The Special Needs Family Hour Presents: Emmy Winning A&E Reality TV Show “Born This Way”!

Emmy Winning A&E Reality TV Show “Born this Way”

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

We are featuring the Emmy Award Winning A&E reality show “Born This Way”. The show just started its 3rd season. It is on Tuesday evenings at 9 PM. If you missed the first episode, you may view it on the A&E website.


Pictured:  Steven, Elena, Rachael, Christina, John, Megan, and Sean 

The series follows a group of seven young adults with Down Syndrome along with their family and friends in Southern California. One of the young adults with Down Syndrome featured on the show is named Sean. We discuss the show with Sean’s mother, Sandra McElwee.

Later in the show we discuss Travel Tips.

The Founders Of All About Speech And Language Discuss Speech And Language Therapy

The Founders of All About Speech and Language Discuss Speech and Language Therapy

This week’s show will feature Alicia Yimoyines and Brieann Yimoyines Papp, Speech-Language Pathologists and owners of All About Speech & Language, a pediatric private practice located here in Tampa, FL with offices in Riverview and South Tampa.  As graduates of University of Florida and Boston University, they have a passion for working with children, with and without a special needs diagnosis, and specialize in therapies for reading and social skills.

All About Speech & Language (AASL) is a premier therapy company offering a unique approach to therapy that is reflective of the needs of their clients and families. They offer highly skilled speech/language and occupational therapy services with unwavering commitment and dedication to providing quality, evidence-based, results-driven treatment.

Discover All About Speech & Language 2016 Summer Programs! Featuring:  Tiny Socialights, Socialights Elementary (Social Skills Programs),  Intensive Reading and Handwriting Booster at their Riverview and South Tampa Offices!  Limited Spaces Available!

All About Speech & Language also offers individual Speech and Occupational Therapy appointments throughout the summer. Please contact Holly Marino at 813-220-0971 or info@aaspeech.com for more information.

Brieann Yimoyines Papp, Alicia Yimoyines, Julie Ames, SNFH, and Jose Cruz, On-Air Studio Engineer

Brieann Yimoyines Papp, Alicia Yimoyines, Julie Ames, SNFH, and Jose Cruz, On-Air Studio Engineer

All About Speech & Language
Website and Facebook

Emma Hemness Attorney at Law Discusses Long Term Care, SSI, Trusts, and Able Accounts

Emma Hemness Attorney at Law Discusses Long Term Care, SSI, Trusts, and Able Accounts

Our guest is Emma Hemness Attorney at Law. She is a state and nationally recognized Expert in Elder Law. She is one of only 100 board certified elder law attorneys in Florida. She was the 2011 Florida Elder Law Attorney of the Year, 2011 Top 50 Women Lawyers in Florida, and Florida Super Lawyer in Elder Law 2008-2015.

Emma is one of our families most trusted advisors. She has helped us put into place – a plan to take care of our daughters when we are no longer around. She also has helped my Mother and  Mother-in-law with their Estate planning.

We discuss planning ahead to protect your special needs child with disabilities, including Long Term Care, Supplemental Security Income, Guardianship Advocacy, Trusts, and Able Accounts.

Emma Hemness and Julie Ames, SNFH

Emma Hemness and Julie Ames, SNFH

The Elder Law Office of Emma Hemness, P.A.
Emma R. Hemness, Esquire

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Discuss “Finding Mathew” with Author Donna Kirk. It’s a Story of Hope and Encouragement.

“Finding Matthew” with Author Donna Kirk: A Story of Hope and Encouragement

Our guest this week is Donna Kirk. She is the author of the book “Finding Mathew”. It is a story about “the sorrows, struggles, and challenges, as well as the amazing presence of love and joy – that come with being the parent of a child with disabilities.

Donna’s son Matthew was born brain-damaged as a result of oxygen deprivation. At the time (1970) Donna and her husband were advised by doctors to put Matthew in an institution, have another baby as soon as possible, and get on with their life. Needless to say Donna and her husband did not take that advice! “Finding Matthew” tells the story of Matthew’s life from birth to age 40.

Donna Kirk Pictured Left: Donna Kirk

DonnaKirk.com: Donna Kirk’s blog is all about what happened in between Matthew’s devastating diagnosis and his successful life as a respected, contributing member
of society.

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Special Needs Ministries – One Roof Initiative and Young Life Capernaum

Special Needs Ministries – One Roof Initiative and Young Life Capernaum

This week’s show will feature Sally DePalma of The One Roof Initiative and Allen Guy with special friends from the New Tampa Young Life Capernaum Ministries.

On April 23, 2016, The One Roof Initiative will partner with Idlewild Baptist Church,
to host “Disability and Your Church” for Church Leaders and Volunteers! Take advantage of Early Bird Pricing ($20) through Apr. 3, then $25. Lunch is included!  Register Online Here

Young Life began with a few simple ideas about sharing the truth of God’s love with adolescents. Link

HCPS Adults With Disabilities Programs

HCPS Adults with Disabilities Programs

Our guest this week is Keensha Parham, Coordinator of Adults with Disabilities for Hillsborough County Public Schools. Join us as we discuss the various job training programs available to students with disabilities ages 18 years of age and older.

Tchecoy Blount, Transition Facilitator at the STAGES Program at USF, Nicholas Brancagee, a STAGES Program Student, Keensha Parham, and Julie Ames.

Tchecoy Blount, Transition Facilitator at the STAGES Program at USF, Nicholas Brancagee, a STAGES Program Student, Keensha Parham, and Julie Ames.

Hart’s Travel Trainer Program for those with special needs who take the bus

Hart’s Travel Trainer Program for those with Special Needs who Take the Bus

Our guest this week is Mark Sheppard with Hart’s Public Transit Service. Join us as we discuss the Hart’s Travel Trainer Program for those with special needs who need to learn how to take the bus.

Pictured left to right: Mark Sheppard and Julie Ames, SNFH

Pictured left to right: Mark Sheppard and Julie Ames, SNFH

Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART) Travel Training Program: A FREE program, riding with a HART team member and receive step-by-step instructions on using the transit guide, reading a passenger schedule and riding the bus. Available in both English and Spanish. Call HART Travel Training Coordinator at 813-384-6307 or email: sheppardm@goHART.org. Disabled persons are eligible, provided their disability does not require special assistance or specifically trained personnel.

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The Special Needs Family Hour Presents: Buddy Baseball Tampa!

Buddy Baseball Tampa

This week’s rebroadcast of our July 24, 2015 show features: Buddy Baseball Tampa!  Russ Oberbroeckling, Buddy Baseball Commissioner, is joined by his daughter and Buddy, Hannah Oberbroeckling, player Zachary Mueller, Coach of the Mustangs, Michelle Vaughan  and Buddy Baseball Board memberPhyllis Guthman.

Pictured left to right: Julie Ames, SNFH, Russ Oberbroeckling, Phyllis Guthman, Zachary Mueller, Hannah Oberbroeckling and Michelle Vaughan. Share Tweet

Pictured left to right: Julie Ames, SNFH, Russ Oberbroeckling, Phyllis Guthman,
Zachary Mueller, Hannah Oberbroeckling and Michelle Vaughan.

 

The Special Needs Family Hour Presents: Special Olympics FL Healthy Community!!

Special Olympics FL Healthy Community

This week’s rebroadcast of our August 7, 2015 show features Special Olympics Florida Healthy Community – Tampa Bay! 
They are sponsored by Special Olympics Florida and the State of Florida, Agency for Persons with Disabilities. We will also have a parent, Kim Mueller, sharing her tips on Medical Record Organization.

Kim Mueller and Julie Ames, SNFH

Kim Mueller and Julie Ames, SNFH


 Kim and her husband Dennis and son Zachary

Kim and her husband Dennis and son Zachary


Pictured left to right: Healthy Community, Community Outreach Manager, Cydnee Dennison, Julie Ames, SNFH, and Healthy Community Site Director, Allison Rapp

Pictured left to right: Healthy Community, Community Outreach Manager, Cydnee Dennison, Julie Ames, SNFH, and Healthy Community Site Director, Allison Rapp


Healthy Community is a premier, health care delivery approach that focuses on the whole person with an intellectual or developmental disability and provides integrated health care coordination that includes primary health care.

The Special Needs Family Hour Presents: Mary Lee’s House!

Mary Lee’s House

Pictured: Brenda Kocher, Tibet, Kim Miller and Julie Ames, SNFH

Pictured: Brenda Kocher, Tibet, Kim Miller and Julie Ames, SNFH

Our guests are Kim Miller, the Executive Director of Mary Lee’s House and a special guest, Brenda Kocher and her dog Tibet.
Mary Lee’s House is a state of the Art Child Protection and Advocacy Center. It is one of a kind 33,000 square foot facility with five organizations working together for the prevention, intervention, and the treatment of child abuse.

Some Organizations That Provide Services at Mary Lee’ House:
At the USF Child Protection Team, physical and sexual abuse exams are performed to determine maltreatment. Family history and triggers which may lead to child abuse and neglect are also discussed during risk assessments. www.health.usf.edu

The Children’s Advocacy Center provides various services including live closed-circuit testimony so children do not have to face their alleged perpetrator in court. This 13th Judicial Circuit, Administrative Office of the Courts program is also where recorded forensic interviews take place to decrease how often child victims must repeat their story. www.fljud13.org

The Healthy Start Coalition of Hillsborough County improves the health and well-being of pregnant women, children and families through the following programs: Healthy Start, Healthy Families, Mom Care, Children’s Board Family Resource Centers, Zero Exposure Project, Black Infant Health Practice Initiative, Safe Baby, Safe Baby Plus, Fetal Infant Mortality Review, Strong Start, Nurse-Family Partnership, and Beds 4 Babies. www.healthystartcoalition.org

Success 4 Kids & Families “Healthy Start” team provides in-home education and support programs to pregnant women and families with infants, serving as an important partner in building a better community. www.s4kf.org

The Corbett Trauma Center, a division of the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, provides support for children and families through evidence-based treatment and nationally recognized counseling programs. www.corbetttrauma.com

Team Tibet:
Brenda Kocher, a Guardian ad Litem and Tibet (together known as Team Tibet) have been working at the Hillsborough County Courthouse and at Mary Lee’s House since February of 2014. Brenda and Tibet volunteer three days per week, dividing their time between the courthouse and Mary Lee’s House. “No two work days are the same,” says Brenda. “We go where we are most needed on any given day.”
Tibet has had the same breeding, extensive socialization, and expert training as service dogs, but has been specially selected and trained to work alongside a victim advocate, forensic interviewer, detective, medical provider or other professionals to enhance the services that person provides. Read more at: bit.ly/TeamTibet