Help Ashley Get the Wheelchair She Needs to Start Kindergarten this September

Ashley is a 4-year-old girl from Samaná, Dominican Republic, born with spina bifida and paralyzed from the waist down. Latinas & Líderes has been supporting her since she was three months old, providing her with a wheelchair at 18 months and a second chair at three years old.

Now, Ashley is preparing to start school for the very first time as a kindergartener. In the Dominican Republic, children with disabilities often remain at home due to a lack of accessibility and stigma. However, Ashley is a very intelligent and witty girl who is eager to learn and build a bright future. She is excited to attend school alongside her cousins and friends in her community.

This $4,000 campaign will allow us to provide Ashley with the tools and support she needs to begin this important chapter. Funds will go toward:

• A state-of-the-art, customized folding wheelchair with a strong, rugged frame—her first “big girl” chair to support her in school
• Transportation and a hotel stay in Santo Domingo for Ashley, her mother, and brother to pick up the wheelchair and receive training
• Sessions with a physical therapist to learn how to safely use the wheelchair, including mounting, dismounting, and general mobility
• Construction of ramps at the entrance of her home and in the bathroom to improve accessibility
• A wheelchair-adapted backpack filled with school supplies
• An activity for her incoming class focused on acceptance and inclusion
• Pull-ups and wipes for school use
• Wheelchair gloves

Your support will help Ashley access education, gain independence, and feel included in her school and community. Every contribution brings her one step closer to a future full of opportunity.