7 Stories That May Change The Way You See People With Special Needs
- 7 years ago
4.6 million people in the U.S. live with a developmental disability... and that hasn't stopped these people from achieving their dreams! There are literally thousands of people and organizations supporting those with special needs. These 7 inspiring organizations and individuals are proof that once you put your mind to something, and are given a little bit of help, anything is possible!
1) Blake's Snow Shack - Blake Pyron from Sanger, Texas became the first business owner in the state of Texas with Down Syndrome. Inspired by the Texas heat, Blake decided to open a snow cone truck to help his community cool off!
2) GiGi's Playhouse - GiGi's Playhouse, founded in 2003 in Illinois, is a Down syndrome achievement center that offers educational and therapeutic programs at no charge to families with down syndrome. With over 30 locations nation-wide, GiGi's Playhouse provides life-changing training to over 30,000 people every day!
3) Prospector Theatre - The Prospector Theatre in Ridgefield, CT provides adults with disabilities opportunities for meaningful employment and vocational training through the operation of the movie theater. It provides them with the opportunity to learn and grow as professionals, all while being a part of their community.
4) National Down Syndrome Society - Joey Agostino of Norwalk, CT was born with Down Syndrome, but that didn't stop him from following his lifelong dream…of becoming a professional DJ! And after winning the Ethan Salyor Memorial Scholarship from the National Down Syndrome Society, he was finally able to make his life-long dream a reality!
5) Tim Tebow's Night To Shine - A Night to Shine is an unforgettable prom night experience for people with special needs ages 14 and older. The Night to Shine event was hosted by 375 churches from around the world... all on the same night with 75,000 guests and the support of 150,000 volunteers.
6) Inclusion Films - This vocational program is to provide special needs adults with entry-level working experience that they can take into the film industry or any career they want to follow. The program encourages independence, self-confidence, communication, and collaboration through acting and digital filmmaking. And this summer's Short Film Camp (Camp Kindness), Inclusion Films along with the students are creating a campaign around the importance of simple acts of kindness.
7) Rising Tide Car Wash - John D'Eri and his son, Tom, first opened Rising Tide in April of 2013 to provide their autistic son and brother Andrew a means of employment. Its mission is to employ adults with autism and provide them with the opportunity to build a career and achieve an independent lifestyle. To date, the car wash has hired over 90 associates with autism!
1) Blake's Snow Shack - Blake Pyron from Sanger, Texas became the first business owner in the state of Texas with Down Syndrome. Inspired by the Texas heat, Blake decided to open a snow cone truck to help his community cool off!
2) GiGi's Playhouse - GiGi's Playhouse, founded in 2003 in Illinois, is a Down syndrome achievement center that offers educational and therapeutic programs at no charge to families with down syndrome. With over 30 locations nation-wide, GiGi's Playhouse provides life-changing training to over 30,000 people every day!
3) Prospector Theatre - The Prospector Theatre in Ridgefield, CT provides adults with disabilities opportunities for meaningful employment and vocational training through the operation of the movie theater. It provides them with the opportunity to learn and grow as professionals, all while being a part of their community.
4) National Down Syndrome Society - Joey Agostino of Norwalk, CT was born with Down Syndrome, but that didn't stop him from following his lifelong dream…of becoming a professional DJ! And after winning the Ethan Salyor Memorial Scholarship from the National Down Syndrome Society, he was finally able to make his life-long dream a reality!
5) Tim Tebow's Night To Shine - A Night to Shine is an unforgettable prom night experience for people with special needs ages 14 and older. The Night to Shine event was hosted by 375 churches from around the world... all on the same night with 75,000 guests and the support of 150,000 volunteers.
6) Inclusion Films - This vocational program is to provide special needs adults with entry-level working experience that they can take into the film industry or any career they want to follow. The program encourages independence, self-confidence, communication, and collaboration through acting and digital filmmaking. And this summer's Short Film Camp (Camp Kindness), Inclusion Films along with the students are creating a campaign around the importance of simple acts of kindness.
7) Rising Tide Car Wash - John D'Eri and his son, Tom, first opened Rising Tide in April of 2013 to provide their autistic son and brother Andrew a means of employment. Its mission is to employ adults with autism and provide them with the opportunity to build a career and achieve an independent lifestyle. To date, the car wash has hired over 90 associates with autism!