Rite Care clinics, centers, and special programs for
children and therapists located throughout the United States. Each
facility is staffed by speech-language pathologists or other trained
personnel. Through the support of Scottish Rite members, these clinics,
centers, and programs continue to increase. The value of this
philanthropy has long been apparent. Tens of thousands of youngsters
across the United States have been helped significantly. With the good
work of dedicated clinicians and parents, the Scottish Rite has achieved
successes that could only be imagined a few years back. Children who
might have remained educationally handicapped for a lifetime can now
talk, read, and lead useful lives. Results
That Touch the Heart A
child so frustrated that he was hyperactive became a productive learner.
A child who was alienated and depressed because of a language impairment
and who was devastating his house-hold became friendly and responded in
a happy manner to gentle, sustained treatment. A little girl who was
thought retarded reached out and spoke the names of her parents. A boy
who had a seemingly hopeless speech problem is today a successful
lawyer. How
to Identify Speech and Language Disorders and Associated Learning
Disabilities Children
who have these problems are sometimes hard to detect. As noted before,
there is a wide age range for children to begin talking. Parents may
become concerned later than desirable, may not recognize, or may
misinterpret the symptoms. These children are often slow in developing a
vocabulary or are difficult to understand, using incomplete or incorrect
sentences or gibberish. They
may have difficulties with attention, memory, or word retrieval. They
may be slow in processing auditory information. There are many technical
diagnostic terms for these problems, and some of them can sound
terrifying to parents. However, parents must remember that many of these
dysfunctions do not mean mental deficiency or emotional disturbance. The
Importance of Early Evaluation and Treatment In
the past few years, there has been increasing recognition of the
importance of evaluating and treating childhood problems at the earliest
possible stage. The chances of a child with a communication disorder
attaining his or her peer group level are much greater if the child
receives help at an early age. What
to Do if a Parent Suspects a Child Needs Help A
parent with concerns about a child's language or learning ability should
call a Rite Care Clinic, Center, or Program for guidance or contact
appropriate municipal or state organizations. The first step is a
complete evaluation of the child's condition by professionals. In most
instances, a child identified as having a communication disorder can be
helped by the Scottish Rite. However, a child who demonstrates overall
developmental delays or severe handicapping conditions may require other
forms of treatment, such as physical therapy or a full-time special
education program. Any of the trained speech-language pathologists at
the Rite Care clinics and centers can recommend programs specializing in
advanced treatment. These facilities generally are located in or
adjacent to a Scottish Rite Temple, and the clinics may be associated
with major hospitals or universities in the area. All are clearly
identified in the telephone book and are known to health-care and
education professionals in the areas in which they are located. The main
thing parents should remember is to seek help as soon as possible if
there s any indication that the child has a problem. Program
Eligibility As
a rule, the Rite Care Clinics accept preschool children who have
difficulty speaking or understanding the spoken word or school-age
children who have difficulty learning to read. Some centers also offer
literacy training for adults. Inquiries
on age groups and program offerings in specific areas should be
addressed to the director of the local Scottish Rite facility. Equally
important, all services are available regardless of race, creed, or the
family's inability to pay. Parental
Involvement The
cooperation of each child's parents is essential. The whole family, as
well as the child, is trained by skilled clinicians so that, in addition
to treatment, parents are able to continue at home the clinic's
recommended therapy. Community
Involvement The
influence of the Rite Care Program goes far beyond the walls of the
clinics and centers. In many instances, it is not unusual for staff
members to go into the community and visit schools or other
institutions. In some instances, the Scottish Rite trains young people
interested in the field of speech pathology. Membership
Involvement There
is a contribution in human terms in solving these problems for the
well-being and happiness of children and their parents. There is also a
very significant contribution to the economic health of our country by
providing the means for these children to become productive adults, able
to contribute to their own lives and to the betterment of society. Education
and concern for children have always been among the fundamental tenets
of the Masonic Fraternity. Helping children with speech and language
disorders and learning disabilities is a particular mission of the
Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Southern Jurisdiction, USA. Each
and every member will want to help to fulfill this mission. At some
clinics and centers, fellow Masons, their wives, and teenagers can
participate in activities as volunteer assistants. They
can help the children, assemble arts and crafts materials, and perform
secretarial or maintenance tasks. In some cases, they also provide
transportation to children and parents who would otherwise be unable to
participate. How
You Can Help Eliminate Language and Learning Problems in Children Thanks
to the generosity of Scottish Rite members through their national and
local foundations, which provide financial support for our Rite Care
Clinics, Centers, and Programs, thousands of children have been
evaluated and successfully treated in a nurturing environment. Miracles
can happen, and with skillful evaluation and treatment, miracles are
happening in Rite Care facilities all over America. However,
more clinics, centers, and programs are needed to help all of the
children with these problems. Also, Scottish Rite clinics already in
existence continue to need donations for additional therapists,
instructional materials, special equipment, and improved facilities. In
addition to our membership support, the Scottish Rite encourages all
concerned citizens to assist in this worthy humanitarian effort. One way
to assist is through estate planning. A bequest to either the local
Scottish Rite foundation or the national foundation can be designated
for support of our children's charity. Gifts, of course, are tax
deductible as provided by law. Children
are tomorrow's citizens and the hope for our world. To help America's
children overcome their challenges is a major contribution to our
future. While
all children in need are eligible for available Rite Care Program
treatment, please consult with your local facility for specific
financial information.
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