Occupational Therapist Builds Opportunity Through Accessibility

Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Melanie Thompson. Read her story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light. 

Some people simply see the world differently, like 47-year-old occupational therapist Melanie Thompson. The world she sees is one of inclusiveness and capability. It’s one in which everyone has access to the tools they need to live their best life, specifically physically disabled children, her main clients and the population she has created two nonprofits to serve. 

She co-founded the first, Believe Beyond Ability, 10 years ago, inspired by a client. The mission is to make the world more accessible by rewiring toys to make them functional for kids with complicated physical issues.  

Gye Di (pronounced zee-dee), which means “believe” in Twi, a language spoken in parts of West Africa, is more than a mantra for Melanie after a volunteer trip to the region. It’s the name of the organization she started in 2021 as her vision expanded to include creating accessible, inclusive environments for kids of all abilities to play and learn together. Melanie has also volunteered over 630 hours over the last three years selling concessions at a local resort-casino and raising over $100,000 as part of a profit-sharing agreement. 

What inspired you to get started with these initiatives? 

I work with physically disabled kids, and oftentimes the bar is pretty low for them. People assume that because they’re physically disabled they have cognitive challenges, which is not true. My kids have done art, science and other amazing things, but they have to do it a little differently. They can’t just join the Girl and Boy Scouts or go to the park to play like everybody else, so they often get left on the sidelines. My mission is to create opportunities for them to learn, grow and experience life like any other kid. If we adapt the world so that my kids can do it, then every other kid can do it, too.

Tell us about your volunteer roles with Gye Di and Believe Beyond Ability. 

Both serve kids with special physical needs. We rewire 100+ toys every November to make them switch-accessible for Believe Beyond Ability. If a kiddo can barely move, they can’t squeeze Elmo’s hands to make him sing and dance. We will rewire it so they can hit that switch with their toe or head or whatever they can move.  

There aren’t many toys that Mom and Dad can pick up at typically retailers that a child with a physical disability can actually play with. We give away switch-adapted toys at our Believe Festival in December, because buying a $25 Elmo and electrically rewiring it to use a $65 switch takes money and knowledge. That’s not feasible for a lot of families. 

Gye Di is big picture. I make activities accessible for kids of all abilities. Last week, we launched our Farmyard Friends program with a unit on chickens and ducks. We had live birds for kids to pet, and we did science experiments with feathers and eggs. 

In addition, I’ve created educational content for social media so others can learn to adapt play. And I’ve developed relationships with community partners like local club baseball and softball teams to ensure we continue to have inclusive events with great peer mentors. I’ve also assembled a team of six passionate therapists without whom I couldn’t do this. 

What is something able-bodied people get wrong when interacting with someone who has disabilities? 

The most important thing is to talk to them. Even if the person can’t talk back, talk to them and give them a chance to respond. A lot of my kiddos can respond if you give them enough time, but too often, we don’t ask. We don’t wait, and we miss the opportunity.  

What are your long-term plans or goals for the organizations? 

We just opened our first facility on 1.5 acres I bought. I’ve already planned out free monthly community events with adapted activities. Part of the dream is having a farm. We’ve got chickens and are going to pick up a baby cow soon. We’re going to do things like teaching kids how to garden. 

My big dream for Gye Di is to build a multi-million-dollar indoor recreation facility, like the trampoline parks and indoor play places you take your other kids to but 100% handicap-accessible. Because, again, if you build to be handicap accessible, every kid can play there. Typical kids have very few interactions with special needs kids. I want to create this place where they can all play together. We can teach typical kids how to include and respect our special needs friends. 

What’s been the most rewarding part of your work? 

I see miracles every day. I have kids who can hardly move run their own lemonade stands and tell stories by using assistive technology. They’ve been able to do things I never would have dreamed possible, because we looked through the lens a little differently.

What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer? 

Dream big. Believe Beyond Ability and Gye Di have both been founded because I don’t like being told no. When you have kids with special needs, it’s very isolating. You can’t get out and about, and you don’t know how to navigate the medical system. Therapy makes a kid stronger. It doesn’t help them get assistive technology or opportunities to play that insurance doesn’t pay for, because it isn’t “medically necessary”. But kids learn through play, making it vital, so we found another way. 

Tell us about future partnerships, programs or events that you are excited about. 

At the end of the month, we’re having the grand opening for our new facility with a fully-accessible carnival. If siblings or friends don’t need to use the switch for the Nerf gun, they can just use the Nerf gun. Families can enjoy it together.  

In December, we’re going to host our first Farmers Market, where my kids are going to sell the goods they’ve created and show our community what they can do in adaptive ways. Our kids deserve the best that we have, and I want to create the opportunities they deserve. 

Do you want to make a difference in your community like Melanie? Find local volunteer opportunities.