The Honda Foundation Heeds Cora Barclay's Call

TULLAMARINE, AUSTRALIA – April 20, 2011: The Honda Foundation and Adelaide’s Nordic Honda have donated funds to purchase sensory integration therapy equipment for the Cora Barclay Centre for Deaf Children, adding much needed technology to aid in treatment of patients.

Established 65 years ago, Cora Barclay assists deaf children in improving their audition, speech and language development. Each child wears hearing aids, cochlear implants or other listening devices.

Chairman of The Honda Foundation, Mr. Lindsay Smalley, commended the Cora Barclay Centre for its tireless work and ongoing assistance to those in the deaf and hearing impaired community.

“The Cora Barclay Centre for Deaf Children has provided generations of hearing impaired children the means to improve their listening and speaking skills. The Foundation is proud to support their work,” Mr. Smalley said.

Children who cannot interpret or organise information as it comes through their body’s senses attend hour long therapy sessions that facilitate improvement in their sensory integration.

The behavioural, social and academic issues that often stem from hearing difficulties are also addressed in these sessions, which cater for children aged two weeks, up to young adults aged 19 years.

Robyn Phillips, Clinical Program Manager, said the Centre was thankful to The Honda Foundation for its generous donation and was excited patients would have access to updated equipment. “The newly purchased sensory integration therapy equipment allows the Cora Barclay Centre to provide state-of-the-art therapy and care to its patients.”

Mr. Hillar Puvi, Deal Principal at Nordic Honda and long-time supporter of Cora Barclay, said the dealership was pleased to continue its partnership and looks forward to future projects together.

“Offering the latest technology to compliment Cora Barclay’s therapy programs ensures that patients are receiving the best possible care and treatment, something that Nordic Honda is proud to be a part of,” Mr. Puvi said.

The Honda Foundation aims to provide assistance to local communities and foster goodwill among Honda Australia, Honda Motor Vehicle Dealers and the public. It draws funding from Honda Dealers and Honda Australia who donate $15 ($5 and $10 respectively) for every Honda car sold.

For more information on The Honda Foundation and the organisations it supports, please visit www.hondafoundation.org.au