Jack Kosik’s Villages of Noah’s Landing – Community for those with Intellectual Disabilities

by Posted in Housing, Podcasts & Show Resources Tagged , , ,

Jack Kosik’s Villages of Noah’s Landing – Community for those with Intellectual Disabilities

Jack & Lin Kosik and Julie Ames, SNFH

Jack & Lin Kosik and Julie Ames, SNFH

Our guests today are Jack & Lin Kosik, the founder and Executive Director of Noah’s Ark of Central Florida. This Spring Jack will complete a $15 Million Dollar project called The Villages of Noah’s Landing for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Prior to becoming the Executive director of Noah’s Landing, Jack was a former vice-president division manager for Ryland Homes.  Along the way Jack met a wonderful like minded woman, Lin. Lin & Jack share the same passion, vision, and heart for those with intellectual disabilities.

Noah’s Ark of Central Florida : A Community Built on Friendship And Support for Adults With Special Needs. Noah’s Ark of Central Florida was established to provide meaningful options for housing and lifestyle for individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities; and is proud to support and educate those individuals, their families and caregivers. Like Noah’s Ark of Central Florida on Facebook

Dr. Edie Dopkling, Quantum Leap Farm!

by Posted in Podcasts & Show Resources, Therapy Tagged ,

Dr. Edie Dopkling, Quantum Leap Farm

Dr. Edie Dopkling and Julie Ames, SNFH

Dr. Edie Dopkling and Julie Ames, SNFH

Dr. Edie Dopkling, Quantum Leap Farm Founder and Executive Director is our guest. We discuss the benefits of equine therapy for those with physical cognitive and or emotional disabilities.

Clients include current and former military service members, wounded warriors, kids and adults with special needs, pediatric cancer patients and their families.

Quantum Leap Farms : Equine-assisted therapies exists to help people of all ages and abilities grow strong, achieve therapeutic goals and overcome challenges by engaging them with horses. We believe in the acceptance of everyone, wherever they are right now. Like Quantum Leap Farms on Facebook

Benefits of Drama Therapy with Loretta Gallo-Lopez, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor

by Posted in Drama, Podcasts & Show Resources, Therapy Tagged ,

Benefits of Drama Therapy with Loretta Gallo-Lopez, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor

Loretta Gallo-Lopez and Julie Ames, SNFH

Loretta Gallo-Lopez and Julie Ames, SNFH

Our guest is Loretta Gallo-Lopez, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and we discuss the benefits of Drama Therapy.

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, 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. Like Focus Academy on Facebook .

Award Winning Author Suzin Carr!

by Posted in Motivation, Podcasts & Show Resources Tagged , , ,

Award Winning Author Suzin Carr

Suzin Carr and Julie Ames, SNFH

Suzin Carr and Julie Ames, SNFH

A Special Thanksgiving Message with Suzin H. Carr, the award winning author of “I Choose,” “I Choose Too!,” and “Yo Elijo.” “I Choose” and the Spanish translation “Yo Elijo,” is suitable for everyone, but especially those aged 3-8 and the folks who work with them.

“I Choose Too!” is a thought-provoking, meaningful and interactive book about the choices humans make everyday. If you are a grown-up with questions, a therapist, counselor, Minister, teacher or anyone who has ever been in transition….this book is for you!

Suzin is available to speak to your local school, club, or Scout Troop. Topics include the message of the book, the book printing process, its impact on a 7 year old, and following your dream as an artist or writer. She is the wife of James, and the mother of Chandler.  She lives in Lutz, Florida where she juggles the life she chooses and is grateful for countless blessings and immeasurable joy.

Illuminated Publishing: Quality books, etc. with a family-friendly message. Written by a Mom and illustrated by her son when he was 7 years old. Home of “I Choose,” “I Choose Too!,” “Yo Elijo,” & More

“We choose what comes out of our mouth, what stays in our head, and what lives in our heart.” ~ Suzin Carr, wife, mother, author

USF’s Parent Child Interaction Therapy and Hot Docs Program – Dr. Kathi Armstrong & Dr. Carrie Adams

by Posted in Parenting, Podcasts & Show Resources Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

USF’s Parent Child Interaction Therapy and Hot Docs Program

Pictured: Kathleen Armstrong, PhD, Dr. Carolyn Adams and Julie Ames, SNFH

Pictured: Kathleen Armstrong, PhD, Dr. Carolyn Adams and Julie Ames, SNFH

Our guests this week are with the University of South Florida’s College of Medicine. Dr. Kathi Armstrong, Professor of Pediatrics and Dr. Carolyn Adams, (Dr. Carrie) the Director of Helping Our Toddlers, Developing Our Children’s Skills (HOT DOCS) and Docs for Success Programs at the University of South Florida.

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is an empirically-supported treatment for young children with emotional and behavioral disorders that places emphasis on improving the quality of the parent-child relationship and changing parent-child interaction patterns.

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

Success 4 Kids & Families – Services for kids w/problems at school, home, or the law

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

Success 4 Kids & Families – Services for Kids w/ Problems at School, Home, or the Law

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Pictured: John Mayo, Julie Ames, SNFH and Nanci Nolan.

This week our guests included John Mayo, Deputy Director of Success for Kids & Families and Nanci Nolan, SEDNET Region 6 Project Manager with Success 4 Kids & Families and Program Coordinator for Successful Students.

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

Social Security Disability Benefits and Supplemental Security Income with Liz Montefu

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

Social Security Disability Benefits and Supplemental Security Income with Liz

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This week, we discussed Social Security Disability benefits and Supplemental Security Income coverage with Liz Montefu, the President and Founder of Montefu Consulting.

Liz has been guiding individuals through the rough waters of Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income claims for over 25 years. She is experienced in benefit coordination and can help – whether you are filing for benefits for the first time or you are preparing to go before an Administrative Law Judge at a hearing.

Ava’s Law with Anna Bullard – Insurance for Autism / Tips on medical record organization

by Posted in Autism, Podcasts & Show Resources Tagged , , , ,

Ava’s Law with Anna Bullard – Insurance for Autism/Tips on Medical Record Organization

Pictured: Anna Bullard, Julie Ames, SNFH.

Pictured: Anna Bullard, Julie Ames, SNFH.

This week our show features Ava’s Law with Anna Bullard, an advocate for medical insurance for children with autism.  Mrs. Bullard started her journey of advocacy for Autism in 2007 when her middle daughter Ava was diagnosed with Autism.

Anna was instrumental in the passage of Ava’s Law in Georgia, named for her daughter, requiring insurance coverage for Autism. She serves on the Autism Society of Georgia Board and the Board for Leadership and Disability for Georgia State University. As the Early Autism Project Director of Outreach and Advocacy, Mrs. Bullard has started parent supports groups in multiple states and continues to advocate for services for children with Autism across the United States.

Later on the show, fellow Mom, Kim Mueller shares her tips on medical record organization!

 

Lawyers Autism Awareness Foundation, sponsor of an annual “sensory friendly Santa” event

by Posted in Autism, Podcasts & Show Resources Tagged , ,

Lawyers Autism Awareness Foundation, Sponsor of an Annual “Sensory Friendly Santa” Event

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Pictured: Luis E. Viera. Esq, Lawyer’s Autism Awareness Foundation (LAAF), Julie Ames, SNFH.

This week our guest is Luis E. Viera, Esq. Luis is a founding member of Lawyer’s Autism Awareness Foundation (LAAF). LAAF’s Mission is to provide children who have Autism Spectrum Disorders with sensory friendly events, support their families with information on public and private educational resources and fund need-based grants to assist families with approved autism therapies.

Lawyer’s Autism Awareness Foundation (LAAF) is well known for their “Sensory Friendly Santa” event for children with autism. Luis is a lawyer and an advocate for the developmentally disabled.

Pepin Transitional Job Training Program with Dr. Butz / Pepin Nurse Diane McCurdy

by Posted in Education, Podcasts & Show Resources Tagged , , ,

Pepin Transitional Job Training Program with Dr. Butz / Pepin Nurse Diane McCurdy

Pictured: Dr. Craig Butz, Pepin Academies, Julie Ames, SNFH.

Pictured: Dr. Craig Butz, Pepin Academies, Julie Ames, SNFH.

This week our show features the Pepin Transitional Job Training Program (for individuals age 18 to 22 with learning and learning related disabilities) with Dr. Craig Butz, Principal of Pepin Academies Hillsborough County and Special Needs Nurse, Diane McCurdy.

Dr. Butz shared the various job training programs, eligibility, and the application process. An individual can start the Transition Program any time during the year. Do you know someone 18 to 22 with a learning or learning related disability? If so, have them apply to the Pepin Transitional Program!

Pepin Transitional Job Training Program Brochure:

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