Nonprofit opens new workshop in Westlake CATS celebrates new space for effort to get refurbished gear to disabled children

To get involved with Children's Assistive Technology Service:

Visit www.atdevicesforkids.orgCall 540-493-2285Email cathie@atdevicesforkids.org

When Adilee Stephens was placed into her miniature Audi R8 Spyder, the 4-year-old was right at home in her new ride.

The flashy car has been adapted so Adilee, who has cerebral palsy and also suffered a traumatic brain injury, can operate it herself. When Adilee saw the car, she had just the word for it: "Pretty."

Her mother, Crystal Stephens, said she plans to bring the car to the park, so Adilee can play alongside other children. At most parks, swings are the only thing accessible to Adilee.

"I'm contemplating even taking it to the grocery store with us," Stephens said with a laugh.

The miniature Audi is being given to the Stephens family by local nonprofit Children's Assistive Technology Service - or CATS - which provides gently used equipment to children with disabilities.

The car is something fun, but most of what the organization provides is essential everyday equipment, such as wheelchairs, adaptive strollers, bath and shower chairs, standing frames, forearm crutches and gait trainers.

On July 19, CATS, which just marked its three-year anniversary, celebrated another milestone: opening a volunteer headquarters and workshop at Westlake Commons in Hardy. It's a small space, only 300 square feet, but it gives volunteers a place to repair and refurbish the donated adaptive equipment. Until now, much of that work was done at founder Cathie Cummins' Union Hall home.

"Now we have a garage again," Cummins said with a laugh.

Though it originated locally, CATS serves children throughout the state.

"Within six months we were serving all of Virginia, whether we liked it or not," said Cummins, a retired pediatric physical therapist.

A second CATS chapter in Hampton Roads launched in April 2016, and the organization is looking to add more.

Cummins hopes having a physical presence in the community will encourage people to learn more about their work and also help CATS to draw more volunteers.

Often, families are stuck waiting months for a piece of equipment. Or Medicaid will deny it. The nonprofit fills in those gaps, Cummins said.

"What we do is make it possible for them to have what they need when they need it," she said.

It's clear from the demand - Cummins said the organization has served 600 children and given away nearly 1,000 pieces of equipment - that such a service is needed.

"It's incredibly important, because our system is not serving these kids," Cummins said.

She said she's amazed by the essential equipment that families are denied: bath chairs, standing frames, a manual wheelchair to serve as a backup for a power wheelchair that may fail.

Much of the equipment CATS gives away comes from children who have outgrown it. Cummins said she's thankful for the families that choose to donate to the nonprofit rather than sell.

"Families that donate are heroes, too," Cummins said.

Richard and Ruth Phillips will serve as co-managers of the headquarters in Hardy. Richard Phillips said his wife brings the organizational skills, and he the mechanical ones.

In addition to repairing and refurbishing donated equipment, Phillips works on cars like the one given to Adilee. The cars are limited to a speed of 2.5 miles per hour, so parents can keep up, he joked.

Cummins didn't picture herself working unpaid 60 hours a week in her retirement, but does it gladly to help children like Adilee, who was the first to receive a donation from CATS when Cummins started it three years ago.