Welcome to 2025!

As we begin a new year, all of us here at Spark wish you a healthy and happy 2025, and we look forward to continuing to serve our community by providing a variety of assistance and resources to our neighbors with disabilities. We'd like to take this opportunity to talk about what Spark offers. 

Spark Mobility Equipment ("DME, Durable Medical Equipment")

One of Spark's perhaps most well-known resources is our Durable medical equipment, or DME (or "mobility equipment") program. Mobility equipment refers to the vast range of items that are designed to help people address the challenges that accompany disabilities and / or illness. Here are some examples of mobility equipment:

• Canes
• Crutches
• Walkers
• Rollators
• Shower chairs
• Hospital beds and accessories
• Wheelchairs (standard & power)
• Scooters
• Cold therapy units

Q: Who is eligible to obtain mobility equipment?

A: Anyone may obtain mobility equipment from Spark. 

Q: Are there income criteria I must meet to obtain mobility equipment?

A: There are no income criteria to be met to obtain mobility equipment from Spark. We ask a modest donation for mobility equipment items that we provide. We accept cash, check, or credit card. These donations enable us to maintain our operations and continue serving our community. Adjustments can be made according to the needs of the individual. 

Q: What Insurance does Spark accept?

A: Spark is not a medical equipment provider in the formal sense. Spark does not receive payment from insurance as such. However, we suggest you contact your insurer for more information, such as in the case of HSA/FSA accounts.

Q: Where does our mobility equipment come from?

A: Spark's mobility equipment inventory consists entirely of donations from generous members of our community who have chosen to "pay it forward" by providing us with equipment that is no longer needed. If you have mobility equipment that you no longer need, please consider donating it to Spark so that others may benefit from it. Spark is a certified 501 (c)(3) organization, and all such donations are tax-deductible.

Q: Is the mobility equipment used or new?

A: Spark receives equipment from individuals, and a variety of organizations, hospitals, care facilities, etc., and includes new and used items. All items are thoroughly cleaned, checked, adjusted, and repaired as needed. Unfortunately, Spark is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, not a certified medical entity, and we advise that you consult your health care provider regarding the use of equipment that you obtain from us. 

Q: What information is needed?

A: Spark asks mobility equipment recipients and anyone who receives help or resources from Spark to provide basic information about themselves. We must do this because Spark is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and we must maintain records of all donations, activities and interactions with the public. The information is stored safely on a secure database service that is one of our recurring expenses.

E-cycling / e-waste recycling

Spark is accepting a variety of items for environmentally-responsible disposal. Here is a partial list of common items that we can accept.

Computers and other technology.

• Information technology: Desktop computers, laptop computers, mice, keyboards, hard drives, printers, desktop LCD monitors, scanners
• Note: All information storage devices (e.g. hard drives) are immediately thoroughly wiped according to federal standards
  
• Communication technology: Analog telephones, flip phones, smart phones, tablets, adapters, chargers, fax machines
  
• Home entertainment electronics: Stereos, radios, cd players, DVD players, cable boxes, cables, adapters, chargers, etc.
• Small appliances: Toasters, toaster ovens, blenders, microwave ovens, dehumidifiers, etc.
  

Items that Spark cannot accept for e-cycling

• Televisions or very-large large-screen TV’s
• Tube (CRT) televisions
• Fluorescent light bulbs
• Large appliances: 
  • • Examples: washing machines, dryers, air conditioners
• Notes:
  • These lists is limited to examples. Please contact us with any questions regarding items not listed.
  • Prior to bringing items to Spark for e-cycling, please let us know what types of items you wish to drop off, quantities of items, and when you wish to drop them off.

Spark Innovation

Here at Spark, our mission is to help people who have disabilities. Much of the time such help is provided in the form of mobility equipment, as mentioned.

When it comes to mobility, there isn’t always a one-size-fits-all solution. Sometimes you can see it in your mind, but it can’t be found in a store or online.

Fortunately, the creative innovation team at Spark loves a challenge.

The Swing's the Thing

Lacey Hillard, an early-interventionist at Emory Valley Center in Oak Ridge, was working with a family in Andersonville to help their youngest child, a little girl with microcephaly, autism and global development delays, get a therapeutic swing to use at home. The swing would increase sensory input in order for the child to regulate.

The Basic Off-The-Shelf Swing

The swing was a good start, but the mother, Michelle Wilson, mentioned how helpful it would be if it were motorized so that she didn’t have to push the swing constantly and could take care of chores while her daughter, Raeleigh, was enjoying her swing therapy.