Celebration of Mother’s Day & a New Community Resource Guide the Disability Resource Hub

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Rori Becker and Phyllis Guthman join us for our Mother’s Day Show & We’re Celebrating Two Years On The Air!

Today we have Phyllis Guthman of Disability Resource Hub and Rori Becker of the Bright Feats Directory. We will be discussing women of influence, also known by those who love them as “Mother” and a new resource available in our community, the Disability Resource Hub Directory.

Rori, after her first child was born premature, managed her complex medical and educational care while learning about the services available throughout the local special needs community. Co-founding the Bright Feats Directory, she looks forward to expanding the scope of Bright Feats with Employment and Internship Opportunities, for our talented young adults with disabilities, to share in the mission to serve local families.

Phyllis has provided disability information, resources and communications for Special Needs Ministries, Special Needs Sports, Therapy, Recreation and Art Organizations, as well as Statewide and Local Disability Agencies for 18 years. She launched Disability Resource Hub as a vehicle to disseminate resources.  Disability Resource Hub and Bright Feats are collaborating to produce a resource directory for the Tampa Bay Area!

Pictured: Rori Becker, Bright Feats & Phyllis Guthman, Disability Resource Hub and Julie Ames, SNFH

2 Year Anniversary of Special Needs Family Hour

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2 Year Anniversary of Special Needs Family HourThis Sunday is Mother’s Day and we have a lot to celebrate. First and foremost we want to celebrate all the moms, dads, teachers, and caregivers who day in and day out support kids with special needs. Raising children with special needs is rewarding but also comes with its own unique challenges. Taking a day to recognize the sacrifice and commitment that goes into taking care of these very special people is important. So if you are supporting a special needs family give yourself a pat on the back, you are doing a great job. If you know someone who is a caregiver for someone with special needs please encourage them and remind them that what they are doing makes a difference.

Julie Ames is proud to be recognized for Excellence in Media at the Mayor’s Alliance Awards Luncheon for People with Disabilities

This Sunday also marks the 2 year anniversary of Special Needs Family Hour Radio Show. Our first show aired on May 10th, Mother’s Day of 2015. It is a weekly show heard every Sunday afternoon 1-2 pm and Saturday 4-5 pm on AM 860 “The Answer”. Our station reaches seven counties with a potential listening audience of 3.2 million people. Our goal is to help and inspire those parents and caregivers who are caring for special people. On the show we cover all things related to special needs to include medical, educational and legal issues. Through these 2 years we have created fifty unique shows featuring advocates, authors, officers, Miss America, Ms. Wheel Chair America, and even a therapy dog. Julie Ames was recognized for Excellence in Media at the Mayor’s Alliance Awards Luncheon for People with Disabilities and officially achieved 501c3 status. We are proud to have achieved these milestones and excited to continue to serve the special needs community by providing the resources and answers that they need to be successful.

If this is your first time visiting this site we are glad you are here! Check out some of our amazing programs listed below. If you are a long time listener thanks for your support and feel free to use this list to listen to your favorites again.

List of Shows:

  1. Julie’s Story/Child Find & Early Childhood Council
  2. Julie’s Story/ Early Steps at USF
  3. Julie’s Story/ Parent Liaison Project
  4.  Individual Education Plan (IEP) for Special Needs Child/Organizational tips
  5.  Guardianship Part 1, Attorney Jay Hemness
  6.  Guardianship Part 2, Pepin Academies Special Needs Nurse
  7.  Special Needs Ministries, One Roof Initiative, Young Life Capernaum
  8. Crisis Center of Tampa Bay Part 1
  9. Artistas Café Training & Employment Program
  10. Crisis Center of Tampa Bay Part 2 – Crises Counselor Answering listeners questions.
  11. Autism Friendly Business Initiative with the Center for Autism & Related Disabilities (CARD) at USF with Dr. Karen Berkman and The Florida Aquarium, as well as The Learning Academy at USF
  12.  Buddy Baseball – a non-competitive recreational league for individuals with special needs.
  13.  Rotary Camp Florida – a camping facility for children and adults with disabilities.
  14.  Special Olympics Florida Healthy Community Tampa Bay & Organizing Your Medical Files
  15. “Working with Your Local School to Get the Help Your Child Needs” by Hillsborough County Schools, Exceptional Student
  16.  Dr. Nicole Johnson (Miss America)Executive Director/ Founder Bringing Science Home to Students with Diabetes
  17.  Transition to Adulthood for Individuals with Development Disabilities.
  18. Vocational Rehabilitation – School to Work Transition Program with Milton Moss
  19. Ms. Wheelchair America 2014, Jennifer Lynn Adams
  20. Shriner’s Hospital – Tampa with Jamie Lynn Santillo
  21. The Pepin Academies with Dr. Craig Butz and Celeste Kellar
  22. Pepin Transitional Job Training Program with Dr. Butz / Pepin Nurse Diane McCurdy
  23. Lawyer’s Autism Awareness Foundation (known for “Sensory Friendly Santa” event for children w/autism) with Luis E. Viera.
  24. Ava’s Law with Anna Bullard – Insurance Coverage for Autism/ Tips on medical record organization!
  25. Social Security Disability Benefits and Supplemental Security Income with Liz Montefu of Montefu Consulting
  26. Success 4 Kids & Families – Services for kids w/problems at school, home, or the law.
  27.  USF’s Parent Child Interaction Therapy and Hot Docs Program – Dr. Kathi Armstrong & Dr. Carrie Adams
  28.  A Special Thanksgiving Message with the award winning author of “I Choose”, Suzin Carr
  29. Benefits of Drama Therapy with Loretta Gallo-Lopez, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor
  30. Equine-Assisted Therapies with Dr. Edie Dopkling, Executive Director of Quantum Leap Farms
  31.  Jack Kosik’s Villages at Noah’s Landing– $15 Million Dollar community for those w/ intellectual disabilities completed 2016.
  32. A Special Christmas Message with the author of Sweetie Pie/ Tips for Holiday Travel with individuals with Special Needs.
  33. Healthy Transitions Program for those 16 to 25 years experiencing Mental Health Challenges.
  34.  Julie Ames with Tips on Raising Children with Special Needs
  35.  Pharmacist Sally DePalma Discusses Tips on Working with Your Family Pharmacist.
  36. MacDonald’s Training Center has Supported Living, Employment, and Community Living.
  37. Discuss Mary Lee’s House, a State of the Art Child Protection and Child Advocacy Center
  38.  Hart’s Travel Trainer Program for Those with Special Needs Who Desire to Ride the Bus Independently.
  39. Hillsborough County’s Public School Training Programs for Adults with Disabilities 18 yrs of age and older w/Keensha Parham
  40. Discuss “Finding Mathew” with Author Donna Kirk. It’s a Story of Hope and Encouragement.
  41. Emma Hemness Attorney at Law Discusses Long Term Care, SSI, Trusts, and ABLE Accounts.
  42. The Founders of Speech and Language Discuss Speech & Language Therapy
  43. Emmy Award Nominated Reality Show “Born This Way” follows seven young adults with Down Syndrome – Interview with Sean’s mother Sandra McElwee
  44. Keeping Your Child Safe-Sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Division Internet Predator Unit with Detective Heaverin
  45. Quinn Bradlee’s Founder of Friends of Quinn – online Community of those w/Learning Disabilities
  46. Interview with Tahni Cullen about “Josiah’s Fire “
  47. Ric Edelman, NY Times Best Selling Author, discuses planning for your retirement and for your child with special needs.
  48. Chronic-Complex Clinic For Children At St Joseph’s Children’s Hospital
  49. Healthy Sexuality for Adolescents & Young Adults with Developmental Disabilities
  50. Update on Rotary Camp Florida – a camping facility for children and adults with special needs.

The Special Needs Family Hour Presents: Rotary Camp Florida!

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Rotary Camp Florida

Join us this Sunday afternoon on the Special Needs Family Hour at 1:00 pm!

This week’s show will feature Rotary Camp Florida, a camping facility for
children and adults with disabilities!  

Pictured left to right: Mike Edenfield, Rotary Camp Florida Board, Liz
Fields, Rotary Camp Florida Executive Director, Julie Ames, SNFH, 


Rotary’s Camp Florida, Inc. is unique by offering special needs user groups the ability to rent our entire 21-acre facility, allowing them to tailor each of their camps to suit the specific needs of the children and adults they serve. Camp fees for special needs children and adults are sponsored by their groups and the Camp’s Memory Maker Scholarship Fund. 

Each camping group is required to provide its own camp counselors, doctors, nurses, lifeguards, and cooks. Each group is responsible for supplying meals and has the use of our fully equipped commercial kitchen and state-of-the-art gas barbecue grill.

The Special Needs Family Hour Presents: Healthy Sexuality for Adolescents & Young Adults with Disabilities!

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Healthy Sexuality for Adolescents and Young Adults with Developmental Disabilities

This show features Loretta Gallo-Lopez, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. We discuss Healthy Sexuality for Adolescents and Young Adults with Developmental Disabilities.

Loretta has over 25 years of experience working with adolescents and their parents. She is a Registered Drama Therapist, Registered Play Therapist, and she is the Clinical Director & a Founding Board Member of the Focus Academy in Temple Terrace, FL.

Loretta Gallo-Lopez, MA Clinical Director at Focus Academy

Loretta began her professional career as an ESE teacher and has been in private practice in Tampa for over 20 years. Loretta is a nationally recognized speaker, a published author of both books and articles about her work and is co-director of the ACT Project – a drama therapy and performance based social skills program.

Click Here  for resources mentioned on the Special Needs Family Hour Show! 

The Special Needs Family Hour Presents: St. Joseph’s Children Hospital Chronic-Complex Clinic!

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St. Joseph’s Children Hospital Chronic-Complex Clinic

Special Needs Family Hour has a special presentation for you – listen !   

The Tampa Bay area is fortunate to have St. Joseph’s Children’s Chronic-Complex Clinic in our community. It is one of five Chronic-Complex Clinics in the country. The Clinic cares for children with special needs The clinic specializes in helping children with multiple life threatening conditions that require intensive treatment from a wide array of specialists. The clinic saves time and money, improves patient care, and improves the quality of life for the patient and their family.

Pictured: LaKeesha Hines, Willie Hines, Keri Eisenbeis, Stefanie Alt, and Julie Ames, SNFH

Our guests are representatives of the Chronic-Complex Clinic at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital.
Stefanie Alt – Practice Manager for the Chronic-Complex Clinic
Keri Eisenbeis – Director of Government Relations for BayCare a
Willie & LaKeesha Hines – Parents of Braelyn who has benefited from the Chronic Complex Clinic

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Special Needs Family Hour Granted 501(c)(3) Non-Profit status

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Official 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Status

 

Special Needs Family Hour is proud to announce that we have been approved for 501(c)(3) non-profit status. Our mission has always been dedicated to helping special needs families and educate the public and this non-profit status makes it easier for our donors and sponsors to give with confidence knowing that their gifts and support are tax deductible. Contributions donated to Special Needs Family Hour are fully tax-deductible retroactive to the founding of the organization. Special Needs Family Hour is also now eligible to apply for government and foundation grants, which will further broaden its access to resources and strengthen its ability to serve families with special needs in the Tampa Bay area.

New Opportunities to Continue Our Mission

We’ve worked hard over the last year and a half to provide all the proper documentation and set it up properly. We are excited that our non-profit status is now official. Obtaining 501(c)(3) status is a major milestone for Special Needs Family Hour. This opens many doors for us to expand fundraising activities and fully realize our goal as a charitable organization to provide a place where special needs families can find the answers they need to be successful.

Special Needs Family hour has produced radio shows and podcast broadcasts that educate listeners on resources and development opportunities available to special needs families. Guests on the show include attorneys, authors, advocates, job placement specialists, educators, and more. Being a non-profit helps us to continue to provide these valuable shows to our listeners.

 

How you can Help:

Thanks for your continued support as listeners, donors, and sponsors. Your continued patronage is what makes it possible to continue to provide educational material for Tampa and beyond to special needs families. 100% of donations received will go toward providing quality programming and helping other special needs families in Florida.

The IRS letter granting Special Needs Family Hour its 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status is available upon request. Contact us to see how to donate or sponsor Special Needs Family Hour.

The Special Needs Family Hour Presents: “Financial Planning for the Special Needs Family!”

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Financial Planning for the Special Needs Family

Join us Sunday afternoon on the Special Needs Family Hour at 1:00 pm! 
Our guest this week is Ric Edelman, Founder and Executive Director of Edelman Financial Services.

Ric has devoted his career to improving financial literacy. Barron’s has ranked him the #1 independent financial advisor in the nation three times. His firm, Edelman Financial Services, is now one of the largest financial planning firms in the country, managing $18 billion for more than 30,000 clients nationwide. Ric is an award-winning radio and television personality, and a #1 New York Times bestselling author. His ninth book, The Truth About Your Future will be published in March. You can learn more at Ric Edelman.com. 

Ric Edelman, Founder & Executive Director of Edelman Financial Services
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The Special Needs Family Hour Presents: Tahni Cullen, Author of “Josiah’s Fire”!

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Tahni Cullen, Author of “Josiah’s Fire”

Join us this Sunday afternoon on the Special Needs Family Hour at 1:00 pm!

Our guest this week is Tahni Cullen. She is the author along with Cheryl Ricker of the book “Josiah’s Fire”. “Josiah’s Fire” recently hit #1 on Amazon’s Special Parenting.   It is an amazing true story of family, hope, and hearing God’s voice through a speechless boy with autism.

Tahni and her husband Joe were thrust into a nightmare when their two-year-old-son, Josiah, a typical toddler, suddenly lost his ability to speak, play, and socialize. The diagnosis was Autism Spectrum Disorder. Five years later, Josiah, who had not been formally taught to read or write, suddenly began to type on his iPad profound sentences about God, science, history, business, music, strangers, and his heavenly encounters.

The Special Needs Family Hour Presents: Quinn Bradlee: Founder of Friends of Quinn!

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Quinn Bradlee: Founder of Friends of Quinn

Join us this Sunday afternoon on the Special Needs Family Hour at 1:00 pm!
Our guest is Quinn Bradlee, filmmaker, author, and the founder of the Friends of Quinn, an online community for the Learning Disabled and those who love them.

Bradlee’s role as founder is focused on raising awareness about the opportunity for
success with learning differences through video interviews with noted celebrities,
political leaders, and LAI Leaders. He has dedicated the last four years of his life to
helping others with Learning Differences and Velo-Cardio-Facial-Syndrome (VCFS).

Quinn Bradlee is the son of long-time Washington Post executive editor Ben Bradlee
and bestselling author Sally Quinn. He currently lives in Washington, D.C. 

Pictured:  Natalie Tamburello – NCLD, Quinn Bradlee and Julie Ames –SNFH

Also joining us is Natalie Tamburello, a Program Associate with the National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD). NCLD is an organization dedicated to improving the lives of those with learning and attention issues.

The Special Needs Family Hour Presents: Keeping Your Child Safe!

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Keeping Your Child Safe

Join us Sunday afternoon on the Special Needs Family Hour at 1:00 pm!
Our guest is Christopher Heaverin, Detective from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division Internet Predator Unit.

Detective Christopher Heaverin and Julie Ames, SNFH

We will be discussing the Internet and Technology, The Sexual Predator/Offender, Victimology, and Child Pornography. These are difficult subjects to discuss but important when it comes to keeping our children safe.