Coronavirus social distancing upended my autistic son's world. Here's how we're coping.

We want to hear from you! What types of resources or supports do you need now during this challenging time?

https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/coronavirus-social-distancing-upended-my-autistic-son-s-world-here-ncna1168451

We Want to Hear from You!

Dear community with special needs,

We want to hear from you!

We, at Unicorn Children’s Foundation, are working diligently to develop innovative and remote programs so that we can continue to support kids and young adults with special needs, as well as their families, to help them stay on their path to reaching their full potential.

Please let us know what types of supports, programs, or guidance would be helpful during this uncertain and unprecedented time.

Friday Survey

What are the Top 3 things you would like to see offered in a Community Center?

Early Voting

Via: Florida Developmental Disabilities Council

Early voting has started in many locations. Just as it is important to know that your vote counts, we need to know that you have the accessibility needed to make it count; therefore, we are collecting surveys to learn about the voting experiences of people with disabilities for the 2016 Election.

You can help us do that by completing a survey developed by Self Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE), Disability Rights Florida, and other Protection & Advocacy and self-advocacy organizations across the country.

http://accessthevote.org/share-florida-voting-experience/

Survey for Palm Beach County Providers of Special Needs Services and Supports

If you haven't yet done so, please complete our survey by September 30th.

http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/3002970/Palm-Beach-County-Special-Needs-Coaliton

Survey for Palm Beach County Providers

The Special Needs Advisory Coalition of Palm Beach County is currently in the process of transforming the system of care for persons with special needs/disability. As part of this process, a comprehensive and centralized web-based ‘virtual hub’ is being developed that will provide resources and links to community-based programs and services to create a more efficient and effective information and referral source throughout the County. Please take a few moments to tell us about your agency/organization so that we may include you as a vital resource.

NOTE: This is for Palm Beach County Providers of Special Needs Services and Supports ONLY

http://bit.ly/2c1wmdF

Survey for Palm Beach County Providers of Special Needs Services and Supports

The Special Needs Advisory Coalition of Palm Beach County is currently in the process of transforming the system of care for persons with special needs/disability.  As part of this process, a comprehensive and centralized web-based ‘virtual hub’ is being developed that will provide resources and links to community-based programs and services to create a more efficient and effective information and referral source throughout the County.  Please take a few moments to tell us about your agency/organization so that we may include you as a vital resource.

NOTE: This is for Palm Beach County Providers of Special Needs Services and Supports ONLY

http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/3002970/Palm-Beach-County-Special-Needs-Coaliton

Special Needs Advisory Coalition 1/13/16

We encourage you take 10 minutes to complete the Special Needs Advisory Coalition Satisfaction by January 10, 2016.  Your feedback can remain anonymous and it will help us to refine the process during phase 2 as well as demonstrate to our funding partners how valuable this project is to the community.  You may access this survey by clicking on the link below.

The results of this survey will be presented to prospective funders so we need to hear from as many of you as possible.
http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/2503833/Special-Needs-Advisory-Coalition-Member-Satisfaction-Survey

Our next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, January 13, 2016 from 12-2pm at Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County.  All rsvp’s should be sent to Dr. Ann Faraone at ann@eunicorn.org by Tuesday, January 12th.

We will be providing lunch so your RSVP is MANDATORY.

As we begin the process of developing the final report materials and prepare to create a virtual hub, we would like to use photos of residents and service providers in Palm Beach County.  If you have photos of friends, children, clients, or your activities that you wish to be included, please forward high-resolution images to our Communications Coordinator, Amy Mann, at amy@eunicorn.org.

Looking forward to seeing you next week!

Last Day

Today is the last day to tell us about your experiences as a parent or caregiver of a child with special needs or disability. Your information is completely confidential and anonymous. We are sharing your voices as part of this independent study so we can create a better community for you to live in and ensure that your needs are being met.

http://sgiz.mobi/s3/Parents-Caregivers-Survey

Today is the last day to tell us about your experiences living in Palm Beach County with a special need or disability. Your information is completely confidential and anonymous. We are sharing your voices as part of this independent study so we can create a better community for you to live in and ensure that your needs are being met.

http://sgiz.mobi/s3/Individuals-with-Special-Needs-Survey

1 Day Left

There is 1 day left to tell us about your experiences as a parent or caregiver of a child with special needs or disability. Your information is completely confidential and anonymous. We are sharing your voices as part of this independent study so we can create a better community for you to live in and ensure that your needs are being met.

http://sgiz.mobi/s3/Parents-Caregivers-Survey

There is 1 day left to tell us about your experiences living in Palm Beach County with a special need or disability. Your information is completely confidential and anonymous. We are sharing your voices as part of this independent study so we can create a better community for you to live in and ensure that your needs are being met.

http://sgiz.mobi/s3/Individuals-with-Special-Needs-Survey

2 Days Left

There are 2 days left to tell us about your experiences as a parent or caregiver of a child with special needs or disability. Your information is completely confidential and anonymous. We are sharing your voices as part of this independent study so we can create a better community for you to live in and ensure that your needs are being met.

http://sgiz.mobi/s3/Parents-Caregivers-Survey

There are 2 days left to tell us about your experiences living in Palm Beach County with a special need or disability. Your information is completely confidential and anonymous. We are sharing your voices as part of this independent study so we can create a better community for you to live in and ensure that your needs are being met.

http://sgiz.mobi/s3/Individuals-with-Special-Needs-Survey

3 Days Left

There are 3 days left to tell us about your experiences as a parent or caregiver of a child with special needs or disability. Your information is completely confidential and anonymous. We are sharing your voices as part of this independent study so we can create a better community for you to live in and ensure that your needs are being met.

http://sgiz.mobi/s3/Parents-Caregivers-Survey

There are 3 days left to tell us about your experiences living in Palm Beach County with a special need or disability. Your information is completely confidential and anonymous. We are sharing your voices as part of this independent study so we can create a better community for you to live in and ensure that your needs are being met.

http://sgiz.mobi/s3/Individuals-with-Special-Needs-Survey

4 Days Left

There are 4 days left to tell us about your experiences as a parent or caregiver of a child with special needs or disability. Your information is completely confidential and anonymous. We are sharing your voices as part of this independent study so we can create a better community for you to live in and ensure that your needs are being met.

http://sgiz.mobi/s3/Parents-Caregivers-Survey

There are 4 days left to tell us about your experiences living in Palm Beach County with a special need or disability. Your information is completely confidential and anonymous. We are sharing your voices as part of this independent study so we can create a better community for you to live in and ensure that your needs are being met.

http://sgiz.mobi/s3/Individuals-with-Special-Needs-Survey

Parents - Tell Palm Beach County Your Experiences by June 30th

Don’t be silenced! If you are a parent of a child with special needs or disability and live in Palm Beach County, please complete this survey to ensure that your needs are being met.

June 30 is the deadline to tell Palm Beach County about your experiences:
http://sgiz.mobi/s3/Parents-Caregivers-Survey

Here is what some other parents had to say.

“I feel like I'm on my own when it comes to ensuring my child succeeds in school.”

“It has always been difficult to find information on services no matter what age. Now that my daughter is an adult information is basically nonexistent. Although we have tried to make plans for her after we are gone it is frightening to think about how she will manage on her own. If we have trouble getting information how will she manage?”

“When I die is there some place he can live safely?”

Share Your Experience Until June 30

How do individuals with special needs or disabilities feel about living in Palm Beach County? We are sharing their voices. If you have been diagnosed with a special need or disability and live in Palm Beach County, please complete this survey to ensure that your needs are being met.

June 30 is the deadline to tell us about your experiences:
http://sgiz.mobi/s3/Individuals-with-Special-Needs-Survey

“I need to be able to move forward in my dreams (even the disabled have them).”

"When you live with an invisible disability, the world expects you not to be disabled. Because I have lived through it, I know what life is like without money, without a home, without a car, without safety, and without hope. Repeatedly, I could have withered away as a statistic."

“I want a job that makes me feel important and not like an idiot. I want a place I can call my own. I need dependable transportation.”

Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace!

June 30 is the deadline to tell Palm Beach County about your experiences as a parent or caregiver of a child with special needs or disability. The County is listening and we want to ensure that your needs are being met.

http://sgiz.mobi/s3/Parents-Caregivers-Survey

Here is what some other parents had to say:

“We strongly feel that many years were wasted being new parents and very unsure of how to (a) process that our son has autism and (b) navigate the system. Palm Beach County needs a system where families are brought in from day 1 and truly guided throughout the process not just given list of contacts.”

“We need a center with job skills training, social skills training, daily life skills training, community based employment instructions, training and support to integrate into the community, work readiness, and life enrichment  such as decision making, self-improvement, task completion, and community involvement.”

“My family's income falls where we make too much for Medicaid, but we still can't afford to pay for all of the services our daughter needs.”

“When I die is there some place he can live safely?”

Don’t Be Silenced.

June 30 is the deadline to tell us about your experiences living in Palm Beach County with a special need or disability. We are sharing their voices so we can create a better community for all to live in and ensure that your needs are being met.

http://sgiz.mobi/s3/Individuals-with-Special-Needs-Survey

“I had a difficult time answering the question about whether I am happy. Of course I am happy, and yet, how happy can one be with so much going on that triggers stress and feelings of powerlessness?”

“I am not happy with the mentality or non diversified population of the community in which I live.”

“I would like any job offers in a restaurant”

“I need more opportunities to socialize”

How do individuals with special needs or disabilities feel about living in Palm Beach County?

We are sharing their voices. If you have been diagnosed with a special need or disability and live in Palm Beach County, please complete this survey to ensure that your needs are being met.

http://sgiz.mobi/s3/Individuals-with-Special-Needs-Survey

“I need to be able to move forward in my dreams (even the disabled have them).”

"When you live with an invisible disability, the world expects you not to be disabled. Because I have lived through it, I know what life is like without money, without a home, without a car, without safety, and without hope. Repeatedly, I could have withered away as a statistic."

“I want a job that makes me feel important and not like an idiot. I want a place I can call my own. I need dependable transportation.”

Don’t be Silenced!

If you are a parent of a child with special needs or disability and live in Palm Beach County, please complete this survey to ensure that your needs are being met.

http://sgiz.mobi/s3/Parents-Caregivers-Survey

Here is what some other parents had to say.

“I feel like I'm on my own when it comes to ensuring my child succeeds in school.”

“It has always been difficult to find information on services no matter what age. Now that my daughter is an adult information is basically nonexistent. Although we have tried to make plans for her after we are gone it is frightening to think about how she will manage on her own. If we have trouble getting information how will she manage?”

“When I die is there some place he can live safely?”

We need to hear your voice!

If you live in Palm Beach County and are the parent or caregiver of children or adults with special needs, mental health issues or disabilities, we want to hear from you.

http://sgiz.mobi/s3/Parents-Caregivers-Survey

Help us create a model community where individuals with special needs and disability will be appropriately assisted and supported in least restrictive ways to maximize their full potential.