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.

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 will be offered at no cost with a onetime $10 registration fee.

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iPads were given to ESE and CSS classrooms to enhance the learning experience. Abess Park Elementary-Greenfield Elementary-Kernan Middle School-Mayport Elementary-Mt Herman Exceptional School Sabal Palm Elementary-Southside Estates Elementary

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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.

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Provides persons with physical, emotional and developmental disabilities life enriching experiences that promote health and well being and help the campers gain independence and grow personally. The camp offers 7- week long, overnight summer camps.  Last summer, 109 of the 238 Campers had a diagnosis on the Autism Spectrum.

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LEAP is an 8 week summer camp program with an emphasis on language enrichment, social skills, and play. This camp will include different forms of augmentative communication including iPads and apps.

The Facilitated Communication Skill Building Workshop will train proficient facilitators in leadership to become coaches in FC. The seminar will help non verbal or verbally limited individuals to communicate through typing with a goal of independence.  Facilitated communication has been a ground breaking blessing to many non verbal individuals, giving them a voice.

The grant will be used to enhance their new sensory room.  The school is striving to meet the students’ sensory integration needs.

Theatre Jacksonville provides programming to the special needs students at Southside Estates Elementary.  The goal is to provide a safe, comfortable environment where kids can express themselves freely, develop their imaginations and expand social skills.

Special Nations will host a dance for young autistic kids, families and neuro-typical young people which offers a social time and celebration of friendship.  Friends Group is a ministry that meets every Wednesday. It is a place where people with special needs have community, belonging and meaningful communication.  Coaches receive training and is a place of inclusion.

Ridgeview High School has the highest ESE/ASD community in Northeast Florida. The funds will be used to buy a storage unit where they can store bikes and other PE equipment.

The grant will be used to purchase specific curriculum, appliances, and supplies needed to conduct life skill instruction. Children with autism grow up to be adults with autism.  They need to learn Life skills while in school to maximize future success.

Grant will be used to purchase a golf cart. The campus is very large and the ESE classrooms are a good distance from the main office and food services. The use of a golf cart will save time and add efficiency to the classrooms.

PVPV Rawlings has a sensory room and items need to be replaced. They also have requested funds for fluorescent light covers. They received a grant last year for the covers and it made a big impact in one of the classrooms.

Monies will be used to purchase work baskets to help teach basic skills for sorting, decision making, eye hand coordination and visual discriminations. The goal is to promote and teach independence in the classroom.

Funds will be used to purchase classroom materials to help the ESE students become more independent.
The children need help staying on task and these bundles will help them reach that goal.

Grant will offset the costs for an eight-week Friday Night Teen Club for special needs children. They teach social skills to the teens and integrate neuro typical peers who serve as role models.

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

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The monies will be used to purchase a variety of sensory equipment to deliver stimulation to the various senses to engage and promote the students to take note of their environment.

Grant will be used for uniforms and hardship waivers for participants in the inclusive baseball league. Jacksonville Miracle provides anyone with medical issues an opportunity to enjoy the joy and benefits of baseball.

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The nonprofit provides hippotherapy to ASD and other children with special needs. Children with special needs don’t realize they are working toward therapy goals, they just think they are coming to play and ride with horses.

Hope Therapy is an equine assisted activity and therapy program. Grant funds will be providing four individuals with Autism two months of weekly equine therapy sessions.

To enhance the learning environment funds will be used to make classroom more sensory friendly.  They will purchase Cozy Cubes that provide a personal quiet space when needed. They will also purchase comfort items that will provide relief from sensory overload in the classroom.

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 six-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, 2018 event.

The funds will be used to enhance a sensory room that will be used by 6 Pre-K to 5th grade classrooms. The items will help students cope when they a faced with sensory overload.

Funds Yoga two days a week. Autism is becoming described as a mind/body control movement disorder and not an intellectual disability. Research has proven to help individuals with movement and proprioception issues.

Currently the program runs in 8 middle schools, 20 high schools, 3 colleges, and 2 expansion schools. The program will bring together over 3,000 students in inclusive, positive, and supportive social

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

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.

Riding the Wave of Autism Surf Camp was held in Neptune Beach.  25 local kids on the autism spectrum participated in the camp.  Each participant received individual instruction and the opportunity to surf, paddleboard, and ride in ocean kayaks.  Each participant also received a camp t-shirt and surf swag bag.

Peace of Heart Community is a local non-profit organization supporting individuals and families impacted by autism. An innovative group home for six young women with autism will be open soon, providing them with a loving home environment that is person, community and sustainability centered.

The grant will be used to build a structure that provides protection from the elements. It will be used as a gathering place for volunteers, educational events, vocational activities, and enrichment purposes. A sensory garden will be surrounding the pavilion.

This site license will give all students access to four subject areas. IXL is an interactive online program that students can access through an app. It helps differentiate learning for multiple skill levels for one classroom.

The Art Aviator program builds on the power of art- making activities as a means of promoting expression and social interactions among children with ASD. The purpose of the program is to give children with ASD a safe place to experiment with materials and expressions not found at home or in the classroom.

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.

The grant will be used to cover transportation expenses for the summer camp field trips to an all-inclusive gym, Rock the Spectrum. The camp will provide the opportunity for children with autism a fun and motivational environment to help them in the areas of strength, movement, sensory processing, and communication.

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.

The grant funds will be used to create a sustainable vocational training program for individuals with autism. The students work will be featured in a formal art exhibit.

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 TPC Sawgrass and include physical fitness, history/rules, environmental stewardship and fundamentals of the golf swing. The grant will be used to offset the cost of the program.

The grant will be used to provide hippotherapy session to children with ASD. The children do not realize they are working toward therapy goals, they think they are coming to the bard to plays and ride horses.

Camp Possible 2017 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.

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 will be offered at no cost with a onetime $10 registration fee.

Great Strides was the top fundraiser at the HEAL Autism Walk @ The Zoo 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.

Field of Dreams Baseball is a sustainable organization that provides a safe ADA certified facility where special needs children of all ages can play baseball for free and be an active part of a team. The funds will be used for capital improvement.

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. 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.

Provides persons with physical, emotional and developmental disabilities life enriching experiences that promote health and wellbeing and help the campers gain independence and grow personally. The camp offers seven week-long, overnight summer camps.  Last summer, 109 of the 238 Campers had a diagnosis on the Autism Spectrum. The grant will be used to purchase 30 cushioned floor mats that will enhance the campers experience.

The grant will be used to purchase a smartboard. The smartboard will be used to improve learning in the classroom.

Young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities can experience a “sneak preview” of living on their own through LIFE - Living Independently Finding Enrichment, a summer program for individuals 18-26 years of age.

Angelwood Camp serves 175 campers, all living with intellectual disabilities. The goals of Angelwood Summer Day Camp are the children with disabilities will experience a typical summer camp experience while their unique needs being met.

The Facilitated Communication Skill Building Workshop will train proficient facilitators in leadership to become coaches in FC. The seminar will help nonverbal or verbally limited individuals to communicate through typing with a goal of independence.  Facilitated communication has been a groundbreaking blessing to many nonverbal individuals, giving them a voice.

The grant will be used to enhance their new sensory room.  The school is striving to meet the students’ sensory integration needs.

Sensory Room Equipment and Storage Solutions

SpecialNeeds swim classes.

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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.

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Speech Language Program at Timberlin Creek Elem.

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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.

Grant funds will be used for to offer accessibility to both a week-long Bible camp and a weekly friends group.  Grant funds allow all interested families to participate in the bible camp at an affordable rate, and for the friends group to meet weekly with necessary materials and accommodations for success.

Classroom technology, The Fairy Garden Outdoor Classroom, Art Class Activities for five ESE classrooms

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Funds will be used to purchase the screen-printing machine and necessary supplies needed to operate it and produce goods.

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The intent of the NFSSE CAREER EXPLORATION CLUB is to better prepare our secondary students from the ages of 14-17 for exploration and basic training in vocational settings. Our Transition Program is geared toward the 18-22 age group and provides academic/life/social/vocational skills instruction in the classroom setting and vocational skills training in volunteer workplaces throughout our community.

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Grant funding will be used to support Berry Good Farms Micro-Enterprise Day Camps.

Purchase 5 client transmitter bands.

Medwaiver consultant meets with parents in their homes to help them navigate applying for state and federal benefits, particularly the medwaiver program which provides respite care, consumables and therapies for families.

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Fall Art Festival and Sensory Room equipment

The HEAL grant funds will be used to purchase 59 licenses to IXL for Morning Star students in grades K-12.

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.

Summer programming to benefit individuals served in our Adult Day Treatment (ADT) program and residences including dance classes, art classes, and field trips to recreational and cultural sites in the community.

Fall Community Outings

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.

Grant will be used to allow all of our amazing Buddies to have a wonderful time together, build friendships, grow and learn together, intellectually and socially.

Grant will offset the costs for an eight-week Friday Night Teen Club for special needs children. They teach social skills to the teens and integrate neuro typical peers who serve as role models.

The grant will be used to cover transportation expenses for the summer camp field trips to an all-inclusive gym, Rock the Spectrum. The camp will provide the opportunity for children with autism a fun and motivational environment to help them in the areas of strength, movement, sensory processing, and communication.

Scholarship program to help families who would not otherwise be able to afford our classes.

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The grant will be used to cover transportation expenses for the summer camp field trips to an all-inclusive gym, Rock the Spectrum. The camp will provide the opportunity for children with autism a fun and motivational environment to help them in the areas of strength, movement, sensory processing, and communication.

Jacksonville Miracle League provides opportunities for children and adults with IDD’s 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.

Grant funding will be used to cover most of the service fees for two art therapists to provide a curated series of six 90-minute multi-station sensory exploration workshops, with a maximum of 5 participating children per group.

The grant will be used to help support the school’s summer enrichment program, which includes piano/music, karate and yoga. Remarkably, many children with autism 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.

The grant will be used to help support the school’s summer enrichment program, which includes piano/music, karate and yoga. Remarkably, many children with autism 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.

Grant will be used for uniforms and hardship waivers for participants in the inclusive baseball league. Jacksonville Miracle provides anyone with medical issues an opportunity to enjoy the joy and benefits of baseball.

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.

Grant funds will be used to provide scholarships for our clients with autism who could not participate without financial assistance.

Hippotherapy (PT, OT, ST on horseback)

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The goal of the HUG 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 TPC Sawgrass and include physical fitness, history/rules, environmental stewardship and fundamentals of the golf swing.

The goal of the HUG 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 TPC Sawgrass and include physical fitness, history/rules, environmental stewardship and fundamentals of the golf swing.

Grant funds will go directly towards two Indigo Vocational scholarship recipients with autism who demonstrate exceptional artistic abilities and the desire to pursue art as a career.  Each scholarship will cover one full cycle of Indigo Vocational program participation, including 10 art-making and website creation sessions. Scholarship recipients will be included in at least one public community art exhibition.

Grant funds will be used to provide scholarships for our clients with autism who could not participate without financial assistance.

Camp HOPE is based on a 1:5 student/teacher ratio and an estimated 50 students/week for eight 1-week sessions.  Camp fees will cover staff salaries, field trip costs, materials and supplies, snacks 2x/day, outside guest presenters, a camp t-shirt, and secure transportation to and from outside activities.  The Discovery School will be purchasing Cozy Cubes, Classroom Weighted Focus Kits, Bucket of Chewies, Time Timer Plus’ and an Assortment of Learning Tools for Students/Teachers/Parents to create a Lending Library.

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Camp HOPE is based on a 1:5 student/teacher ratio and an estimated 50 students/week for eight 1-week sessions. Camp fees will cover staff salaries, field trip costs, materials and supplies, snacks 2x/day, outside guest presenters, a camp t-shirt, and secure transportation to and from outside activities.

CSS Sensory Motor Room and Supporting Sensory motor needs

The HEAL Surf Camp was held in Neptune Beach.  25 local kids on the autism spectrum participated in the camp.  Each participant received individual instruction and the opportunity to surf, paddleboard, and ride in ocean kayaks.  Each participant also received a camp t-shirt.