The Special Needs Family Hour Presents: Success 4 Kids & Families’ Positive Parent Program

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Success 4 Kids & Families’ Positive Parent Program

Join us for our Mother’s Day Show & We’re Celebrating Three Years On The Air!

Join us this Sunday afternoon on the Special Needs Family Hour at 1:00 pm!
Our guest is Misty Ross, Intake Supervisor with Success 4 Kids & Families. Misty is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has a passion for the parents they serve. We will be discussing their Successful Parent Program which addresses mental health and other needs identified by the families.

Pictured:  Misty Ross and Julie Ames, SNFH. 

Success 4 Kids & Families is a non-profit organization that offers community based services for families in Hillsborough County. They have been offering a helping hand for parents and families when kids begin to experience problems in school, at home or even with the law since 2005. They assign a dedicated case worker who works with both the child and the family. Their case workers have access to dozens of programs to help the child and family at risk.

The Special Needs Family Hour Presents: MacDonald Training Center!

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MacDonald Training Center

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

Our guest is Karenne Levy the President & CEO for the MacDonald Training Center (MTC). An Organization known for “Empowering people with disabilities to lead the lives they choose.”  We will be discussing their Supported Living Services, Employment Services, and Community Services.

MTC is a training center for adults with disabilities.  MTC offers person centered services customized for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, on the autism spectrum and other disabilities including hearing impairments. Services can begin as early as 18 years of age and continue throughout ones lifetime. MTC provides a wide array of products to the community. Current contracts range from light manufacturing, packaging, and assembly to sewing.  

 Pictured:  Karenne Levy and Julie Ames, SNFH     

There are two new programs being offered this July for youth ages 14-21. One program will be for teens and young adults who are deaf and hard of hearing. The other summer program will be part of our new EXCEL (Excellence in Computer Education and Learning) curriculum, and will focus on individuals with intellectual disabilities.

The Special Needs Family Hour Presents: USF’s Hot Docs Program!

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USF’s Hot Docs Program

Join us this Sunday afternoon on the Special Needs Family Hour at 1:00 pm!
Our guests are with the University of South Florida’s College of Medicine.

Dr. Heather Agazzi, Assosiate Professor of Pediatrics and Cristina Ortiz, project coordinator for Helping Our Toddlers, Developing Our Children’s Skills (HOT DOCS) and Docs for Success Programs at the University of South Florida. 

Pictured:  Cristina Ortiz, Dr. Heather Agazzi, andJulie Ames, SNFH   

The HOT DOCS/DOCS for Success Programs offer caregivers a problem-solving approach towards understanding children’s needs and solving everyday behavior problems. 

The Special Needs Family Hour Presents: Agency for Persons with Disabilities & Family Care Council: Medicaid Waiver & Other Programs!

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Agency for Persons w/ Disabilities & Family Care Council

Medicaid Waiver & Other Programs

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

Our guests are Brian Rothey, who is the Agency for Persons with Disabilities Community Liaison, Paula James, the Chairperson for the Suncoast West Family Council.  We are discussing programs and resources available in our community to help those with disabilities reach their full potential.

For information about the Medicaid Waiver, Supported Employment, Supported Living Services, and other programs click here – Frequently Asked Questions.

Looking for APD approved providers? Click here for APD’s Resource Directory.

Pictured: Paula James, Brian Rothey, Julie Ames SNFH

Back by Popular Demand – Broadcasts for the Financial Welfare of your Special Needs Dependent! We are excited to broadcast our new show with the Agency for Persons with Disabilities about the Medicaid Waiver program. This is the final broadcast needed to help you plan for your Financial Welfare and your Child with Special Needs.

  • January 28th Financial Planning for the Special Needs Family with Ric Edelman, Founder and Executive Director of Edelman Financial Services.
  • February 4th Social Security Disability benefits and Supplemental Security Income coverage with Liz Montefu, the President and Founder of Montefu Consulting.
  • February 11th Agency for Persons with Disabilities & Family Care Council: Medicaid Waiver & other programs
  • February 18th Guardianship Part 1 with Jay Hemness, Attorney at Law
  • February 25th Guardianship Part 2 with Jay Hemness, Attorney at Law
  • March 4th Long Term Care, SSI, Trusts, and ABLE Accounts with Emma Hemness, Attorney at Law


Ed Ogiba, Chair of the Healthy Hearing Expo!

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Hearing Loss & All the Latest Technologies and Programs to Improve One’s Hearing

We discuss Hearing Loss and all the latest technologies and programs to improve one’s hearing and the Healthy Hearing Expo.

The Healthy Hearing Expo on February 3rd will give individuals the opportunity to actually try out hearing aids and new technologies. Free hearing screenings will be provided. Bring a copy of a recent hearing assessment and any audiology reports to assist the service providers at the expo in helping you with your hearing needs.

Ed Ogiba is a representative with the Hearing Loss Association of America. He holds the following roles:

  • Board Member of Hearing Loss Association of America for Sarasota-Manatee
  • Chair of Hearing Loss Association of America Tampa Bay Advisory Board
  • Chair of Hearing Tech Expo & Clinic
  • Chair of Healthy Hearing Expo

Pictured left to right: Ed Ogiba and Julie Ames, SNFH

Hearing Loss Association of America

For More Information-  Call 941-706-4312 or email: HLAAHelp@gmail.com

Visit Hearing Loss Association of America on Facebook

Pepin’s Centre for Unique Abilities: Childcare, Auto Detailing, Pool Maintenance, Landscaping, and Custodial Maintenance

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Pepin Academies Centre for Unique Abilities!

Our guests are representatives for Pepin Academies Centre for Unique Abilities. 
Dr. Jeff Skowronek – President of the Pepin Academies Foundation
Ann Bouchard – Director of the Pepin Academies Centre for Unique Abilities
Michael Laura – Director of Information Technologies at Pepin Academies

Pictured: Dr. Jeff Skowronk, Julie Ames – SNFH, Ann Bouchard and Michael Laura

Learn more about one of our Show Sponsors!
Pepin Academies and their  Transitional Job Training Program!

Pepin Transitional
A comprehensive individualized job training program of vocationally based training in conjunction with life and job readiness classes designed for individuals from age 18 to 22 with identified learning or learning-related disabilities.

Vocational Rehabilitation Program to help employers become more confident hiring individuals with Disabilities

by Posted in Podcasts & Show Resources, Vocational Rehabilitation Training and Employment Tagged , , , , ,

The Business Center for Diversity & Inclusion!

This week we have representatives from The Business Center for Diversity & Inclusion (BCDI). We will be discussing their new three year Pilot Program to help employers in our community to become more comfortable and confident in hiring and managing individuals with disabilities. The Program covers Hernando, Pinellas, Pasco, and Hillsborough Counties. The focus of this pilot program are individuals with intellectual disabilities and persons with autism.

The Business Center for Diversity & Inclusion (BCDI) was established to help achieve the Florida Division of Vocational Rehabilitation’s (VR) goal of becoming a top resource to the business community. Funded by the Florida Department of Education Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, the Business Center intends to partner with and offer employers access to no-fee training presentations, consultations and referrals to better promote, prepare, and support their interest in, or commitment to, becoming more inclusive in their hiring practices.

Pictured: Rina Nathan – BCDI Business Developer, Julie Ames SNFH,
Steven Roberto – BCDI Project Management

TDI‘s mission is to promote diversity and inclusion in the workforce by connecting job seekers with disabilities that we have prepared for employment to businesses in the community that have a need for their unique skills, talents and abilities.

Follow TDI on Facebook

No More Chasing “Normal” with Author and Counselor Loresa Stansell

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Loresa Stansell, Author of No More Chasing “Normal”!

Our guest this week is Author and Counselor Loresa Stansell. She is the author of the book No More Chasing “Normal” The Emotional Guide for Parents of Children with Autism, Down Syndrome & All Other Disabilities.

“Our loss of normal and the unique emotional roller coaster we ride is summed up in the A-typical Cyclic Grief (ACG) model. ACG is explained and experienced in detail through the life of a woman named Lori. Each chapter in this first of its kind book, provides discussion by the author and challenge questions for parents or caregivers aimed at helping them work through their own emotional reactions.“

Loresa Stansell, LPC, NCC

Loresa Stansell, LPC, NCC

Stansell Counseling & Consulting Services, LLC

Loresa is a licensed mental health counselor. She is the parent of a 25 year old young man with a developmental disability. In 2010 she copyrighted a new grief model called A-Typical Cyclic Grief (ACG) to describe the unique emotional waves encountered by parents that have children with special needs.

As Loresa says, “It is time to break the shame barrier and silence of our grief experience!! This book is about what YOU experience and how to work through our emotional challenges as a parent of a child with special needs. OUR CHILDREN ARE NOT OUR SOURCE OF GRIEF IT IS THE DAILY CHALLENGES OF TRYING TO MAKE THEM FIT INTO A SOCIETY BUILT ON NORMS THAT THEY DO NO MEET.”

“This is an awesome book! My hope and prayer is that one day all educators, physicians, counselors, and families will understand the A-Typical Cyclic Grief model just as we all understand the stages of grief model.” – Julie Ames

This book provides an in-depth look at the emotional impacts faced by parents of children with special needs. This is the stuff your research doesn’t tell you.
Follow on Facebook

Special Olympics Florida & Special Olympics Florida Healthy Community Tampa Bay

by Posted in Health, Podcasts & Show Resources, Sports Tagged , , ,

Special Olympics FL & Special Olympics Healthy Community!!

This week we have representatives from Special Olympics Florida and Special Olympics Florida Healthy Community – Tampa Bay!

Special Olympics Florida is a program that provides year-round sports training and competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for people with intellectual disabilities who wish to participate, giving them opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community.

Special Olympics Florida, 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.

Pictured left to right: Special Olympics FL Regional Director West Coast – Bankole Adebanjo, Special Olympics FL Area 8 Sports Director Polk and Hillsborough Counties – Shelly Henry, Healthy Community, Community Outreach Manager, Cydnee Dennison, Julie Ames, SNFH

Special Olympics Florida Healty Community -Tampa Bay
Good health is necessary for persons with an intellectual or developmental disability to secure the freedom to work, learn, and engage in their families and communities.

We believe that sports can teach us all important lessons. When we train and strive for a goal, it teaches us to dream. When we struggle, it teaches us determination. When we win, we find joy. And if we lose, we can find the strength to try again.

F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Families Raising, Inspiring, Educating, and Networking for Down Syndrome

by Posted in Down Syndrome, Podcasts & Show Resources Tagged , ,

F.R.I.E.N.D.S. – Families Raising, Inspiring, Educating, & Networking for Down Syndrome!

Our guest is Belinda Romero of F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Down Syndrome of West Florida.

The Mission of F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Down Syndrome West Florida is to provide all encompassing educational and support services to families who have been impacted by Down Syndrome; while promoting complete community integration of those impacted by Down Syndrome. Serving families in Hillsborough, Pinellas, & Pasco Counties.

Pictured: Belinda Romero and Julie Ames, SNFH

F.R.I.E.N.D.S.
The goals are to:

  • Provide broad reaching educational services for families impacted by Down Syndrome.
  • Provide financial and social service support for families impacted by Down Syndrome.
  • Provide outreach to the Tampa Bay Area community in education and community integration for families impacted by Down Syndrome.

Like on Facebook: Friends Down Syndrome West Florida