CampAbility  is a recreational and educational summer program for school-aged children  with Autism and other intellectual/developmental/physical disabilities being  provided in a fun and safe environment. We host 2 camps simultaneously - a  kids camp (elementary ages) and a youth camp (6th - 12th grades). We also  offer summer camp sessions to the elementary-aged siblings. This is in order  to help alleviate the burden on parents by keeping their children in one  location, as well as provide familiarity to the camper with special needs by  having his/her sibling nearby and give the sibling(s) companionship with  other siblings who understand what it’s like to walk in their shoes.    Our camps are offered for 6 weeks throughout the summer, Monday - Friday,  from 9AM - 2PM (25 hrs/week). Campers are welcome to participate all summer  or select particular weeks to meet their needs. The camps provide the routine  and structure those on the Spectrum need throughout the summer, as well as  continue to work on social skills, life skills, and academic skills in a  creative and fundamental way.

BASCA  offers a variety of programs designed to provide a range of learning  opportunities.  Our programs are a  blend of Educational Classes (Money Management, Languages, Science, and  History), Music, Exercise, and Art Classes, Social Development Classes (Anger  Management, Relationship Management, and Community Safety/Exploitation  Abuse), and Community Outings.  The  classrooms were set up so multiple classes could be held simultaneously, with  clients rotating to the various courses throughout the day and week. 33% of  the 77 individuals participating in the BASCA day program are on the autism  spectrum. A major part of our Day Program is getting out into the community  with every one of our individuals.  We  base these outings on opportunities that we think they will enjoy, that they  themselves advocate to participate in. The idea is to introduce both new  experiences along with experiences we know they find fun. Some of this past  year's outings included trips to the Alligator Farm, Marineland, The Pirate  Museum, the Florida Theater, and MOSH.   These outings can be at times both expensive to the individual families  and to the organization.  Entrance fees  for these outings are in addition to the normal day rate covered by the  State.  Also, due to additional  behavioral issues and/or physical issues, additional staff members must be  added to the outing to ensure that it goes smoothly.

Summer  Jam 2024 is 2 day/week summer program lasting for seven weeks.  In the past, Summer Jam was 1 day/week for  6 weeks. This year, I wanted to offer more activities such as creative dance  and movement, social skill groups, reading group, and tutoring. The tutoring  will be supervised by a certified teacher. The program is opened for 10  student; this will allow us to give specialized attention and support.

Best  Buddies is the largest organization dedicated to ending the social, physical  and economic isolation of the 200 million people worldwide with intellectual  and developmental disabilities (IDD). Our programs empower people with IDD to  form meaningful friendships with their peers, secure jobs, improve  communication and advocacy skills, and live independently, while also  offering support for their families.    Within our one-to-one friendship program, we have an adult friendship  program, Citizens. Serving participants 18 and older to continue friendship  and leadership development. Our adult program runs monthly hosting one to two  events. This summer we hope to host a large summer bash event for all  participants to get together.

As  part of the day program, BIG North Florida community members will participate  in part-time employment job training, which is aimed at providing a variety  of creative and meaningful work opportunities for our members.  Work opportunities will include making  screen-printed items and creative gift baskets incorporating many artisan  items like shower gels, soaps, fragrances, greeting cards, and dog treats.  These items will be sold both online and in our local community.     Heal Grant funds will be used to purchase the necessary equipment and  supplies to enhance our small business ventures.

Summer  Fun at the Ranch will include Summer Adaptive Riding and Equine-Assisted  Learning Season, Open Houses, Movie Outings and Caregiver Respite  Events.    Summer Adaptive Riding and Equine-Assisted learning Season: Participants  will have equine-assisted sessions which include grooming and riding with  support of a team of volunteers. The Mustang Learning Program for high school  age and up, will utilize equine-assisted learning to develop social, life and  work skills.    Open Houses: Open to the entire community (including participants, their  families, potential riders, donors and other local autism community groups).  All are invited for a fun relaxing evening at the Ranch. Activities include  dinner, horse grooming, golf cart rides, fun and games.    Movie Outings: Partnering with Special Nation, we host a monthly private  movie showing for 50 participants and their families. Our guests are  comfortable to enjoy the movie however they want (walk around, make noises,  even dance). It's a great opportunity for our participants to experience  movies - often for the first time. This remains one of our most popular  programs so we remain committed to continuing this opportunity.     Caregiver Respite Events: Hosting a mom/caregiver retreat weekend which  enables them to get away to rest, refresh and rejuvenate. Additionally, we  host monthly gatherings for mothers with children/family members impacted by  autism or related disabilities. This affords moms the opportunity to gather  with fellow moms facing similar parenting challenges and being with others  who “get it.”

BridgeHaven  Academy is seeking grant funding to support our wellness / recreation  initiatives.  Many of our students  struggle with motor control and intentional movement, and therefore often do  not have the opportunity to participates in games and sports.  Grant funds will be utilized to purchase  much needed game/sports equipment, which will provide our students with the  opportunity to learn new games and develop new skills.  Benefits will include increased motor  control; purposeful movement; gross and fine motor skill development;  socialization; and wellness.

The  BridgeHaven Communication Clinic has been in operation since 2020, and over  the past four years has grown and thrived.   We are seeking funding for several reasons in order for our program to  continue to serve this community.     In an effort to expand our services to the community of typers and  spellers, the BridgeHaven Communication Clinic would like to offer ongoing  workshops to current and potentially interested families in the Jacksonville  area.  These workshops would be led by  our trained and accredited Facilitated Communication and Spelling 2  Communicate staff, and would be focused on implementing best practices,  developing fluency, and increasing individual independence.      Moreover, as our clinic continues to grow in name, reputation, and size, we  continue to receive requests for services from individual families that  cannot financially afford proper evaluations and coaching sessions.  We are hoping to secure funding to provide  financial assistance to these families so that funding is no longer a barrier  to individual communication.  The  financial assistance will be awarded to those families in need as determined  during the intake process, overseen by our Clinic Director.    Lastly, grand funds will be utilized to purchase the necessary equipment  for new typers and spellers, including Ipad stands and letter boards.

Since  1981, the agency has been a leading provider of quality specialized  therapeutic foster care services (STFC). Currently, the STFC program provides  placement and foster parent support services with 42 highly trained foster  homes in Duval County. These vulnerable young people face significant  challenges that require intensive mental health treatment services, including  psychiatric care and trauma-focused therapy modalities. The therapist to  client ratio is 1:5 to allow for two sessions per week depending on level and  24/7 crisis management. In many cases, youth in treatment also have  co-occurring developmental disorders, including autism. The goal of the  program is to develop the skills and pro-social behaviors necessary for youth  to thrive in their respective communities as well as to prevent the need for  a higher level of care and/or involuntary hospitalization (Baker Act).    The agency seeks to continuously develop and implement innovative program  enhancements not funded by per diem agreements in the effort to increase  engagement and to expose children to new and exciting experiences. Because of  the severity and complexity of disorders, they are often excluded from “main  stream” summer camps or activities. This is especially applicable for  non-verbal autistic youth.  Thus, the  agency seeks to place each child in specialized camps that focus on  addressing pro-social behaviors and communication skills for youth with  specific developmental needs. The agency has identified several specialized  camps targeting youth with developmental disabilities.

Smile  Camp is a week-long day camp run by Girl Scouts, for children ages 5 to 11  with autism and other developmental and intellectual disabilities including  cerebral palsy, spina bifida, and visual and hearing impairments. Smile Camp  offers campers with disabilities, who might not have the opportunity  otherwise, to experience a week of new friends, outdoor adventure, and a  sense of belonging in an inclusive environment.     Smile Camp 2024 is being held at North Florida School for Special Education,  a site designed to be an accessible and safe space for Smile Campers. Smile  Campers will have access to the barn and animals at the school for a farm  themed day, as well as the playground, gym equipment, and outdoor spaces.      Each day at Smile Camp has a new theme with corresponding activity  rotations, including games, crafts, music, and outdoor activities. Smile Camp  gives children living with autism and other disabilities a break from their  day-to-day routine and brings them outside for an entire week of new  experiences. The camp also provides much needed respite care for the camper’s  parents and care takers.     The camp is run by as many as 40 Girl Scouts who are trained counselors  ages 14 to 18. Supporting them is a team of up to ten Girl Scout directors  ages 16 to 18 and Girl Scout adult volunteers including two adult advisers, a  registered nurse and a chef. Depending on the intensity of care needed,  counselors are paired 1:1 or 1:2 per camper.

Our  8-week summer Transition Camp will focus on social skills with structured  group activities, daily living skills such as meal planning and preparing,  pre-vocational and vocational skills with work readiness lessons, exercise to  promote body movement and health/wellness, and weekly community outings. Our  program is specially designed for teenagers and young adults. Teenagers and  young adults are often overlooked and have limited summer program options. In  addition, many providers cap their ages for services at 10 years old. We have  certified staff who have the skills, abilities, and experience to work with  teens and young adults with continued oversight and support on teaching  methods and activities. The HEAL grant will help our families to reduce the  cost of camp, fund stipends for field trips in the community to generalize  skills learned in camp to real-life situations, food for our campers to work  on food preparation skills, and provide a scholarship to a family in need of  financial assistance to attend the camp.

A  pivotal aspect of our mission is the upcoming expansion of the center's  facilities. This strategic growth allows us to almost triple capacity,  thereby extending our reach and impact. By moving to a new, larger building  and enhancing our resources, Growing Together is significantly increasing its  ability to serve more students. This expansion not only aligns with the  center’s foundational goals but also reinforces its commitment to nurturing  every student’s growth in a compassionate learning environment. This move  signifies a major step forward in fulfilling the center's vision of a  community where every student has the opportunity to thrive and succeed,  including many of the 300+ students currently on our wait list! We view the  expansion and growth of Growing Together as a beautiful part of the legacy of  Aiden Kramer, for whom the school was originally designed, yet who sadly  passed away in July 2023. The sensory room, Aiden's favorite activity, held  particular significance due to his sensory deprivation from being deaf and  later going blind. It reinforced the importance of providing robust sensory  feedback in ways that really mattered to Aiden, a practice that has proven  invaluable for all our students. This understanding is a key element of how we  continue to learn and grow in our approach to education, honoring Aiden’s  memory every step of the way.

We are  seeking a grant to support summer activities and outings for our teens and  young adult students at Growing Together Behavioral Center. These  community-based experiences, such as dining at local restaurants, attending  movies, and shopping, are essential for enhancing the social skills of our  students. By engaging in these real-world interactions, our students can  practice and develop communication, social navigation, and practical life  skills, which are critical components of their overall educational and  personal growth. This grant would enable us to provide these enriching  experiences, fostering greater inclusion and community participation for our  students.

The  goal of the HUG Junior Golf Camp is to focus on teaching the game of golf to  juniors within the autism spectrum. The HUG Junior Golf Program will be  hosted at TPC Sawgrass. Every instructor that participated in the HUG/HEAL  Junior Golf Program last summer was extremely touched by all the  participants.    Our specific funding needs are for shirts & hats for the junior golf  participants as well as funding for food & beverage purposes. Due to the  heat each day, the participants are given plenty of water & snack breaks  so they can recharge and hydrated for the day. This requires plenty of snacks  & drinks throughout the day. At the conclusion of the program each day,  the participants have lunch provided to them at no cost to them.

We are  preparing for our Free 2 Be Me and Camp Possible summer programs, and we need  your help to make this a fantastic experience for our campers. We have been  receiving many calls weekly looking for summer programming for students who  have been turned away from other camps because their "special needs were  too special."  We want to welcome  them to our program and give them a fun summer experience while also make  sure their families have peace of mind their children are being taken care  of. Thank you for your sponsorship last year.   I’m hoping you’ll be able to help us once again make our summer  program a success for students with disabilities.

Our  funding needs include funding items to put on the camp; such as shirts for  tye-dying, crafts, snack supplies, extra equine staff for safety, etc. HorsePlay  Therapy Center is devoted to bettering the lives of children with special  needs by providing some horsepowered fun! In addition to our hippotherapy  program, where we offer physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech  therapy, we also have been able to provide our Breeders’ Cup Summer Camp in  2021, 2022, 2023, and upcoming in 2024! This camp will be a half day camp  where our campers get to experience therapist lead equine-assisted  activities, sensory trails, music, arts and crafts, life skills cooking  activities, and storytime with one-to-one child-to-counselor ratios. This  camp is put on by our clinical team, and counselors are Masters in  Speech-Language Pathology students from Jacksonville University - Palm Coast  Location.  In both 2022 and 2023, we  were fortunate enough to be supported by HEAL to do the Breeders’ Cup Special  Needs Camp free of charge for our campers! This year, seven out of ten of our  campers have diagnoses of Autism.

We  play on a rubberized field to accommodate players with mobility  challenges.   All players bat and play  the field each inning.   Players bat  from coach pitching or a tee.  Players  bat until they make contact with a pitch and run all the bases.  We had an increase in registrations this  year which resulted in adding 2 more teams to our league.  We now have 8 teams with ~10 players per  team. Mission  Statement:  Every Child Deserves a  Change to Play Baseball.   We are a  league that provides opportunities for children and adults with disabilities  to play baseball, regardless of their abilities.  We cannot change or cure the medical issues  life has dealt them.  What we can do is  provide them with an opportunity to experience the joy and benefits that come  from playing baseball.

The  Summer Music Therapy Program at JSA offers a dynamic and enriching experience  tailored to the unique needs and interests of our students. Designed to  provide a supportive and engaging environment, this program integrates music  therapy techniques with individualized educational goals to promote holistic  development.    Throughout the program, students will participate in a variety of  music-based activities carefully crafted to address their specific challenges  and strengths. Under the guidance of certified music therapists and  experienced educators, participants explore rhythm, melody, harmony, and  movement, using various instruments and vocal techniques to express  themselves creatively.    The program's curriculum is highly flexible and adaptable, allowing for  personalized interventions to support communication, social skills, sensory  integration, emotional regulation, and cognitive development. Through  structured music experiences, students learn to enhance their verbal and  nonverbal communication, engage in peer interactions, and build  self-confidence.    Beyond the therapeutic benefits, the Summer Music Therapy Program fosters a  supportive and inclusive community where students feel empowered to explore  their musical abilities, express themselves authentically, and connect with  others in meaningful ways. By harnessing the power of music as a universal  language, this program inspires growth, self-discovery, and joy for students  with autism, enriching their summer experience and laying the foundation for  continued progress throughout the year.

The  Intensive Summer Program is four weeks of intensive Applied Behavior Analysis  and Verbal Behavior services for children with developmental disabilities.  The program starts with the parents filling out an enrollment package that  give the staff a good assessment of the needs for each child. Each child  receives a comprehensive and Individualized Program with identified goals and  objectives for the acquisition of targeted skills. The low student-to-teacher  ratio maximizes individualized attention throughout the entire day. Parents  can choose a two-week program or take advantage of all four weeks for the  Intensive Individualized Summer Program.

Kids  Connect Today offers social skills classes in person and virtually for  children, teens and young adults with autism. We would like to use funds for  scholarships to give to families who cannot afford our services.

Summer  ABA Program for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder(ASD) and other special  needs. Provide a summer  program for  children diagnosed with ASD providing either one-on-one insurance paid ABA or  private pay social skills. Working in a fun and enriching environment with  arts and crafts, sports, sensory, and water fun while learning new  communication skills and social skills.

This program  offers a continuation and deeper dive into the STEM-centered customized art  therapy curriculum utilized during the school year. Created in collaboration  with Indigo Art Therapy, our art curriculum not only provides students with  opportunities to creatively express themselves, but incorporates sensory  integration, fine motor skills, cognitive spatial awareness, and strategies  for anxiety reduction. Funding is requested for larger-scale art projects  that will take place each themed week.

Both  Mandala Family Wellness and Palm Valley Child Development Center share a  common playground. While the grant is targeting summer camp activities, we  hope to look at a larger scale project in updating our common playground to  become more adaptive and ADA friendly. This includes installing AstroTurf for  a more easily navigable surface for students and clients and additional  playground equipment for students to engage in both for physical and sensory  input.

Our  clients range in age from 3 - 19 years of age.       Relevant to this grant application, we serve the needs of our nonverbal  clients through the use of alternative forms of communication, such as string  and percussion Instrument playing, dance/movement, composing, drum circles,  and individual playlist creations. Many of our clients who are nonverbal are  finding ways to express themselves through music. We also use singing or  humming for these clients as a way to encourage forming words or phrases,  which often leads to them  speaking  with increased rate of speech, inflection and clarity. Our specific funding  needs are to ensure continuation of our group Music Therapy sessions during  the summer months, at no cost to parents.

The  marriage of both school and therapy services allow our program to focus on  boosting children’s social-emotional, cognitive, and language abilities in a  learning environment. By using a databased approach, this program empirically  supports teaching and therapy practices that are deemed highly effective from  research in developmental pediatrics. This model fuses a behavioral,  relationship-based approached with a more developmental, play-based one in  order to create an integrated while that is both individualized and  standardized. To ensure our learners are accessing play and  relationship-based skills, Palm Valley Child Development Center continues to  seek enrichment materials for our program throughout the school year and  summer session.     Both Mandala Family Wellness and Palm Valley Child Development Center share  a common playground. While the grant is targeting summer camp activities, we  hope to look at a larger scale project in updating our common playground to  become more adaptive and ADA friendly. This includes installing AstroTurf for  a more easily navigable surface for students and clients and additional  playground equipment for students to engage in both for physical and sensory  input.

As  mentioned previously, our participants’ social lives are enriched through  organized activities with peers, and through therapeutic classes. These  classes develop basic social skills and prompt an understanding of  collaboration. Over the course of the last few years, our director has  observed enhanced vocational skills in individuals who participate in both  vocational and social programming. On average, individuals who partake in our  social programming, have higher capacities for collaboration, heightened  social skills, and increased abilities to maintain skills in different  settings. While we aim to equip participants with more refined skills, we  also appreciate the value fun activities provide.    We have elevated our programming to include fun, off-campus excursions.  It’s these supplemental excursions we are looking to have funded through  HEAL. Through excursions, we seek to build participants’ confidence,  challenge their self or socially imposed limits, and expand their personal  experiences. All excursions will be professionally chaperoned and guided. We  are seeking funding for four upcoming group excursions this spring and  summer: a kayak experience, a career fair, a comedy show outing, and a trip  to the movies.     Finding appropriate social opportunities for individuals with Autism, can  put significant emotional and financial stress on families. Through funding,  our goal is to cover the costs of these excursions and provide a safe and  structured environment where participants can enjoy themselves  barrier-free.    We hope HEAL can see the value in helping these individuals challenge their  self and societally imposed limits, through enhanced excursions, and  supplemental programming.

We  will run two programs during the summer:     1. Extra-Special Moms Group:     This group has been running for over a decade and is still our most  popular. It usually fills up in 48 hours and we usually have a waitlist. It  focuses on mainly moms, and this summer we will be opening it up to  partners/spouses of neurodivergent adults, as we're seeing a need for  understanding and support in this area. This group is created and led by  Janeen Herskovitz, LMHC    2. Socialization Group:     Katherine Scott, LMFT created our social skills curriculum/program, however  we have decided to call it a socialization group since the term "social  skills" usually has a negative connotation to those who have been forced  to learn how to be neurotypical. The goal of this group is to help autistic  teens and young adults learn how to function in a world that wasn't designed  for them. This group takes into account the sensory needs and abilities of  the group members and is led by two of our licensed therapists; Jordan  Depratter, LMFT and Nikeda Burphy, LMHC/registered play therapist.

We are  putting together a social skills program this summer with the hopes to run it  every summer moving forward for children between the ages of 8-12 years. The  program also has a parent component to teach parents the skills to increase  success with their children. We are planning to use the PEERS certified  social skills training program, which requires completion of a training  program in order to implement the PEERS system.

Special  Nation will provide social, recreational and therapy activities throughout  the summer for individuals of all ages in the community with autism and their  families. Our activities will include: regular Wednesday Night Friends Group  gatherings at Redeemer Church and other locations throughout the community  including Bit of Faith Ranch.This is a time for families to fellowship  together, enjoy community and learn about being followers of Christ with an  adapted curriculum.  Once a month, we  celebrate birthdays and have a Karaoke Night celebration. Additionally, we  provide respite on Sunday mornings for parents to attend on-site services.  Special Nation (partnering with Bit of Faith Ranch) hosts an At the Movies  event once a month for up to 50 people to gather to see a current movie in a  sensory-friendly private theater.  We  also partner with Bit of Faith Ranch to organize monthly Moms/Caregivers Meetups.  We offer a monthly Second Sunday Special Praise which is a family-friendly,  full church service including worship, a sermon, and communion for all  abilities.  This is a very special  intimate time for the individuals we serve and their families to go  to church where they find total belonging  and acceptance.  We will be hosting  five sessions of Music/Art Therapy over the summer. These once a week  sessions will be available by sign up for those impacted by autism and  related disabilities. Special Nation plans to have a VBS Night and a  sensory-friendly hour at our July 4th festival.

Spectrum  Sailing's 2024 Jacksonville camp took place during Duval County school spring  break, a time when children on the spectrum do not have school activities,  and also suffer from a lack of inclusive extracurricular activities and  programs to engage in.     Spectrum Sailing ran a 3-day professional sailing camp, free of cost to all  families, that was hosted by the Florida Yacht Club. Sailors were taught  knot-tying, weather and water safety fundamentals, parts of the boat, and how  to harness the wind to move the boat through the water. Each day of camp  consisted of several hours of active on-the-water sailing as each team of 3-4  kids worked together to sail their boats on the St. Johns River.     Inclusion is at the core of our mission, and we know that removing the  financial barrier to sailing is key to increasing access for this underserved  population. That is why we never charge the families whose kids attend our  camp. But our camps are not free to run, and we are seeking local community support  to help defray the costs of conducting camp, so we can keep this program free  for all kids.

We  have two Thrift Stores that we use to help the Autistic and developmental  delayed individuals learn job skills and life skills. Those skills that we  develop, and they learn really help them when going to work in corporate  America. We pay these individuals to help them  learn about money and how to manage their  income. We have completed over 250 On the Job trainings in 6 years.While  we get some funding its not enough to cover the income of all our  individuals. Some of our employees take longer to move into positions with  other companies than others and this is where we use the grant money.

We are  a licensed group home with the Department of Children and families that  exclusively takes in kids with Autism and other related diagnosis in the  foster care system. We are planning to do a summer camp for our youth which  is currently at 5 residence. Strive  YFS is a licensed group home under the Department of Children & Families,  we specialize in providing housing for children diagnosed with Autism and  related disorders.    MISSION:  Empowering individuals with  autism to lead fulfilling lives by providing supportive and inclusive housing  solutions.    VISION:  Strive Youth and Family  Services envisions a future where accessible and compassionate housing not  only meets their basic needs but also serves as a catalyst for personal  growth, independence, and meaningful connections.

ECR4Kids Stackable Kiddie Cot, Toddler Size, Classroom Furniture, Blue * Sensory Chair for Kids (Ages 6-12) - 60 inches Inflatable Sensory Peapod  Provides Therapeutic Relief and Compression, ADHD Sensory Toys for Autistic  Children * Super-Soft Kids Weighted Blanket 5 Pounds - Weighted Blanket for Kids -  Easy to Clean, Washable Minky Cover - 36x48 Inches 5lbs Child Weighted  Blanket * Small Heavy Blanket for Girls and Boys    Excellerations Shapes Walking Rope for Kids Classroom Supplies(14-1/2'  Long)    * KICK BANDS Chair Bands for Kids with Fidgety Feet - Fidget Chair Bands  for Kids 12-Pack - Kickbands ADHD Band for Classroom Chairs & Desks -  Solace Sensory Kickband (GREEN)    * Tiny Land Train Set 110pcs Wooden Train Set, Toy Train for Boys &  Girls with Wooden Train Track, Wooden Toys for 3-7 Years Old Toddlers &  Kids, Railway Set Christmas Toys for Kids

The  grant funds will be used to provide sensory toys, calming center, resources  for staff, and sensory stimulation in our garden as well as sensory  rooms.  The grant would also allow for  us to keep a rotation of a variety of educational toys specific  to address IEP goals as well as meeting the  needs of the students incorporating a variety of manipulatives to increase  their functioning within the classroom.   Item    Calming cube          Amazon    Sensory toys           Amazon    Gardening supplies      Home Depot    Weighted blankets         Amazon    Light up cubes           Amazon    LED calming lights         Amazon    Interactive books          Amazon    Communication laminated MELD boards for outside                                   Printing  company    Laminate                  TRuLam    Paint sets                        Kaplan    Educational toys           Amazon  

As  part of the day program, BIG North Florida community members will participate  in part-time employment job training, which is aimed at providing a variety  of creative and meaningful work opportunities for our members.  Work opportunities will include making  creative gift baskets incorporating many artisan items like infused olive  oils, soaps, fragrances, and uniquely designed jewelry.  These items will be sold both online and in  our local community.     Heal Grant funds will be used to purchase the necessary equipment and  supplies to enhance our small business ventures.

Fall  Fun at the Ranch will include Summer Adaptive Riding and Equine-Assisted  Learning Season, Open    Houses, Movie Outings and Caregiver Respite Events.    Fall Adaptive Riding and Equine-Assisted learning    Season: Participants will have equine-assisted    sessions which include grooming and riding with    support of a team of volunteers. The Mustang Learning    Program for high school age and up, will utilize equine-assisted learning  to develop social, life and work skills.    Open Houses: Open to the entire community (including    participants, their families, potential riders, donors    and other local autism community groups). All are invited for a fun  relaxing evening at the Ranch. Activities include dinner, horse grooming,  golf cart rides, fun and games.    Movie Outings: Partnering with Special Nation, we host    a monthly private movie showing for 50 participants and    their families. Our guests are comfortable to enjoy the movie however they  want (walk around, make noises, even dance). It's a great opportunity for our  participants    to experience movies-often for the first time. This    remains one of our most popular programs so we    remain committed to continuing this opportunity.    Caregiver Respite Events: We host monthly gatherings for parents/family  with children/family members impacted by autism or related disabilities. This  affords moms, dads and caregivers the opportunity to gather with fellow moms  facing similar parenting challenges and being with others who “get it.”    The HEAL grant will help fund our Fall season and    to pay for our movie outings along with    supporting Open Houses and Caregiver Respite Events.

BridgeHaven  Academy is seeking grant funding to support our wellness / recreation  initiatives. Our goal is to build an outdoor fitness / workout area for our  participants.  We have explored many  options, and at this time are interested in purchasing 5-7 pieces of  equipment from ExoFit (https://www.exo.fit/).   HEAL has generously made two previous grant allocations for this plan,  and we are seeking a third donation at this time.

The  BridgeHaven Communication Clinic has been in operation since 2020, and over  the past four years has grown and thrived.   We are seeking funding for several reasons in order for our program to  continue to serve this community.     In an effort to expand our services to the community of typers and  spellers, the BridgeHaven Communication Clinic would like to offer ongoing  workshops to current and potentially interested families in the Jacksonville  area.  These workshops would be led by  our trained and accredited Facilitated Communication and Spelling 2  Communicate staff, and would be focused on implementing best practices,  developing fluency, and increasing individual independence.      Moreover, as our clinic continues to grow in name, reputation, and size, we  continue to receive requests for services from individual families that  cannot financially afford proper evaluations and coaching sessions.  We are hoping to secure funding to provide  financial assistance to these families so that funding is no longer a barrier  to individual communication.  The  financial assistance will be awarded to those families in need as determined  during the intake process, overseen by our Clinic Director.    Lastly, grand funds will be utilized to purchase the necessary equipment  for new typers and spellers, including Ipad stands and letter boards.

We are  an ABA school designed for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and  other special needs that struggle in the Public School system. Providing a  school program for children diagnosed with ASD and others with Intellectual  and Development Differences. Working in a fun and enriching environment with  an education, Life Skills while learning new communication skills and social  skills. Further  Educational training    Touchscreen computers/ I PADS with key boards    Noise Cancelling Headphones(Several pairs)    Headphones    Workbooks    Writing Adaptive supplies(Block crayons/pencils/pencil grips, Reading guide  strips)    New Games(Indoor and Outdoors)    Art and craft supplies    Wet/ dry erase Markers    Life Skill educational references(Step by step)    Baking and cooking Supplies     Supplies(Binders, Folders,Pocket Organizers, sheet protectors, Ink, Printer  paper, white Board Tape,,,,,,,)    TV's for educational and reward purposes.(Fun Friday's)    Wii machine/ will games for exercise on rainy/cold days

HorsePlay  Therapy Center is the only nonprofit organization in Northeast Florida  offering a medical model of hippotherapy (physical therapy, speech therapy,  and occupational therapy on horseback) for children with special needs who  have diagnoses that include autism, down syndrome, cerebral palsy, traumatic  brain injury, sensory processing disorder, and genetic disorders.  Additionally, through our RISE UP FOR VETERANS program, we serve Veterans  suffering from PTSD, traumatic  brain  injury (TBI), combat-wounds, abuse trauma, and military hazing trauma. No  child or Veteran is denied use of horses in their therapy based on their  ability to pay. HorsePlay Therapy’s mission is to provide children with  special needs and veterans a foundation for developing skills that improve  their overall quality of life through hippotherapy (physical therapy,  occupational therapy, and speech therapy on horseback for children with  special needs) and other equine assisted therapies (RiseUp for Veterans)  provided in a safe and caring environment.    This year, to honor the families we serve, we are doing a HorsePlay Family  Day on October 12th, 2024. This event will have many items from the Fall  Festival we used to host: bounce houses, craft stations, noodle pony  stations, but will be catered to our families and their children’s sensory  needs- having a smaller, more sensory-forward event for the children that  attend HorsePlay and their siblings. We are seeking grant funding to help put  on this event to give our families a free fall event to attend where they  feel welcome to have fun and enjoy the barn! Our  funding needs include funding items to put on this event: bouncy houses,  portable wheelchair accessible restrooms, face painter, etc.

The  Jacksonville Miracle League is on the westside of Jacksonville, but serves  children and adults with varying abilities from all over the multi-county  region. You will find happy players every Friday night and Saturday    morning during our spring and fall seasons. We    have many dedicated volunteers that serve our organization.  Our mission is to allow any child or adult  the chance to play baseball on our special field. We are  league that provides opportunities for    children and adults with disabilities/special needs to    play baseball. The players and the organizers get    great joy and benefit from participation in our    league. We play in the spring and the fall. We are    looking for funding for trophies, medallions, uniforms and sports  equipment.

Jacksonville  School for Autism (JSA) is seeking funding to install new swings at our lower  school and remove/relocate an existing play structure, aiming to create a  sensory-rich and inclusive play area for our students. These swings  willbespecially designed to cater to the unique sensory and physical needs of  children with autism, providing both calming and stimulating experiences.  Your support will help us enhance our playground, offering students a  valuable resource for sensory integration, physical development, and joyful  play. Together, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of our  students by providing them with a safe and engaging environment to thrive in. If  awarded a grant for the installation of swings, the funds would be carefully  utilized to create an inclusive, therapeutic play area that supports the  sensory needs of our students with autism. Swings offer a vital outlet for  sensory integration and physical movement, helping to regulate emotions,  improve focus, and enhance motor skills.    The installation of these swings would contribute to our overall goal of  providing a safe and supportive environment that promotes both physical and  emotional well-being for our students. Funds from the HEAL Foundation grant  would go toward high-quality, durable swings specifically designed for  children with sensory challenges. This project would be tailored to meet the  unique needs of our students, enhancing their school experience and improving  their overall development.

We  have recently added adaptive swim lessons to our services due to the large  number of inquiries we were receiving from families looking for someone to  help their child with Autism to swim. Many families looked to traditional  lessons at large swim schools, but their children were not progressing, even  when enrolled in what they thought were "adaptive" or "sensory  friendly" lessons. We believe our background as pediatric therapists  sets us apart to teach children on the spectrum in a neuroaffirming and  loving way, empowering and educating the parent and child on how to remain  safe around all bodies of water. Part of our swim curriculum involves  teaching children how to put on and take off their own life jackets, and  jumping in and performing swim skills with their life jacket on. We are in  need of life jackets in multiple sizes and types in order to use in our  trainings. We also want to provide families with safe life jacket fittings to  ensure they are choosing the right life jacket for their child. We are  seeking $2,000 to cover the cost of life jackets for our adaptive swim  program. These will include:     -Konfidence vests in all sizes: used to teach swimming and gain confidence  in the water.    -Type II and III US Coast Guard Approved Life Vests to train kids on safety  and to provide correct fittings for personal use based on the child's  needs.    -PDF-A: Adapted life jackets for kids with multiple disabilities in all  sizes to promote a safe horizontal position in the water.

Kids  Connect Today teaches social skills to children, teens & young adults  with autism. Kids  Connect Today would like to use grant funds to give scholarships to families  who cannot afford our social skills classes.

This  school year, LAE has run into the problem of not having enough  furniture/items needed to provide individual spaces for our students with  ASD. While we receive funding from the school and state, the dividers that we  would like to purchase more of are quite expensive. Our ASD program is also  running low on items like light covers, door handle protectors, etc. With  this grant money, we would like to purchase more items to create  individualized spaces for students, as well as purchasing more items to ensure  student safety.

The  Snack Cart Delivery Service will enable ESE students to take on  responsibilities in a supportive and engaging environment. Students will  manage a cart stocked with snacks and beverages, delivering them to our  hard-working school staff every other Friday. This program not only promotes  self-confidence and independence but also emphasizes teamwork, communication,  and social interaction. Objectives:    1. Life Skills Development: Students will learn how to prepare snacks,  manage a small budget, and understand basic inventory skills.    2. Employability Skills: Through this experience, students will gain  practical skills that can be transferred to future job settings, such as  customer service and time management.    3. Social Skills: The project will provide numerous opportunities for  interaction with peers and staff, fostering positive relationships, building  confidence, and improving communication skills.    Implementation Plan:    1. Preparation Phase:    o Identify students interested in participating and create a fun curriculum  covering topics like food safety and customer service.    o A schedule will be created for preparing and delivering snacks along  with menus.    2. Training:    o We will hold engaging workshops to teach budgeting and effective  communication.    o Role-playing activities will help students practice interacting with  staff in a supportive environment.    3. Snack Cart Operations:    o Purchase two mobile carts and necessary supplies (containers, gloves,  aprons, utensils, etc.).    o Stock the carts with healthy snacks and beverages, ensuring affordability  and variety.    4. Evaluation:    o Feedback from both students and staff will help us assess the program’s impact.    o We’ll track student progress and celebrate their achievements along the  way.

Mainspring  Academy requests funding for 20 adaptive trackball mice for 20 classroom  computers which will help support the motor skill needs as well as academic  and functional living goals specified in the individualized learning plans of  each of our students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  Notably, 85% of students at Mainspring are nonverbal, language impaired, or  have a diagnosis of mixed receptive-expressive language disorder, 79% are  diagnosed with autism, and 28% of students have diagnoses associated with low  muscle tone.  A summative review of our  2024 core rubric assessments in the areas of employability, social  strategies, self-advocacy, daily living, and communication showed: an average  of 48% of students fall into the category of “Level 2” learners requiring  mild to moderate pictorial supports, 35% of students fall into the category  of “Level 1” learners requiring extensive supports, and 17% of students fall  into the category of “Level 3” learners who can participate in tasks  independently. Our objective in the coming year is to provide our classrooms  with evidence-based multimodal supports to improve outcomes for Level 1 and  Level 2 learner categories in the 2025-2026 school year. Research findings  from various studies found in publications such as the Journal of  Instructional Psychology, Education Masters, and the Journal of Educational  Leadership; as well as empirical evidence from classroom-based studies such  as the ECHOES project and MyVoice on the integration of assistive technology  accommodations in controlled classroom settings indicate significant  improvements in the areas of academic participation, communication, social  skills for students with IDD’s.

PossAbilities  Plus is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of  individuals with special needs in the local community. Through our vocational  training programs, participants earn independence experience, and  certifications in a learning environment at their unique pace. Through social  programming, participants’ lives are enriched by organized activities with  peers and through therapeutic classes. Classes work to develop basic social  skills and prompt collaboration. Participation in our social programming  sparks joy in our students as they explore new hobbies and form meaningful  relationships. After on-campus programming, participants may advance to  internships at local businesses that support our mission, under the guidance  of a job coach. Our mission is to help individuals with special needs  integrate into the community, while developing independence, self-worth and  confidence. We invite you to partner with us in moving these individuals one  step further. Project Title: Triking to Independence Expansion

Project Idea: The Triking to Independence program, initiated in collaboration with HEAL and PossAbilities Plus, aims to empower individuals with basic trike/bike skills for community integration.

Specific Goals:

- Expand the program beyond basic skills training to include advanced skills for community accessibility.

- Enable participants to utilize their trike/bike skills for shopping, work, and recreational activities in the local community.

Grant Proposal:

We are seeking support to expand our successful Triking to Independence program to equip individuals with the necessary skills to engage in community activities independently. With the initial success of teaching participants fundamental trike skills, we now aspire to broaden their capabilities for enhanced community access.

The program has already demonstrated its effectiveness in teaching participants how to mount, pedal, steer, stop, and dismount trikes, fostering a sense of independence and accomplishment. However, to further realize the vision of Triking to Independence, we require additional resources to extend our program into the community.

By investing in the expansion of Triking to Independence, we aim to break barriers and enable individuals to navigate shopping centers, workplaces, and recreational facilities confidently. This endeavor will not only enhance the quality of life for our participants but also contribute to building a more inclusive and accessible community for all.

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A  community offering relationship, support and mutual exchange through the lens  of presumed competence and the inclusive love of Jesus Christ.  Based at Redeemer Church in Ponte Vedra  Beach, FL. Special Nation offers a monthly, no-hush, judgment-free, short  worship service for the whole family called Second Sunday Special Praise. We  hope you’ll come and join us where you can worship your very own way on the  second Sunday of every month at 10:30am in the Student Auditorium.  Instruments as well as silencing headphones are available. All are  welcome!  Weekly Special Nation Friends  Group! We are hanging out every Wednesday night at 6:30pm.  On regular Sundays we also offer staffed  accommodations for all ages in our sensory-friendly Portable C during the  10:30AM service for Biblical teaching and socializing! We offer several  social events throughout the year like our Fall Festival Sensory-Friendly  Hour and Sensory Kind Night to Shine!

Rideout  Elementary in Middleburg currently services approximately 600 students  ranging from preschool through sixth grade.   Students with autism and students with autism and dual diagnosis are  also served in special education classrooms. The belief at Rideout is that  all children can and will learn.  The  vision statement in Clay County is:   "To prepare students to be lifelong learners who are successful  in a competitive global workplace and have applicable life skills."  The missions statement is: "To build  high quality learning environments that ensure all students learn at high  levels. Funding  would provide our students with special needs with a researched based  curriculum, Unique Learning, that offers students on different levels to  achieve goals.  The curriculum would  allow teachers to meet students at their ability levels, have fun while  learning and help students become more confident with learning. The platform  includes differentiated lessons, monthly assessments and  tasks/activities.  This helps students  build foundational skills, meet standards and achieve goals.     Funding would also provide maintenance and repair of trikes that provide  students with a fantastic outdoor activity and exercise.      I am also asking for funds to cover the purchase of an outdoor wood picnic  table for students to enjoy eating, activities and fun social events outside  throughout the year.  We have done  activities such as volcanoes, pumpkin labs, plant lessons and activities and  crafts.  It would be nice to work with  students outside with some of the lessons we do that can involve a large  clean up.

Ridgeview  High School is a top-tier school that serves students with special  needs.  We are currently in need of  help funding for a copier for the ESE department.  Education has taken a more digital route,  which does not suit our students’ needs.   Our students still need pencil/paper and hands-on activities to make  learning gains.  Therefore, we need a copier  to continue to help our students be successful in the classroom setting. Ridgeview  High School is a top-tier school that serves students with special  needs.  We are currently in need of  help funding for a copier for the ESE department.  Education has taken a more digital route,  which does not suit our students’ needs.   Our students still need pencil/paper and hands-on activities to make  learning gains.  Therefore, we need a copier  to continue to help our students be successful in the classroom setting.

The  Specially Designed P.E. program at Ridgeview High School provides students  with disabilities, both intellectual and physical, the opportunity to  experience all aspects of a comprehensive PE program. We have the highest  ESE/ASD community in Northeast Florida. The funds will be used to purchase a  variety of adaptive sports equipment and physically active games that promote  movement, focus and coordination.

Our  classroom is designed to help junior and senior students with different  abilities to have the opportunity and training to develop working skills and  community living skills that they will be able to use when they graduate. Some  of our students will be able to work on daily living skills, because of this  we are needing classroom assistance. We are looking to purchase items that  are going to aide with growth for daily living skills. This will include food  items to help build cooking skills, folding assistance to help the students  to learn folding skills so they are able to help with folding laundry at  home. We spend time off campus in stores that require you to have the ability  to organize things the correct way like Publix. With the items we purchases  it gives us the best chance to simulate real like scenario's inside of the  class room compared to the real world.

Our  mission is to furnish students with genuine, rigorous, and all-encompassing  employment training, along with non-compensatory internships in authentic  real-world settings. Concurrently, we facilitate micro-business experiences  aimed at cultivating diverse employability skills.    As a cohesive team, we meticulously consider individual interests and  strengths, tailoring our approach to provide highly personalized coaching and  training. In the course of our program, we place substantial emphasis on  developing essential soft skils, universally sought after by employers.  Throughout their internship, participants    will acquire profound insights into professional conduct across a spectrum  of roles, including landscaping, custodial, clerical, assistant and food  service positions. Items  we would like to purchase will be used to create and sell items at our work  site. They will be able to help our interns build skills in the areas of  attention to detail, problem-solving, creativity/innovation,  entrepreneurship, and more! Items needed will be used to teach not only job  related skills but also independent living skills as well, such as  safety/hygiene, time management, and following directions.    We also work on money management skills through our program with the use of  a general store. The interns earn "funds" during the work week and  get to spend their earnings at the store.     *All of these skills are transferable and can enhance our interns abilities  in various professional settings.*