The Special Needs Family Hour Presents: A Very Special Journey of Grief, Grace, and Gratitude!

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A Very Special Journey of Grief, Grace, and Gratitude

Join us this Sunday afternoon on the Special Needs Family Hour at 1:00 pm!
Bill Carl, the Morning Host for FaithTalk 570 AM & 910 AM will be interviewing Julie Ames. We will be discussing Julie’s new book A Very Special Journey of Grief, Grace, and Gratitude – No They are not Okay…but It’s Okay! Raising Special Needs Kids.

A Very Special Journey is more than a memoir. It is a story that provides guidance, hope, and education to parents and professionals who have or work with special needs children. Julie gives her readers the guidance they need to navigate their own way through the educational, medical, and legal waters that special needs families find themselves drowning in.

Julie throws a lifeline to other moms and dads facing the same challenges.  Conversely, by presenting the parents’ perspective, professionals working in these fields will gain a greater understanding and ability to provide services in a way that is truly helpful.

Every parent has to know how to be their own child’s strongest advocate. They need to know what questions to ask, when to demand answers, and when to walk away from advice they don’t trust. A Special Journey will provide these tools.

Julie’s story is about more than a mother and two challenged daughters. It is about more than autism. This story is about love, faith, and family. It is about learning to accept something that cannot be changed and to embrace the gifts we are given, despite perceived imperfections. We cry. We adapt. We reflect. We rejoice. Most importantly, we continue to live, love, and grow together every day. It is indeed a special journey.

Pictured: Julie Ames and Bill Carl, Morning Host for FaithTalk 570 AM
& 910 AM

Dear Friends,

This past Mother’s Day we celebrated our 5th Anniversary. This will be our last show for a while. This is not goodbye but a pause on our current format.

  • Our website will continue to be a resource for parents and caregivers who are caring for individuals with special needs.
  • Our newsletter will continue to provide you with up to date information.

 
The Special Needs Family Hour and I are evolving.

  • I am completing my Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling through Liberty University’s accredited program, to become a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. 
  • My book, A Very Special Journey of Grief, Grace, and Gratitude, will be coming out in the next few months. 
  • It is an exciting time with many things happening to include upcoming speaking engagements. 

We appreciate our listeners, our guests who are making a positive difference in the world, our awesome sponsors, and our friends at Salem Media Group.

Julie Ames

The Special Needs Family Hour Presents: Health Freedom Florida!

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Health Freedom Florida

Join us this Sunday afternoon on the Special Needs Family Hour at 1:00 pm!
Our guests are Maureen (Mo) van Hoek, Bailey Kuykendoll, and Sarah Gibbons. They are with Health Freedom Florida. We will be discussing the 2020 Florida Legislature session that is currently underway.

Health Freedom Florida is a grassroots organization that is headed by Mo Van Hoek. Mo is the mother of two young men: Lucus and Jan who are 14 and 12 years old. Jan had an intense series of inoculations that led to multiple strokes. Subsequently, he was diagnosed with severe autism, autoimmune disease, mitochondrial dysfunction, Tourette’s, OCD, Tics, PANDAS, and Epilepsy.

Mo is an advocate for her son and for other parent’s whose children have been harmed. She spends time educating people on the risks associated with vaccines that are never discussed with medical providers. Her mission is to create better outcomes for future generations of children.

Mo has partnered with Sarah Gibbons, and Bailey Kuykendoll to run Health Freedom Florida and their volunteers Amy Silver, Morgendee Flannery, Christina Thayer, England Miano, Sheri Ofiari, Susan Buccias and many other dedicated individuals.

Pictured:  Julie Ames, SNFH, Mo van Hoek, Bailey Kuykendoll, and Sarah Gibbons

The Special Needs Family Hour Presents: The Temple Terrace Junior Woman’s Club!

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The Temple Terrace Junior Woman’s Club

Join us this Sunday on the Special Needs Family Hour at 1:00 pm!
Our guests this week are Nichole Sauer and Leslie Jones. Both are with the Temple Terrace Jr. Woman’s Club. We will be discussing Temple Terrace – “An Amazing City” and the Jr. Women’s Club. The Junior Woman’s Club is part of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC), the largest organization of woman’s clubs in the world.

Temple Terrace is a community that embraces all including those with disabilities. The GFWC ‘s motto is Unity in Diversity.

The Junior Woman’s Club has Community Service Programs in the areas of Arts, Conservation, Public Issues, Education, Home Life, and International Outreach. They support local schools and organizations to include Temple Terrace Elementary, Focus Academy/Special Education, Buddy Baseball, Focus Cafe, Breakfast with Santa, etc.

Email or be a guest at the next meeting!    

When:  Third Thursday of every month
Where: Woodmont Clubhouse, 415 Woodmont Avenue, Temple Terrace, FL 33617.
             (Except the February Meeting will be at Corpus Christi’s St. Vincent
             DePaul”s Food Pantry – 9715 N 56th Street Tampa, FL 33617)
Time:   6 p.m. Social Time
             6:30 p.m. Meeting

To Contact: Click Here!

Nichole Sauer, Julie Ames, SNFH , Leslie Jones

The Special Needs Family Hour Presents: Children’s Board of Hillsborough County!

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Children’s Board of Hillsborough County

Join us this Sunday afternoon on the Special Needs Family Hour at 1:00 pm!
Our guest is Kelley Parris, the Executive Director of the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County. 

The Children’s Board of Hillsborough County proudly serves children and families. Created by the voters in 1988, they provide funding for services and supports on behalf of children, with an emphasis on pregnant women and children birth to age eight. In the fiscal year of 2019, they invested $42 million in more than 90 local non-profit agencies. Their funded partners have clearly defined goals and outcomes that are regularly monitored for quality and performance.

The strategic focus of the Children’s Board is to work with organizations who share a common vision of offering support to children so they can lead a healthy, safe, and productive life, which makes a difference for all residents of Hillsborough County.

There are six Children’s Board Family Resource Centers located throughout Hillsborough County that offer programs and services emphasizing child development, self sufficiency, and health and safety. Programs and services are at no cost to participants.  The Centers are a fun and inviting place for families to come on a day-to-day basis. For the location nearest you – Click here!

Mission: The Children’s Board invests in partnerships and quality programs to support the success of all children and families in Hillsborough County.

Vision: Hillsborough County will be recognized as one of the top five places in the nation to raise children.

Pictured:  Julie Ames, SNFH and Kelley Parris   

The Special Needs Family Hour Presents: Julie Reyes, Diversity Action Coalition, Inc.!

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Diversity Action Coalition Inc. with Julie Reyes

Join us this Sunday afternoon on the Special Needs Family Hour at 1:00 pm! Our guest is Julie Reyes, Diversity Action Coalition, Inc., Founder & Executive Director.

The Reyes Family relocated to Tampa via the US Army.  Her husband, DJ, proudly served over 33 years of active duty with multiple combat deployments and retired as a Colonel.  As a military family, they have moved many, many times in the past years; and upon DJ’s retirement, the Reyes family was happy to finally put down their roots, 7 years ago, in South Tampa, Florida!  Julie has been in the nonprofit arena for over 25 years in Leadership, Logistical and Board roles, volunteering endless hours with a variety of non-profits. 

Pictured:  Julie Reyes, Diversity Action Coalition; Julie Ames, SNFH; and Jose Cruz, Producer

In 2016, Julie saw the need to start Diversity Action Coalition, Inc. (DAC), a registered  501(c)(3), to fill a gap and highlight the LOCAL need for Inclusion for All, and collaboration amongst amazing local organizations, community partners, families and individuals.  Their philosophy is simple…”We are all more alike then we are different…”  We are not defined by our labels at the moment, nor are we limited.  We are Engaged, Empowered and Connected.  We don’t just talk about things, we take ACTION to move forward with positive change, as we navigate our individual journeys.  We are empowered and engaged by sharing great resources, connections and information.

The Special Needs Family Hour Presents: All People’s Life Center and the Yes! F.A.I.R.!

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All People’s Life Center and the Yes! F.A.I.R

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

Our guests are Melinda Wheatley, a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, with All People’s Life Center and Miss Becki, the founder of Yes! Of America United and of a wonderful event known as the Yes! F.A.I.R. FAIR standing for Family Abilities Information Rally.

All People’s Life Center is known as one of Hillsborough County’s Showcase Facilities. It is the home base for Therapeutics Recreation Program. This facility was designed to serve people of all ages and abilities, but specializes in serving people with disabilities. Every detail of the building exceeds ADA standards for accessibility, eliminating all barriers to participation for people with disabilities.

It also the home for Paralympic Sports Tampa Bay (PSTB), which provides year round sports and recreation programs that promote physical activity, healthy lifestyles, and recreational and competitive sports opportunities for area children and adults with physical disabilities.

In addition, All People’s provides After School and Summer programs,. It has the only County run Special Olympics teams, and is the main administrative office for the Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation Department.

Pictured:  Melinda Wheatley, Miss Becki, and Julie Ames, SNFH 

Family Abilities Information Rally Theme: A Rootin’ Tootin’ Good Time

Admission:       FREE

Parking:            FREE

Contact:            Miss Becki

Phone:              813-935-5696

Cell:                  813-420-7708

Website:          www.yesunited.org/register–fair/

Email:              yesofamericaunited@gmail.com

The Special Needs Family Hour Presents: Family Network on Disabilities!

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Family Network on Disabilities

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

We welcome Tosha Littles, Director of the Parent Support Network, and Misti Pollaro, Parent Training Coordinator for the Parent Support Network.

Family Network on Disabilities is an organization that offers free help and information to families of students with disabilities, self-advocates, and professionals that serve them. Their focus is on the educational needs of students with disabilities.

Here are links to some amazing resources to include a Social Story Library (a written or visual guide describing various social interactions, situations, behaviors, skills, or concepts) and a Sound Bank (for parents to use to help their child or youth and get used to a sound, situation, or unfamiliar or upsetting environment before entering into this environment or situation).

Pictured:  Misti Pollaro, Tosha Littles, and Julie Ames (SNFH)

The Special Needs Family Hour Presents: Bright Feats Directory & Disability Resource Hub!

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Bright Feats Directory & Disability Resource Hub

Join us this Sunday afternoon on the Special Needs Family Hour at 1:00 pm!
We welcome Rori Becker, Bright Feats Directory, and Phyllis Guthman, Disability Resource Hub Guide.

Topics include:

Pictured:  Julie Ames (SNFH) and Rori Becker (Bright Feats Directory) and
Phyllis Guthman (Disability Resource Hub Guide)

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

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

by Posted in Financial, Podcasts & Show Resources, Resource Tagged , ,

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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