Description:

  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 fiscal year 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! https://www.childrensboard.org/?s=children%27s+board+family+resource+centers> 

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.

Programs Funded by the Children's Board  Click Here! <https://www.childrensboard.org/programs-we-fund/>

Partner Directory Click Here! <https://www.childrensboard.org/programs-we-fund/partner-directory/>

Developmental Screenings Schedule for Birth to 5 years

English - Click Here! <https://ecctampabay.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/DS-Calendar-English.pdf>

Spanish - Click Here! <https://ecctampabay.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/DS-Calendar-Spanish.pdf>

To contact the Children's Board Click Here! <https://www.childrensboard.org/contact-us/>

Children's Board Family Resource Centers - Like them on Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/CBFamilyResourceCenters/>

Children's Board of Hillsborough County - Like them on Facebook! <https://www.facebook.com/MyCBHC/>

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Description:

Our guest is 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 every human being on the planet, but

especially those age 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!   

"We choose what comes out of our mouth, what stays in our head, and what lives in our heart."

~ Suzin Carr,

wife, mother, author

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"Millions of parents in the United States have a child that is diagnosed with some form of disability. The presence of a disability changes the course of their lives, hopes, and dreams. They find themselves suddenly surrounded by everyone else living their "normal" lives leaving them to wonder, where do we fit or where will my child fit? They experience a form of grief but are often unprepared because of a lack of information available on the topic. Loresa provides an in-depth look at the emotional impacts faced by these parents. This is the stuff your research doesn't tell you."

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Haley Moss is a South Florida native who was diagnosed with autism at age three. Upon receiving her autism diagnosis, her family was told that she would be fortunate to make a friend, graduate high school, or obtain her driver’s license. Haley has defied the expectations set forth within her initial diagnosis.

Today, she is an attorney, author, artist, and autism advocate who writes and speaks publicly about her journey and gives hope for other autistic people and their families and friends.

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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. 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. Note: The 8th Annual Sensory Friendly Santa Event is on December 14th, 2019 at the Ferguson Law Center (1610 N. Tampa St.; Tampa, FL). Registration opens on November 9th.

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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.

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Description:

Our guests are Dr. Jeff Skowronek, the Executive Director of the Pepin Academies Tampa and Riverview Campuses and Janae Kaptan, the Transition Coordinator of the Pepin Academies.

The Pepin Transition Program offers 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 that have deferred receipt of their high school diploma to continue their education beyond the traditional 24 credit diploma.

The Pepin Transition Program is committed to providing the opportunity for students to have real-world experiences through pre-vocational training at various job sites, including the Hillsborough County Public Defender’s Office, Publix Supermarkets, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa Police Department, Well Built Bikes at University Mall, food service at Raymond James Stadium, event set up at TPepin Hospitality Centre, and childcare at Academy Kids. 

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The Special Needs Family Hour Presents:

Pepin Academies' Transition Job Training Program!!

This week our show features the Pepin Academies' Transition Job Training Program with Dr. Jeff Skowronek, the Executive Director of the Pepin Academies and Janae Kaptan, the Transition Coordinator of the Pepin Academies, a tuition free public charter school dedicated to students with learning disabilities and learning related disabilities.

The Pepin Academies' Transition Program offers 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 that have deferred receipt of their high school diploma to continue their education beyond the traditional 24 credit diploma. This program is state funded and is provided at no cost to the student. The Pepin Academies' Transition Program is committed to providing the opportunity for students to have real-world experiences through pre-vocational training at various job sites, including the Hillsborough County Public Defender’s Office, Publix Supermarkets, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa Police Department, Well Built Bikes at University Mall, Ferman Chevrolet, food service at Raymond James Stadium, event set up at TPepin Hospitality Centre, and childcare at Academy Kids.

Pepin Academies Transition Program is now accepting applications for the 2019-20 academic year! Please contact regarding any questions about deferment of diploma, available services for your students based on their current IEP, and any general questions about the Pepin Academies Transition Program.

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Patti Rendon of Rendon Support Services. Patti explains how the Florida Med-Waiver program works once an individual has qualified.

Patti has been a Med-Waiver Support Coordinator for over twenty years and runs a support coordination agency. Patti is familiar with all aspects of the Florida Med-Waiver Program. She serves individuals in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee, Collier, and Desoto Counties. Patti has extensive experience in Adult Day Training, Supported Living, and Supported Employment. She is an advocate for individuals with disabilities and believes that all individuals have the right to live a long full life.
 
We discuss Life Skills reference Meaningful Day Activities to include Companionship, Supported Employment Coaches, and Adult Day Training. These are activities that help give value to individuals with disabilities and help them to become contributing members of the community.
 
We also discuss living arrangements available to those with disabilities. There are various options that are available to include independent living, supported living, and group homes. There are different types of group homes based on the needs of the individual. Some group homes may focus on medical or behavioral issues.
 
Contact: Phone: 813-643-1054 Email: [email protected]

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