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Tag: special needs

  • Swim Angelfish is Now a Certified Autism Center™

    Swim Angelfish is Now a Certified Autism Center™

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    Press Release
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    updated: Aug 19, 2019


    STAMFORD, Conn., August 19, 2019 (Newswire.com)
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    ​Swim Angelfish, an adaptive swim program that began in Connecticut, was recently awarded the Certified Autism Center™ designation by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES).

    Parents with children on the autism spectrum often find selecting extracurricular activities a challenge due to sensory needs and safety concerns. By completing the training necessary to earn the Certified Autism Center™ (CAC) designation, Swim Angelfish has gone above and beyond their already established programming geared toward these individuals to equip themselves with even more knowledge and best practices to ensure children with autism and other sensory disorders will enjoy the best possible experience that caters to their needs.

    “We pursued the Certified Autism Center™ designation to further our knowledge and be able to continue offering the most up-to-date and groundbreaking services possible for swimming and autism,” says Swim Angelfish founder, Ailene Tisser. “Our mission is to be the catalyst for decreasing the alarming statistic of drowning being the leading cause of death for children with autism.”

    Swim Angelfish founders Cindy Freedman MOTR, CTRS, and Ailene Tisser MA, PT, help swimmers with a variety of special needs reach their full potential through aquatic therapy sessions and swim lessons. These swim lessons and occupational therapy/physical therapy (OT/PT) aquatic sessions create within children of all abilities the lifelong skills needed to be comfortable and safe in the water and be independent and confident in other recreational activities.

    A variety of programs are offered that are targeted, but not necessarily limited to, swimmers with attention difficulties, anxiety, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), sensory challenges, physical disabilities and coordination difficulties. These include OT/PT aquatic therapy, Swim Whisperers ™ swim lessons, water-based therapy training, as well as in-person seminars and private therapy workshops. They also offer a full online program for Swim Whisperers™ swim lesson training.

    “Seeing organizations like Swim Angelfish embrace the training and standards set forth by IBCCES is crucial to the aquatic community’s understanding of the connection and benefits engaging in swimming and other water activities can have for individuals with autism,” says Myron Pincomb, IBCCES Board Chairman. “We anticipate this movement toward further training and certification will continue to expand in the future.”

    For almost 20 years, IBCCES has been the industry leader in autism training for healthcare, education and corporate professionals around the globe. IBCCES recognized that many families with children who have special needs have trouble finding professionals outside a traditional healthcare or education setting who have been specifically trained and certified to work with individuals on the spectrum. More parents are seeking out organizations that have completed research-based training and professional review as they search for options for recreation and other activities.

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    About Swim Angelfish

    For over 20 years, we have specialized in adaptive swim training. We work to educate aquatic instructors not by diagnosis but by roadblock. This is the Swim Whisperers® difference. The aquatic instructors using these tools see success in their very next lesson. Our online training works for swimmers with autism, anxiety, trauma, sensory and motor disorders, discomfort, physical difficulties and delays, as well as neuro-typical swimmers, enabling them to learn faster and with less discomfort, helping you to become a “Swim Whisperer” too!

    About IBCCES 

    Delivering The Global Standard For Training and Certification in The Field of Cognitive Disorders – IBCCES provides a series of certifications that empower professionals to be leaders in their field and improve the outcomes for the individuals they serve. These programs are the only training and certification programs endorsed by the largest grassroots autism organization in the world, The Autism Society of America, and recognized around the world as the leading benchmark for training and certification in the areas of autism and other cognitive disorders.

    Media Contact Swim Angelfish:

    Jessica Pettit

    Online Certification Manager

    jessica@swimangelfish.com

    203-545-0024 EXT 3

     

    MEDIA CONTACT IBCCES:

    Meredith Tekin, President
    Phone: 904.508.0135 // 904.434.1534
    Email: meredith@ibcces.org

    Source: IBCCES

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  • First Annual Soaring Kidz Basketball Tournament to Raise Money for Special Needs Youth Sports in Houston

    First Annual Soaring Kidz Basketball Tournament to Raise Money for Special Needs Youth Sports in Houston

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    Press Release
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    updated: Aug 8, 2019


    HOUSTON, August 8, 2019 (Newswire.com)
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    ​​​​​​​Soaring Kidz’s Charity 3 on 3 basketball tournament will be hosted by the Rafail Insurance Agency. It will be held on Saturday, September 21st from 12 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Houston’s First Baptist Church located on 7401 Katy Freeway. All proceeds will go to Soaring Kidz to assist in their mission of affording all children and teens of varying abilities the opportunities to experience joy, pride, and freedom through recreational and sports activities regardless of their physical, social, or mental challenges. 

    “The Rafail Insurance Agency is honored to found the first-ever Soaring Kidz Charity Basketball Tournament,” stated Mark Rafail, President of The Rafail Insurance Agency. “We hope to raise awareness so children with special needs can have a gym that they can call their own. With the funds raised, we hope that Soaring Kidz can house such an amazing facility one day.”

    Several sponsorship opportunities are available ranging from $500-$5000, with donations of any kind warmly accepted. For those wanting to participate in the tournament, team pricing is $225, individual pricing is $75, and spectator pricing is $25. The winner of the tournament will receive $500 in gift cards and a goodie basket. 

    Started by founder Mina Iskander, Soaring Kidz is a grassroots organization with the mission of helping special needs children have the joy and freedom to play sports. While Soaring Kidz currently rents gyms to host their events and keep costs low for parents, the organization plans to eventually purchase their own facility and expand its staff. All donations and sponsorships are pivotal in carrying out the Soaring Kidz mission, with partnerships being greatly valued. Current programs include basketball, soccer, gymnastics, t-ball, taekwondo, art for all, and golf. 

    About Soaring Kidz

    Soaring Kidz is an organization serving youth with varying abilities in the Greater Houston area. Children and teens in the program are from all walks of life who experience the daily struggles of life-long challenges associated with physical, social, and/or cognitive disabilities. Soaring Kidz was established in 2008 with the belief that all children regardless of ability should have access to recreational, group, and individual exercise to maximize each child’s potential for movement. Current programs include t-ball, gymnastics, soccer, swimming, basketball, Parent & Me classes, and more. Soaring Kidz would like to encourage everyone to feel free to join them for their next program or event! Learn more at http://www.soaringkidz.org/

    About Rafail Insurance Agency 

    Created in 2009, Rafail Insurance Group is one of the top 1% of Farmers agencies in the country. Family owned and operated, this full-service, award-winning insurance agency is run by Mark and Sylvia Rafail. With a commitment to a service-oriented approach, Rafail Insurance Group specializes in commercial, residential, life, group health insurance, and more. The Rafail Insurance Agency is the only insurance agency tailored to realtors, mortgage lenders, apartment leasing agents, financial advisors, and auto dealers. Rafail Insurance Group takes great pride in their community involvement, supporting local events and organizations such as the Houston Egyptian Festival, the Houston Half Marathon, Crime Stoppers of Houston, local schools, police, firefighters, and more. To learn more, visit https://www.rafailinsurance.com/, or contact via phone at 713-429-1790.

    Media Contact 

    Mark Rafail

    Rafail Insurance Agency

    Office: 713-429-1790

    Mark.Rafail@rafailinsurance.com

    Source: Soaring Kidz

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  • Destiny Community Center Launches Special Needs Program

    Destiny Community Center Launches Special Needs Program

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    Destiny recently launched a new initiative, aimed at providing assistance to the over 25,000 disabled populous in Placer County.

    Press Release
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    updated: May 13, 2019


    ROCKLIN, Calif., May 13, 2019 (Newswire.com)
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    In January of 2019, the Destiny Community Center launched a new Special Needs Initiative, aimed at supporting the disabled community and their families. The Destiny mantra “Love Our City” means every family, every individual, and every child. These kids inspire a very innocent, very special kind of love, a love that we should look to for inspiration.

    Respite Events

    Destiny hosted their first Respite Night on April 5th and serviced dozens of families with special needs children. Plans to host more respite events like Senior Balls, Sensory Events, and other engagement activities at the Destiny Community Center are underway.

    ​Family Support

    In addition to providing events and activities for the families, Destiny will also be providing support to the entire family. Free classes, workshops, and resources will empower both family and community members as they engage with the special needs population.

    There are 41,000,000 individuals, almost 15% of the U.S. population, that have some sort of disability, and we’re not leaving them behind.

    Community Outreach

    The Destiny Community Center hosts numerous outreach events through the year, such as the Backpack Giveaway, where thousands of backpacks are given to students in need, packed with school supplies. Moreover, it’s a day of games, prizes, and entertainment for their entire family. Destiny is continually working with the local school districts and government agencies to provide inclusion to these disabled individuals and families. 

    Source: Destiny Community Services

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  • Two Austin Moms Spread Inclusion Message With Videos and Launch a Nonprofit

    Two Austin Moms Spread Inclusion Message With Videos and Launch a Nonprofit

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    Press Release
    –


    updated: Apr 2, 2019


    AUSTIN, Texas, April 2, 2019 (Newswire.com)
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     Special with a Side of Mom, an Austin, Texas-based organization focused on special needs inclusion, has officially become a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

    They officially launched on Jan. 16, 2019. The two Austin moms, Jamie de Grasse and Pam Shipley, started a video blog to spread awareness of the severe sides of autism, Cerebral Palsy, and other conditions. 

    Jamie’s son, Damien, is non-verbal and on the severe side of the autism spectrum, while Pam’s daughter, Ava, is non-verbal with dyskinetic cerebral palsy and has high support needs. They each have additional children and try to find a good balance.

    Since January, they’ve gained thousands of followers on Facebook, and hundreds of thousands of views on their videos as they work to spread disability awareness and inclusion.

    “We started as a video blog to help bring humor and awareness to disability inclusion. When we started gaining traction, we realized that we could do so much more,” said co-founder, Jamie de Grasse. “Our nonprofit status is one of the most exciting things that’s happened for us in building this community of support.”

    Special with a Side of Mom now uses inclusion events, social gatherings, website applications, and social media platforms to reach caregivers and parents. The nonprofit is also partnering with local organizations, employers, sports and recreational teams to provide inclusive systems to benefit all members of society. Jamie and Pam also host a support group for other parents in the SW Austin/Dripping Springs area called “Special with a Side of Coffee.” 

    The organization’s mission is to spread disability inclusion awareness in education, sports, community and the workplace to all members of society regardless of their abilities.

    As a nonprofit organization under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 501(c)(3), donors can deduct contributions that they make to the organization. It also means that Special with a Side of Mom is qualified to receive tax deductible bequests, devises, transfers or gifts under Section 2055, 2106, or 2522.

    To learn more about their mission and nonprofit status, visit https://specialwithasideofmom.com.

    Source: Special with a Side of Mom

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  • Rangam Hosts Round Table on Matters Pertaining to Vocational Skills Training and Disability Inclusion in India

    Rangam Hosts Round Table on Matters Pertaining to Vocational Skills Training and Disability Inclusion in India

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    Rangam hosts a roundtable to discuss the challenges facing the disability community in India, as well as identify solutions through collaboration with partners in the US who specialize in vocational skills development and employability programs.


    VADODARA, India, August 28, 2018 (Newswire.com)
    –
    ColorsAcademy, Rangam’s offshore skills training and career development center for children and young adults with disabilities, convened a round table on Friday, August 10 in Vadodara, Gujarat. The conference, held at the premises of ColorsAcademy, was attended by special educators, parents of children with disabilities, and representatives from local as well as national disability support groups.

    Among the guests were Manju Kaushal, Founder of a local parents group for individuals with disabilities; Radha Tandon, Director of the Praangan Center for Children with Special Educational Needs (SEN); Dr. Sonal Shah, Trustee, Medical Director and Coordinator at the Matushree Parsanba Charitable Trust/Sankalp Centre for Children with Disabilities; Pravir Lal, member of the governing board at Sankalp; N. K. Chawla, Vice President of Disha Autism Centre; and Priyanka Biradar, social activist. Merry Barua, Director of Action for Autism and National Centre for Autism (India), and Anita Narayan Iyer, Founder, Managing Trustee, and Chief Volunteer of the EKansh Trust in Pune, also joined the conference through video.

    The purpose of the roundtable was to understand the challenges and learn from each other through collaboration. We would like to bring the best training programs and the right resources to India, in order to accomplish our mission of Employment for Everyone. However, to be able to do so, we have to find the right partners who can tell us about best practices, evidence-based methodologies, and the ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’ we should follow when working with a marginalized community striving to find sustainable work in the open job market.

    Nish Parikh, CEO and Chief Innovation Officer, Rangam

    The senior leadership team at Rangam, headed by CEO and Chief Innovation Officer Nish Parikh, made a presentation of Rangam’s global strategy and efforts aimed at developing innovative tools, programs, and services to facilitate vocational and life-skills development for individuals with disabilities as they prepare for employment.

    “It was an honor to personally meet the game changers who are working tirelessly to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities in India. They are doing an amazing job on their own. The purpose of the round table was to understand the challenges and learn from each other through collaboration. We would like to bring the best training programs and the right resources to India, in order to accomplish our mission of Employment for Everyone. However, to be able to do so, we have to find the right partners who can tell us about best practices, evidence-based methodologies, and the ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’ we should follow when working with a marginalized community striving to find sustainable work in the open job market,” Nish Parikh said.

    Parikh further stated that ColorsAcademy would like to tap into local, community-based employment programs – an approach that differs from Rangam’s nationwide hiring programs in corporate America. “There is a vast pool of talent with unique abilities in India. We need to start working with local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and employers to identify, train, and employ talented job seekers. In order to start that process, we have developed a plan to collaborate with local manufacturing and retail businesses,” he explained.

    Anita Narayan Iyer put forward the idea of reverse engineering as a practical way to meet the needs of employers. “The primary purpose of skilling individuals with disabilities is to find them jobs. However, we are currently skilling them to a certain extent before sending them to companies, saying that this is what our candidates can do for you. We have to work the other way around. We need to have hiring managers come over to skilling centers [like ColorsAcademy], meet candidates in person, look at their skillsets, and work out the best job profiles for these special talents.”

    Merry Barua discussed the complexities of getting people with autism to work and applauded the efforts of Rangam toward creating a system of inclusive employment utilizing technology and collaborative strategies. She also emphasized the need to educate and empower parents.

    “About three years ago, Rangam ran a successful pilot program at Sankalp for two months. We found that our children were attracted to the audio-visual stimulation provided by ColorsKit,” Pravir Lal said. “ColorsKit was very helpful in tracking the progress of children who are non-verbal. We hope to work with Rangam in further developing this program and taking it to the next level.”

    N. K. Chawla touched upon the importance of having local training and therapy centers for individuals with developmental disabilities. He also thanked Rangam for offering support to students at Disha through the ColorsKit series of educational apps.

    “The roundtable was an appreciable initiative to get the key stakeholders to interact with each other. We should continue to organize similar events in the future, since sharing knowledge multiplies it,” Radha Tandon wrote in a thank-you note.

    Also read: Rangam’s Offshore Skills Training Center for Children and Young Adults With Special Needs Celebrates First Anniversary

    About Rangam
    Established in 1995, Rangam is a high-performing diverse supplier of enterprise-wide staffing services in IT, clinical, scientific, healthcare, engineering, government, finance and administrative sectors. Rangam is a certified WMBE that has consistently grown year over year while establishing a history of providing exceptional service to clients. We pride ourselves on developing a culture of inclusion and collaboration through innovation in special education, disability hiring and re-employment of veterans.

    We at Rangam improve the quality of life for our candidates while providing exceptional service to our clients. We do this by delivering an integrated recruitment solution that combines technology, training, and education to our candidates while providing our clients with a large, diverse network of qualified personnel options. We adhere to a philosophy of “empathy drives innovation” in everything we do.

    For more information about Rangam, please visit https://rangam.com.

    About ColorsAcademy
    ColorsAcademy is where pre-academic learning needs of children with special needs are met with ColorsKit – an award-winning special education platform that helps children and young adults with disabilities acquire social, motor, executive functioning, self-regulation, and various other vocational as well as life-skills that are necessary for living and working with dignity and a certain level of independence.

    For more information about ColorsAcademy, please visit http://www.colorsacademy.com.

    Source: Rangam

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  • Ron Suskind, Pulitzer-Winning Author, to Speak About His Family’s Journey in Connecting With Autistic Son

    Ron Suskind, Pulitzer-Winning Author, to Speak About His Family’s Journey in Connecting With Autistic Son

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    A family’s story chronicled in the 2017 Academy Award-nominated documentary, “Life Animated”

    Press Release
    –


    updated: Apr 24, 2017


    Austin, Texas, April 24, 2017 (Newswire.com)
    –
     On April 27, Marbridge will host the fifth annual CoAct Project™, a national executive symposium to discuss best care practices, industry challenges, and building relationships to better care for individuals with intellectual disabilities.  

    Best-selling author Ron Suskind and his autistic son, Owen, will serve as keynote speakers; they are the subject of this year’s Academy Award-nominated documentary Life, Animated. Together, they will share their astonishing story of how Owen, following a diagnosis of regressive autism at 3 years old, slowly learned language and emotional dynamics by studying animated Disney movies. And how, through a series of startling breakthroughs, the family began to communicate with their lost son in movie dialogue.

    April is Autism Awareness Month. We now know that Autism affects one in every 68 children in the United States. We are eager to learn more from Mr. Suskind, and to explore the unknown capacities of the human mind. It is an honor to have Ron speaking at the CoAct Project this year, and to consider the impact this knowledge could have on so many individuals, their families and caregivers.

    Scott McAvoy, Vice President of Operations

    “Autism now affects one in every 68 children in the United States[i].  Currently at Marbridge, the autism diagnosis represents 25% of our resident population. We are eager to learn more from Mr. Suskind, and to explore the unknown capacities of the human mind,” states Scott McAvoy, Vice President of Operations at Marbridge. “It is an honor to have Ron speaking at the CoAct Project this year, and to consider the impact this knowledge could have on so many individuals, their families and caregivers.”

    • Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) refers to a range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication, as well as by unique strengths and differences. There is not one autism but many types, caused by different combinations of genetic and environmental influences.
    • Autism occurs in all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups, but is almost five times more common among boys than among girls.[ii]
    • April is Autism Awareness Month

    This year will serve as the 5th annual symposium of its kind at Marbridge, bringing together leadership, organizations and professionals in the field of intellectual disability, including Autism, Down Syndrome, Williams Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, seizure disorder and traumatic brain injury. “In our conversations with industry partners, it is apparent that there are a host of topics and concerns we share,” said James Stacey, President of Marbridge. “In 2013, we decided it was time to establish a forum where we could discuss our commonalities and share best practices.  We are committed to this collaboration moving forward, and to enhancing the lives of individuals with special needs.”

    ABOUT MARBRIDGE

    Founded in 1953, Marbridge is a non-profit residential community for adults with intellectual disabilities (www.marbridge.org). Located on 170 acres in south Austin, Texas, the campus consists of three interconnected communities providing varying levels of care—from semi-independent care, to assisted living, to skilled nursing and physical rehabilitation services. With over 250 residents, the population represents a diversity of diagnoses, including Autism, Down Syndrome, Williams Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, seizure disorder and traumatic brain injury.  With the unique Life Options Program, Marbridge provides a distinctly different lifestyle that ensures that each individual has the opportunity to learn, experience and achieve a whole new life at Marbridge.

    Contact: Scott McAvoy, Vice President of Operations, Marbridge Foundation

    512-282-1144, 512-845-4237 (mobile), smcavoy@marbridge.org

    #   #   #

    [i]  In 2016, the Centers for Disease Control’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) reported that approximately 1 in 68 children in the United States has been identified with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This rate remains the same as in 2014, which is the first time it has not risen.

    [ii] On March 27, 2014, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new data on the prevalence of autism in the United States. This surveillance study identified 1 in 68 children (1 in 42 boys and 1 in 189 girls) as having Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

    Source: Marbridge Foundation

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  • Fair Chance Gets State Funding, Announces Its First Community Walkathon Event and Partnership With the Danville Police Department

    Fair Chance Gets State Funding, Announces Its First Community Walkathon Event and Partnership With the Danville Police Department

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    Press Release
    –


    updated: Mar 30, 2017


    San Ramon,CA, March 30, 2017 (Newswire.com)
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     Fair Chance gets State Funding, announces its first Community Walkathon Event and Partnership with the Danville Police Department

    “Fair Chance for Special Needs, one of its kind program nationwide for children, teens and young adults with special needs, has now become a Vendor of the Regional Center of East Bay (RCEB), which means we have been approved for State Funding,” stated Shirin Kamal, Founder and Director of Fair Chance. “This Funding will help our families substantially lower their financial burden of sending the students to Fair Chance while at the same time help us add more features of extra-curricular growth, social fun, community-based outings, more credentialed and trained staff, improvise on our already amazing curriculum and make it more need- based for individual student,” added Kamal.

    Every child deserves a fair chance to learn, thrive and prosper in their own unique way.

    Shirin Kamal, Founder and Director

    “Our goal is to provide individuals with special needs the same opportunities of social, emotional and extra-curricular growth  that their typical peers enjoy. It has been a joy to see these children laugh, enjoy, socialize and thrive,” said Diane Mazaroff who joined Kamal as a  co-founder and Director of Operations in this amazing cause.

    “We are very excited to announce our first Walkathon event “Fair Chance Fun Run Walk Stroll and Roll” on May 21st, 2017,” said Shirin Kamal, “Our goal is to inform the community and raise awareness for this amazing program. We want every member of our community and every local business to join us in this amazing cause. We can all make a difference in the lives of children with special needs by doing our share.”

    To register for the event, please go to

    http://www.Fairchancefunrun.com

    “We are also working with Danville Police Department (DPD) on a program called “Getting to Know You” which enables the community and Police to learn and understand the needs of individuals with Special Needs. This program was started in light of the recent police misunderstandings and shootings related to Autism and other disabilities,” stated Mazaroff, 
    “We expect to expand this program soon to San Ramon Police Department and involve other neighborhoods and communities as well to raise awareness on both sides.” 

    For more information visit:  http://www.fairchanceforspecialneeds.org

    Contact: Shirin Kamal at fairchanceprogram@gmail.com

    Source: Fair Chance for Special Needs

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