CRA/DD Grants Fund Recreational Activities for the Developmentally Disabled

The Coalition for Recreational Activities for the Developmentally Disabled (CRA/DD) funds recreational opportunities for individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities. Grants of up to $250 are available to pay for swimming lessons, horseback riding, camp tuition and other recreational activities.

For more information, contact:
Fredda Smith
98 Brandy Ave.
Salem, NH 03079
(603) 893-8597

Scholarship Program Provides Financial Assistance to Children with Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities

The Canyon Rice Hope Scholarship provides grants ranging from $100 to $250 to developmentally disabled youth up to age 22. The funds can be used to pay for respite care or therapeutic supports. To apply for assistance, contact Jenny_L_Rice@yahoo.com.  

Shepherds College Offers Postsecondary Education Programs for People with Autism and Other Disabilities

Shepherds College, located in Union Grove, WI, is a three-year postsecondary educational program for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Its stated mission is to "educate and train students with intellectual disabilities by equipping them with Appropriate Independence and inspiring a lasting awareness of God's plan for their lives." Shepherds College defines Appropriate Independence as "supported self-sufficiency that is aligned with the strengths of each individual and guided by Christian values."

Students at Shepherds College receive education, skills training and support that is designed to help them reach their full potential and live as independently as possible. Shepherds College offers programs in Culinary Arts and Horticultural Studies, along with curricula in Functional Academic Skills, Mobility Skills, Spiritual Life, Daily Living Skills and Social/Emotional Skills. Students work with LifeCoaches to and participate in a variety of activities to enhance their personal and spiritual development.

For additional information or to request an information packet, contact Chris Wright, Director of Admissions, at (262) 878-6351 or cwright@shepherdsministries.org.

Sensory Friendly Films for People with Autism and Other Disabilities

AMC Entertainment and the Autism Society have teamed up to offer Sensory Friendly Films for individuals and families affected by autism and other disabilities.

Selected AMC theaters will offer special screenings on a monthly basis in an environment that is friendly, welcoming and inclusive for individuals with special sensory concerns. Lights will be turned up and the sound will be turned down during sensory friendly film screenings in order to create a safe and comfortable viewing experience for the special audience. No previews or advertisements will be shown prior to the movies. Participants will be allowed to bring in their own gluten-free, casein-free snacks. In addition, audience members will be free to get up, move around, dance, sing or shout during the movie!

Tickets are $4-$6, depending on location. Upcoming sensory friendly films screens include:

December 11-The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
January 8-Gulliver’s Travels
February 12-Gnomeo and Juliette

Click on the link for a list of participating AMC theaters. To request that sensory friendly films be shown in your local AMC theater, send an email to 0411CommunityRelations@amctheatres.com.

AMC Entertainment’s Sensory Friendly Films initiative is a perfect example of a company engaging in smart business practices while simultaneously demonstrating its commitment to socially responsibility by creating a welcoming, inclusive environment for customers with autism and other special needs. Please contact AMC Entertainment to express your support for this program:

AMC Entertainment Inc.


P.O. Box 725489


Atlanta, GA 31139-9923


http://getsatisfaction.com/amc_theatres

I am hopeful that the success of this program will lead to its expansion into all AMC theaters, and that other companies, organizations and institutions will follow suit by offering products, services and facilities that are responsive to the needs of individuals affected by autism and other disabilities.

Children’s Charity Fund Provides Grants for Handicapped and Disabled Children

The Children’s Charity Fund, Inc. provides grants to assist handicapped and disabled children with medical equipment and educational expenses. To apply for a grant, families of children with autism and other disabilities should complete an application, submit the requisite supporting documentation and return the completed, notarized application to the Children’s Charity Fund.

If you would like to support the work of the Children’s Charity Fund, you may send them a donation.

Contact information for the Children’s Charity Fund is:

Children’s Charity Fund, Inc.
6623 Superior Ave.
Sarasota, FL 34231
(800) 643-5787
(941) 925-9689
(941) 923-5947 fax
ccf21c@aol.com

Whole Foods Market Store Implements Hands-On Shopping Program for People with Autism

The Whole Foods Market Store in Naperville, Illinois, located at 2607 W. 75th Street, Naperville, IL 60540, has implemented a helpful program called Hands-On Shopping for people with autism and other newly forming and special abilities.

The complimentary program provides a visual tactile tool for shopping and learning that is available to individuals with autism as well as anyone else who would like to utilize it. Resources available through the program include large, colorful laminated lists and attachable prompts that help individuals with special needs navigate their way through the store facility and organize their shopping.

Shoppers who use the Hands-On Shopping program can sign out one of three systems—miniature products, picture and word cards or word cards—from the store’s customer service desk. Once the item is located in the store, it is placed into a “shopping cart.”
The program was developed as a result of the advocacy of a store employee named Tarryl who is the mom of two children who have autism.

You can call (630) 579-7700 or send an email to bonnie.summers@wholefoods.com to reserve materials for your shopping trip in advance.

Currently, the program is only available at the Naperville store, but I am hopeful that the program will be wildly popular and successful and will soon be implemented in all of the company’s stores. I encourage you to contact your local Whole Foods store and ask the manager to implement the program there. I also would encourage you to contact the company‘s headquarters to let them know that this is exactly the kind of socially responsible program that both promotes customer loyalty and makes community outings positive experiences for citizens of all abilities.

The contact information for Whole Foods World Headquarters is:

Whole Foods Market, Inc.
550 Bowie Street
Austin, TX 78703-4644
512-477-4455
512-477-5566 voicemail
512-482-7000 fax

More companies, organizations and institutions need to follow in Whole Foods footsteps by finding creative ways to make their facilities more accessible and responsive to the needs of consumers with autism and other disabilities.

Hannah’s Helping Hands Grant Program Open to Individuals with Autism

Hannah & Friends, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for children and adults with developmental disabilities, provides funding for the Hannah’s Helping Hands (HHH) Grant Program. Hannah’s Helping Hands quality of life grants for families of adults and children with special needs who are residents of Rhode Island and Indiana, including the greater Michiana area. The grants, which range from $100 and $500, can be used for anything that improves the quality of life of the developmentally disabled person.

Lekotek Makes Play Accessible to Children with Autism and Other Disabilities

Lekotek helps children with autism and other special needs participate in, learn from and enjoy playing. Lekotek has 32 play and learning centers nationwide that make play accessible to children with disabilities through traditional toys, adapted toys, books and computers. Through play, children with special needs learn the skills necessary to build a foundation for literacy, mathematical reasoning and computer use.

Lekotek’s mission is to promote the inclusion of children with special needs into family and community life through the use of interactive play. Lekotek play sessions, lending libraries, Compuplay computer centers and community-specific programs are available to children with special needs and their parents, siblings, extended family members and caregivers.

Lekotek was founded in Sweden in the early 1960’s by two parents of children with disabilities who were seeking ways to help their children during their formative years. Their goal was to develop a program that would both foster their children’s development and facilitate their full inclusion in society. Their efforts resulted in the creation of the first Lekotek facility in Stockholm. Today, Lekotek centers are widespread in Scandinavian countries and are a mandatory component of the social welfare service delivery system in Sweden and Norway.

Each Lekotek site has its own fee schedule, and many sites offer sliding fee scales. For more information, contact your local Lekokek center or call (800) 366-PLAY. Click on the link if you are interested in starting a Lekotek site in your community.

O’Berry Center Foundation Family Support Grants

O’Berry Center Foundation Family Support Grants are available to families affected by developmental disabilities who reside in counties in central and east North Carolina. Autism is classified as a developmental disability.

Grants of up to $5,000 are awarded to families who have exhausted other resources to purchase durable equipment such as communication devices, sensory integration equipment, recreational equipment and other assistive technology equipment and devices.

O’Berry Center Foundation Family Support Grants are awarded on a quarterly basis. Application deadlines are December 1, April 1, June 1 and September 1.

For more information about applying for a grant or supporting the O’Berry Center Foundation, send an email message to monunc@nc.rr.com or call Dennis Mays at (919) 581-4015.

Children’s Disabilities Information

Children’s Disabilities Information has an extensive collection of articles and resources designed to empower parents of children with disabilities and special needs. The site has a number of helpful resources for parents of children who have autism, including articles, book reviews, discussion lists and an annotated list of links to autism resources.

Fathers Network Offers Support to Dads of Children with Disabilities

The Washington State Fathers Network (FN) is the only regional program in the United States that is devoted solely to supporting fathers of children with developmental disabilities and special health care needs. Although the organization is based in Bellevue, Washington, fathers of children who have special needs worldwide are able to benefit from the Fathers Network through its Web site.

The Fathers Network offers a variety of resources to assist fathers of children who have disabilities and other special needs, including workshops, trainings, news, inspirational stories, newsletters, curricula and an events calendar.

Click here for information on how you can support the work of the Fathers Network.

Jennifer Ashleigh Children’s Charity

Jennifer Ashleigh Children’s Charity provides financial assistance to Ontario residents under age 21 who have either a serious illness or a permanent disability. Jennifer Ashleigh Children’s Charity assists with the costs of respite, developmental therapies, adaptive computer hardware and software, medical treatments that are not covered by government health plans or insurance, recreation that promotes a child’s involvement in the community, and educational programs, materials and instruction. Call (905) 852-1799 to obtain a request for assistance form.

Click here to make a donation to Jennifer Ashleigh Children’s Charity.

Special Needs Learning and Therapy Software at 50% Discount

EnableMart offers Laureate Learning Systems software at a 50% discount on the retail price for parents of children who have autism and other special needs. Laureate Learning Systems publishes therapy and learning software for children and adults who have autism, language disorders, cognitive delays, developmental disabilities and other special needs. Parents of children who have autism or other special needs should call (888) 640-1999 to receive a discount when ordering Laureate Learning software from EnableMart.

Elsie S. Bellows Fund Assistive Technology Grants

The Elsie S. Bellows Fund provides funding for United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) affiliates to purchase assistive technology devices for people who have disabilities. United Cerebral Palsy affiliates submit Bellows Fund applications to the UCP national office on behalf of disabled individuals. Bellows Fund grants can be used to purchase a variety of assistive technology products, including augmentative communication devices, environmental controls and computer equipment.

For information on how to apply for assistance from the Bellows Fund, contact your local UCP affiliate or Jack Schillinger.

CafeMom is a Great Resource for Moms of Children Who Have Autism and Other Special Needs

Meet other moms with similar challenges and interests. Check out CafeMom today! CafeMom is a wonderful resource for moms of children who have autism and other disabilities. CafeMom is a community that offers moms of children with and without special needs an opportunity to meet, connect and share with other moms who have similar experiences and challenges. I am especially impressed by CafeMom's many vibrant, active and supportive groups for moms of children who have autism, as well as other disabilities and special needs.

South Dakota Statewide Family Support Program Helps Families of Children with Developmental Disabilities

The South Dakota Department of Human Services Statewide Family Support Program provides South Dakota families of children who have developmental disabilities with services and supports to help them meet their unique and varied needs. The Statewide Family Support Program assigns a family support coordinator to help each family identify and access services to meet their needs.

The program also provides a flexible pool of funding to assist families with extraordinary expenses, including but not limited to diapers, medications, special foods, recreational opportunities, special clothing, adaptive equipment, home modifications, vehicle modifications, respite care, family counseling, parent/sibling education and medical travel expenses. Clink on the link to obtain an application.

Kid One Transports Children to Better Health

Kid One Transport provides transportation to medical, dental and mental health care services to children and expectant mothers who live in communities across Alabama. Click on the link to apply for transportation services.

Click on the link if you would like to support the work of Kid One Transport.

Home Options Program Helps Families Affected by Disabilities Become Homeowners

The Home Options Program provides first-time home buyers with up to $12,000 in purchase price assistance to buy a condominium, town house or single family home in Chicago. Families that have a household income of up to 80% of the median for area and that have a family member who has a developmental disability or a mobility impairment are eligible to apply to the program.

The program is administered by Community Service Options, Inc. For more information, contact Dennis Howard or call him at (773) 838-4616