The grant will be used for to help with the recruitment of eligible athletes and training for both the athletes and Leaders. The Leaders are required to attend two seminars a year in Clermont, Florida. The funds will offset these cost as the athletes and Leaders are not charged for any training.

Special Nation Ministry would like to expand their services to children and adults with special needs. They are implementing a Buddy Break Program to assist families that are overlooked and underserved. The grant will be used to help fund accessible playground equipment.

A multi-sensory room offers a safe, controlled environment that will encourage sensory simulation. This often results in students being more motivated to complete educational tasks. The room can also calm and sooth regulatory systems which results in reduced anxiety and disruptive behavior. Funds will be used purchase equipment for the Academy's new room.

Project Chance trains puppies to work with families who have a member with Autism. These funds will go to train service dogs. Autistic children can become nervous or anxious in public situations. Service dogs become another set of eyes and a calming factor for the autistic child.

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Two iPads, cases and apps will be purchased and used in the Pre K class for the use of the teachers and students to support learning and behavioral modifications.

The grant will be used to purchase apps for existing iPads. The occupational therapists will purchase apps based on the needs of each Autism Spectrum Disorder child. These apps will enhance and support curriculum and social needs of the students.

The funds will be used to supply the sensory room rotations with a wide variety of activities that support students' sensory needs. These activities include both fine and gross motor skills. Technology apps will be purchased to augment the iPads and apps already donated by HEAL and Project Autism.

The grant will be used to provide a Multi Sensory Environment for the special needs children. A Snoezelen projector will be purchased. This will be used to help the children relax and can benefit the children by allowing them to control and enjoyable variety of sensory experiences. They will also purchase a Bubble Tube and a Bubbling Water Panel, both will aid provide the children on the Autism Spectrum the opportunities for bridging the barriers these students deal with daily.

The May Institute serves primarily moderate to severe Autistic individuals with severe behavioral problems in residential living facilities. In order to increase levels of independence for the adults they provide skills training. The grant will be used for recreational and outdoor living equipment as well as educational and vocational training.

There is much anecdotal support for the use of sensory equipment to produce positive effects on behavior. The grant will be used to purchase equipment for the Center's new Sensory Room.

The Jericho School is one of the longest serving schools in Florida that works exclusively with children with Autism and other developmental disabilities. They will use the grant to provide ongoing training both out in the community and in the classroom for instructors who work on a daily basis with Autistic children.

The grant will be used to help support the schools enrichment program, which includes piano/music, karate and yoga. Remarkably, many Autistic children have been found to have extraordinary musical and artistic talents.

Hope Haven provides diagnostic evaluations for the purpose of confirming whether or not a child meets the criteria for an autism diagnosis. The grant will be used to offset the costs of the evaluations for low-income families.

This grant will be used to help fund a playground project, including swings and a safety surface to go under the swings. They will also purchase 5 Kindle Fire devices to use with the students to enhance their learning experiences.

Haven Horse Ranch is a Licensed SpiritHorse Therapeutic Riding Center and Equine Teaching facility. The grant will be used to provide therapy to children on the Autism Spectrum that can't otherwise afford the therapy.

HEAL is striving to place an iPad in every ESE classroom. This will enrich the students' education and help give a voice to the non-verbal students.

This project will directly engage at least 155 high school students with and without Autism and related disabilities as associate members, buddies (students with disabilities) and peer buddies. Students with Autism and related disabilities are paired in one to one mutual mentoring friendships with peers without disabilities. These friendships are maintained for at least one academic year to maintain meaningful friendships to develop. Best Buddies requires that new friends contact each other once per week and spend time together at least twice per month.

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The Facilitated Community Training Seminar will train 12 families (one child and four trainees). The seminar will help non verbal or verbally limited individuals to communicate through typing with a goal of independence.

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Ms. Thomas' class at Loretto Elementary aids pre-k children with varying levels of ASD in strengthening their communication and social skills.

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The Autism Wing at Westview Elementary provides a safe, loving environment for children on the Autism Spectrum to explore and grow on their individual learning paths.

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The goal of the Arrowsmith Program is to help students strengthen the weak cognitive capacities underlying their learning dysfunctions. The Arrowsmith Program deals with the root causes of the learning disability rather than managing its symptoms. The program is capacity based, in that it changes the capacity of the individual to learn.

World Arts Education is dedicated to providing innovative learning experiences in the arts and filmmaking for all ages and abilities. World Arts Education program offers integrated opportunities for competent development of social skills, vocational job skills in the arts and inspire creativity.

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The Webster School has a beautiful gymnasium facility for use by the exceptional students they serve. Each ESE teacher has an assigned time in the gym. It is not part of the PE program but a separate program for their students. Two activities are planned and prepared every two weeks.

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Trying to serve more special needs kids ages 8-15 from the Jacksonville are by giving them access to sports/baseball. The league was established to allow children to have fun with baseball, build self-confidence, teamwork skills and lasting memories and friendships. Rising Stars Baseball is able to support a range of abilities; from mild coordination concerns to moderate gross motor planning challenges.

Little Star is offering an 8-week Intensive ABA Summer Camp for up to 20 students that teaches academic, communication, social skills, self-help skills, and community skills. The summer program helps children maintain their acquired skills throughout the summer and also learn more significant social behavior in the community. Fields trips are offered with no additional costs to the summer families. The field trips include places such as: the grocery store, museums, fire and police stations, farmer's market, movie theater, O2B kids and bowling.

JSA Summer Camp offers campers an experience to integrate the arts into academics and "camping" experiences. Each day campers will experience movement activates, songs, team building activities, artistic expression activities, motor skills practice, etc. that are infused and integrated into science and cultural themed objectives.

Inclusion Solution provides structured programs for families with children with autism and related disorders. They provide trained and experienced adult volunteers to be on site to help with grouping children and starting conversations and wait turns. The fishing program helps the children and parent by providing the materials and assisting with questions.

HUG- Junior Golf Camp focuses on teaching the game of golf to juniors within the autism spectrum. The HUG Junior Golf Program is hosted at the TOUR Academy at TPC Sawgrass. This program integrates the following into the golf camp; physical fitness, history/rules of the game, environmental stewardship/golf course maintenance and the fundamentals of the golf swing. One of the goals of the program is that it will be a model for other PGA Professionals to use at their facility/community.

The Power of Poetry will provide funding for Hope at Hand to expand services to children on the Autism Spectrum attending Hope Haven Summer Camp. Hope at Hand programming will incorporate poetry, art, language, creative thinking, focus and concentration. Using creativity, language, and therapeutic approaches, we facilitate healing and personal growth to struggling populations through art and poetry.

Camp Possible 2013 will provide learning in a fun environment while promoting age-appropriate social skills. Each week Camp Possible will have a different theme, which will relate to an area of living an independent life, such as safety and/or health. Camp Possible will have volunteers and community resources to enhance the experience for each camper.

Primary mission of Haven Horse Ranch: "to assist each child with special needs in reaching their full potential through interaction and therapy with rescued horses." A licensed Spirit Horse Therapeutic Riding Center providing Free Equine Assisted Therapy. It's the only facility in NE Florida providing full time, free, therapy, 6 days per week for those with Autism, MS, MD, Celebral Palsy, Down's Syndrome, Traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries, Learning disabilities, Developmental Delays, and at risk and abused youth. To provide 100 sessions of Equine Therapy along with camp and various "horse shows" (a kind of Special Olympics with horses) for local children diagnosed specifically with an ASD.

Great Strides School is a part of Great Strides Rehabilitation, Inc. Great Strides Summer Camp is an 8-week Summer Camp that allows children who would not typically be able to participate in regular summer camps the opportunity to experience a wide range of extracurricular activities while in a safe and highly educational setting under the direct care of individuals trained in dealing specifically with behavior problems in a therapeutic manner. Their mini-camps include: basketball, dance, swim and surf, career exploration, cooking, music and art, and tai chi and yoga. Also the campers will be taking numerous field trips into the community and inviting organizations to our facility to further enhance the student's experience within the camp while experiencing real-life situations.

Smile Camp is a weeklong summer day camp for children ages 5 to 11 with autism, cerebral palsy, mental handicaps, spina bifida, visual and hearing impairments, as well as other physical health challenges. Smile camp offers children living with disabilities the chance to experience a week of new friends, outdoor adventures, and a sense of belonging.

Camp Cummer is a week-long summer camp taught by full-time Museum Educators whose work is supported whose work is supported by the time and talent of dozensf of volunteers. Camp Cummer is a fun summer camp that offers fun, adventurous ways for children to grow by discovering art and person Expression. The Cummer will have six one-week programs for grades 1 through 6. These campers will print, draw, paint, create with clay, and learn new ways to think and talk about art in the galleries and gardens. The Cummer will also offer a one-week session grades 6 through 9. These campers will learn the skills of printmaking, drawing, painting, and clay techniques while being inspired by masterworks in the galleries and the histories gardens. All the children will also spend time exploring Art Connections.

The Super Surf Camp will provide a fun day in the sun for the children with educated instructors and fun equipment including kayaks, surfboards, boogie boards, catamarans and safety equipment. Come out and ride a wave with the Super Surf Camp!

Camp I am Special offers 7 week-long summer residential camps and at least 1 weekend mini-camp during the year for children with physical, emotional and developmental disabilities and disorders such as Autism, Spina Bifida, Muscular Dystrophy, Quadriplegia, Sensory Disorders, Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy, and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in a safe, loving environment with one-on-one support. The program offers life-enriching experiences, which have been written into the IEPs (Individual Educational Plans) and ITPs (Individual Treatment Plans) of some of our Campers.

The grant will be used to purchase iPads, cases and earphones will be purchased to enhance to learning experiences for the children in this ESE class.

The World Arts Film Festival was held Oct 15-17. Almost 5,000 attended this event from 30+ countries. Several of the short screenings were directed by young creative artists on the ASD Spectrum.

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Grant will be used for the purchase of tracking bracelets for individuals with cognitive disorders. The goal is to provide every individual with a cognitive impairment in Putnam County a tracking bracelet. This will greatly help in the search and rescue efforts of the individuals.

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The Exceptional Student Education classes will use the grant to purchase items to enhance the learning environment in the sensory room. They will also purchase iPad stands to enhance the iPad learning initiative.

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Lake Asbury Elementary School houses 6 self contained ASD units for grades PreK-6th.  Funds will be used to purchase items for the multi-sensory room.

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The grant will be used to help support the schools enrichment program, which includes piano/music, karate and yoga. Remarkably, many Autistic children have been found to have extraordinary musical and artistic talents.

Provides structured and fun bowling sessions for families with children on the ASD Spectrum. They provide trained and experienced adult volunteers to help with grouping children and starting conversations and wait turns.

The funds will be used to purchase toys and items for the students to use in the classroom. This includes sensory balls, hand fidgets, vibrating pens, and other item to benefit the students.

The grant will be used to help cover the costs of educational and therapeutic equipment for the Free 2 Be Me programs. This includes teaching material for elementary students and supplement therapies for students with sensory related disorders.

Primary mission of Haven Horse Ranch: "to assist each child with special needs in reaching their full potential through interaction and therapy with rescued horses." A licensed Spirit Horse Therapeutic Riding Center providing Free Equine Assisted Therapy. It's the only facility in NE Florida providing full time, free, therapy, 6 days per week for those with Autism, MS, MD, Cerebral Palsy, Down's Syndrome, Traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries, Learning disabilities, Developmental Delays, and at risk and abused youth. To provide 100 sessions of Equine Therapy along with camp and various "horse shows"  for local children diagnosed specifically with an ASD.

The goal is to spread the word that yoga can be enjoyed and should be part of the therapy equation for every person with disabilities. The grant funds will be used to offset the cost to participants. These classes 6 week classes start January 2.

The VSA Festival provides unique museum-based, hands on opportunities for more than 2,200 children, teachers and families over a four day period. Public students from the surrounding five county Exceptional Education Student Services program rotate through eight art stops in the in the Museum's galleries and gardens to create art, view The Cummer's collection, listen to live musicians and storytellers, and learn about art appreciation.  The Grant will be used to help fund this May 3-6, 2016 event.

This project will directly engage at least 155 high school students with and without Autism and related disabilities as associate members, buddies (students with disabilities) and peer buddies.  Students with Autism and related disabilities are paired in one to one mutual mentoring friendships with peers without disabilities. These friendships are maintained for at least one academic year to maintain meaningful friendships to develop. Best Buddies requires that new friends contact each other once per week and spend time together at least twice per month.

BASCA’s mission is to improve the quality of life for individuals with development and intellectual disabilities in Northeast Florida. They have recently purchased a 24,000 foot complex that will allow them to increase their services 200%. The grant will be used for a classroom that will house the Lets Cook! Building Abilities of Special Children and Adults program.

The Facilitated Communication Skill Building Workshop will train 8 families (one child and four trainees). The seminar will help non verbal or verbally limited individuals to communicate through typing with a goal of independence.

Younglife organized a winter formal for teenagers with special needs. The grant money was used to offset these costs.

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The Exceptional Student Education classes will use the grant to purchase items to enhance the learning environment.

The use of an iPad is very beneficial to students in ESE classrooms. This classroom has several non-verbal children who will benefit from an iPad and apps that can be very helpful in learning and can improve social and communication skills. This grant will also provide a projector and other accessories to make the iPad accessible to the class.

The grant will be used to provide beverages, desserts, appetizers, decorations, and photography for the Ridgeview High Exceptional Student Prom. Many teens in ESE classrooms are not able to attend certain events and activities and miss out on opportunities that others high school students enjoy.

Redeemer Church would like to offer Vacation Bible School to special needs children in the Jacksonvillle area. The grant will be used to staff the camp with skilled workers with experience in autism/special needs.

The Exceptional Student Education classes will use the grant to purchase items to enhance the learning environment.

The school will be providing summer camp for 24 students, many on the Autism Spectrum Disorder. The camp will utilize North Florida School's extensive gardens and hiking trails. The grant will be used to offset the costs associated with the program.

The grant will be used to purchase speech & language therapy items including iPad applications, Linguist systems, and sensory items that will benefit the 25 students with Autism, one quarter of Morning Star's population.

Little Star Center serves as both a school and Behavioral Therapy Center. The school is offering a summer school program which incorporates an intense ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) but with some fun. The grant will be used to help fund some of the summer outings. These include a riverboat cruise, trolley tour, hands on museum and more.

The grant will be used to build a sensory garden. The idea of Sensory Garden is that plants, hard landscaping, and other garden materials are selected for their appeal to all five senses with the aim of offering a richer and more therapeutic experience to children with special needs. This garden relates to Keystone's mission, and correlate to the curriculum.

The grant will be used to offset costs for a music camp for children on the Autism Spectrum. At the camp the children will learn what happens behind the scenes of recording a song and producing a music video.

The grant will be used to help support the school's summer enrichment program, which includes piano, art enrichment and field trips. JSA's summer programs provide fun for the kids in a learning environment to ease transitions to and from school.

Inclusion Solution provides structured programs for families with children with autism and related disorders. They provide trained and experienced adult volunteers to be on site to help with grouping children, starting conversations and waiting turns. Both bowling and fishing programs help the children and parent by promoting social skills development, introducing them to a extracurricular activity, and fostering a community.

HUG - Junior Golf Camp focuses on teaching the game of golf to juniors within the autism spectrum. The HUG Junior Golf Program is hosted at the TOUR Academy at TPC Sawgrass. This program integrates the following into the golf camp: physical fitness, history/rules of the game, environmental stewardship/golf course maintenance and the fundamentals of the golf swing. One of the goals of the program is that it will be a model for other PGA Professionals to use at their facility/community.

The grant will be used to help alleviate costs for occupational therapy, physical therapy, and therapeutic riding to children and adults diagnosed with Autism utilizing hippotherapy.

Camp Possible 2015 will provide learning in a fun environment while promoting age-appropriate social skills. Each week Camp Possible will have a different theme, which will relate to an area of living an independent life, such as safety and/or health. Camp Possible hosted 42 campers last summer, of which 36 had an Autism diagnosis.

The primary mission of Haven Horse Ranch is to assist each child with special needs in reaching their full potential through interaction and therapy with rescued horses. It is a licensed Spirit Horse Therapeutic Riding Center providing Free Equine Assisted Therapy. It's the only facility in NE Florida providing full time, free, therapy, 6 days per week for those with Autism, MS, MD, Celebral Palsy, Down's Syndrome, traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries, learning disabilities, Developmental Delays, and att-risk and abused youth.

This parent help center holds Camp Consequence monthly for children and parents. The children are taught that everyday decisions they make in life carry consequences. They also run Max's Farm that runs 24/7 to help parents who find themselves in a crisis. They can accommodate 10 children at a time at their facility. Funds from HEAL will help families affected by Autism as they access these services.

Camp Cummer is a week-long summer camp taught by full-time Museum Educators whose work is supported by the time and talent of dozens of volunteers. Camp Cummer is a fun summer camp that offers adventurous ways for children to grow by discovering art and person expression. The Cummer will have six one-week programs for grades 1 through 6. These campers will print, draw, paint, create with clay, and learn new ways to think and talk about art in the galleries and gardens. All the children will also spend time exploring Art Connections. A grant from HEAL will scholarship ten children with Autism to attend.

The Super Surf Camp will provide a fun day in the sun for the children with educated instructors and fun equipment including kayaks, surfboards, boogie boards, catamarans and safety equipment. These funds make this 2-day camp affordable for up to 35 families.

Camp I Am Special offers 7 week-long summer residential camps and at least 1 weekend mini-camp during the year for children with physical, emotional and developmental disabilities and disorders such as Autism, Spina Bifida, Muscular Dystrophy, Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy, and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in a safe, loving environment with one-on-one support. Thanks to HEAL, there will be scholarships for campers with Autism to help offset the high cost of camp.

Camp Cummer is a week-long summer camp taught by full-time Museum Educators whose work is supported whose work is supported by the time and talent of dozensf of volunteers. Camp Cummer is a fun summer camp that offers fun, adventurous ways for children to grow by discovering art and person Expression. The Cummer will have six one-week programs for grades 1 through 6. These campers will print, draw, paint, create with clay, and learn new ways to think and talk about art in the galleries and gardens. The Cummer will also offer a one-week session grades 6 through 9. These campers will learn the skills of printmaking, drawing, painting, and clay techniques while being inspired by masterworks in the galleries and the histories gardens. All the children will also spend time exploring Art Connections.

Alden Road Exceptional Student Center is committed to provide individualized instruction within a safe and positive learning environment that promotes self determination, advocacy and skills for life long learning.

The Facilitated Community Training Seminar will train 12 families (one child and four trainees). The seminar will help nonverbal or verbally limited individuals to communicate through typing with a goal of independence.

Grant funds will be used to train and educate families a communication method called Facilitated Communication. The families will learn methods that will allow personal interactions via iPads. Campers will work on social skills, and other activities in addition to the typing.

Grant funds will be used to offset uniforms.

Hope Therapy provides hippotherapy as well as therapeutic riding to children and adults on the Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Primary mission of Haven Horse Ranch: "to assist each child with special needs in reaching their full potential through interaction and therapy with rescued horses." A licensed Spirit Horse Therapeutic Riding Center providing Free Equine Assisted Therapy. It's the only facility in NE Florida providing full time, free, therapy, 6 days per week for those with Autism, MS, MD, Cerebral Palsy, Down's Syndrome, Traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries, Learning disabilities, Developmental Delays, and at risk and abused youth. The grant will provide 100 sessions of Equine Therapy along with camp and various "horse shows"  for local children diagnosed specifically with an ASD.

The goal is to spread the word that yoga can be enjoyed and should be part of the therapy equation for every person with disabilities. The grant funds will be used to offset the cost to participants. These are 6 week classes .

The VSA Festival provides unique museum-based, hands on opportunities for more than 2,200 children, teachers and families over a four day period. Public students from the surrounding five county Exceptional Education Student Services program rotate through eight art stops in the in the Museum's galleries and gardens to create art, view The Cummer's collection, listen to live musicians and storytellers, and learn about art appreciation.  The Grant will be used to help fund this May 3-6, 2017 event.

Camp I am Special offers weeklong, overnight camp sessions with activities that are modified to meet the needs of the campers.  The funds will be used to purchase a special bike for campers with balance needs.

BASCA’s mission is to improve the quality of life for individuals with development and intellectual disabilities in Northeast Florida. They have recently purchased a 24,000 foot complex that will allow them to increase their services 200%.

The Facilitated Communication Skill Building Workshop will offer introductory training for parents and teachers who are new to FC. The seminar will help non verbal or verbally limited individuals to communicate through typing with a goal of independence.

Ipads were given to ESE classrooms at Ponte Vedra High School and Bartram Springs Elementary school to enhance the learning experience.

The grant will be used to purchase sensory items to create a centralized sensory room that can be utilized by all Communication and Social Skills programs (CSS) at Sabal Palms Elementary School.

Ponte Vedra/Palm Valley Elementary received a $250 grant for being the 4th place school fundraising team at The HEAL Zoo Walk.  PV PV Rawlings plans to purchase mini-trampolines and iPad cases with their funds.

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. The funds will be used to purchase single rider adult tricycles to be used to ride around the track during P.E.

Redeemer Church offers a Vacation Bible School June 13-17 to special needs children in the Jacksonville area. This unique camp presumes competence and encourages participation. The grant will be used to staff the camp with skilled workers with experience in autism/special needs. Funds will be used to have trained individuals help with the inclusion aspect of this unique camp.

iPad was given to enhance the learning experience of students on the Autism Spectrum Disorder.

LEAP is a summer camp with emphasis on Language Enrichment, social skills, and play. Each of the 8 weeks will focus on a different themed activities will emphasize social engagement and interaction, language based activities, opportunities for movement through yoga and sensory play, gross and fine motor coordination, arts/crafts, music and dance. Grant will be used to offset the costs.

The school will be providing weekly summer camp in the month of July. The first week is for campers 8-11 years old and the remaining 12-22 years of age, many on the Autism Spectrum Disorder.  The grant will be used to offset the costs associated with the program.

Little Star Center serves as both a school and Behavioral Therapy Center.  The school is offering a Summer School Program which incorporates an intense ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) but with some fun. The grant will be used to help fund some of the summer outings. These include Riverboat Cruise, Trolley Tour, Hands on Museum and more. Five iPads were given to enhance the learning experience of the students.

The grant will be used to help support the school’s summer enrichment program, which includes piano/music, karate and yoga. Remarkably, many Autistic children have been found to have extraordinary musical and artistic talents .Other experiences include trips to the zoo, surfing lessons, dolphin experience and other community field trips.

Jacksonville School for Autism also received a $750 grant for their fundraising efforts at the HEAL Zoo Walk.

Jacksonville Miracle League provides opportunities for children and adults with disabilities to play baseball, regardless of their abilities. A “buddy” system is used pairing players with an able-bodied peer. The buddy helps the players with batting, rounding the bases, and fielding. Monies will be used for the purchase of new uniforms and equipment.

The goal of HUG Juniors Golf Camp is to focus on teaching the game of golf to the juniors within the Autism Spectrum. The HUG program will be hosted at several Jacksonville area golf courses and include physical fitness, history/rules, environmental stewardship and fundamentals of the golf swing. Grant will be used to offset the cost of the program.

The grant will he used to help alleviate costs for occupational therapy, physical therapy, and therapeutic riding to children and adults diagnosed with autism utilizing the help of a horse. This form of therapy is called hippotherapy and research has shown to improve the quality of individuals with Autism.

Camp Possible 2016 will provide learning in a fun environment while promoting age-appropriate social skills. Each week Camp Possible will have a different theme, which will relate to an area of living an independent life, such as safety and/or health. Camp Possible will have volunteers and community resources to enhance the experience for each camper.

The primary mission of Haven Horse Ranch is to assist each child with special needs in reaching their full potential through interaction and therapy with rescued horses. It is a licensed Spirit Horse Therapeutic Riding Center providing Free Equine Assisted Therapy. It's the only facility in NE Florida providing full time, free, therapy, 6 days per week for those with Autism, MS, MD, Cerebral Palsy, Down's Syndrome, Traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries, Learning disabilities, Developmental Delays, and at risk and abused youth.

Great Strides was the top fundraiser at The HEAL Zoo Walk and received a $1,000 grant to use at their discretion?).  Great Strides hosts a Comprehensive Autism Center and School serving Northeast Florida families affected by Autism and related disabilities.