Category Archives: Special Needs

Palooza Activity Center, Inc.

Palooza Activity Center  P.O.Box 302 Spring House, PA 19477 Contact:  Jackie Mullock, Program Director, 267.644.6372, jmullock.palooza@gmail.com Palooza Activity Center, Inc. is a community-based, not-for-profit organization serving adults with disabilities.  Our mission is to create an environment in which these exceptional adults have the opportunity to form and foster friendships, build community connections, share their talents, and develop skills that will enrich and support their adulthood.  Our focus has been on creating and maintaining programs in the arts, literacy, life skills, and recreation. We have a great need from our younger volunteers, ages 12+ to help stock our library, art room & kitchen! […]

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Gia Nicole Angel Foundation

Gia Nicole Angel Foundation 146 Golden Drive, Dresher, PA  19025 Contact: Amy Corson-Nadell, President artcarte@aol.com, 215 429-9996 The Gia Nicole Angel Foundation is a non-profit organization which provides assistance to low income families with a special needs’ child.  The foundation was inspired by a young lady named Gia who was born with Spina Bifida and is now 21 years old.  Gia was given a 3% chance of survival at birth and fought her way to life, becoming an “angel” of sorts.  Our annual bowling benefit is our primary means of raising funds for our grant recipients.  This event enables us to assist many families by purchasing […]

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Woods Services

Woods Services Rts. 413 & 213 Langhorne, PA 19047 Contact: Debra Marker, dmarker@woods.org 215 750-4214 Woods Services supports children and adults with disabilities or challenges to achieve their highest potential and independence through innovative and individualized approaches that promote learning and personal fulfillment. The Volunteer Program at Woods Services for community service and mitzvah projects aims to provide a mutually beneficial experience for both the client and the volunteer. In other words, the purpose is to create an experience that is worthwhile and advantageous to all parties involved. Volunteers are essential to Woods Services. Those who spend time with our clients […]

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Special Olympics Montgomery County

Special Olympics Montgomery County 980 Harvest Drive Suite 203, Blue Bell, PA 19422 Contact: Scott Otterbein, Volunteer Coordinator 215-542-1140 specialolympicsmontco@verizon.net Special Olympics is an international organization dedicated to providing individuals with intellectual disabilities, or other significant developmental disability, with an opportunity to train and compete in Olympic-style sports. Through training and competition, athletes improve their physical fitness and general health. The athletes gain the discipline, the inter-personal and social skills, and the self-confidence to become contributing, participating members of our community. https://www.specialolympicspa.org/coach/general-orientation Volunteer Opportunity: The teen volunteers, fulfilling a mitzvah or community service project, who make the program possible have the […]

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Friendship Circle Philadelphia Region South

Friendship Circle Philadelphia Region South 754 South 9th Street, Philadelphia, PA Contact: Jared Pashko, Outreach Coordinator info@phillyfriendship.com (215) 574-1765 The Philly Friendship Circle connects teens and young adults to youth with special needs and their families through a full range of social offerings. Inspired by the power of genuine friendships, our youth cultivate understanding, kindness and responsibility while ensuring a caring and inclusive community. Mitzvah project or community service project volunteer opportunity: The Mitzvah Volunteer Program (MVP) is a 6 week program developed for 6th and 7th graders. Through activities, games, and multimedia presentations, MVP participants will learn appropriate conduct when volunteering, […]

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Friendship Circle Philadelphia Region North

Friendship Circle Philadelphia Region North 25 N. State St. Newtown, PA Contact: Mrs. Miriam Shemtov, Executive Director friends@fcpa.info 215 497-1003 The Friendship Circle South reaches out and extends a helping hand to families who have children with special needs and involves them in a full range of social experiences. The Circles’ unique formula introduces teenage volunteers to the children and through shared experiences both are enriched. Volunteers become friends to a child with special needs, thereby, giving them the opportunity to have what every child needs- friends, role models and love. Simply put, The Friendship Circle lets children and teens […]

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Autism Speaks

Autism Speaks 216 Haddon Ave., Suite 403, Westmont, NJ 08108 Christina Carter, Director, Greater Delaware Valley Chapter, Autism Speaks 856 858-5400 Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autism are both general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development. These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors. They include autistic disorder, Rett syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) and Asperger syndrome. ASD can be associated with intellectual disability, difficulties in motor coordination and attention and physical health issues such as sleep and gastrointestinal disturbances. […]

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Music for Autism

Music for Autism 401 Park Avenue S., 10th Floor New York, NY 10016 Contact: Laura Lazar 646 964-6487, laura@musicforautism.org. Music for Autism is enhancing quality of life and raising public awareness through autism-friendly, interactive concerts developed specifically for individuals with autism and their families. The concerts, held in the United States and the United Kingdom, feature professional musicians, including Tony Award winners, Grammy-nominated classical artists, and Pulitzer Prize winners. To ensure equal access for all, every Music for Autism concert is fully subsidized. Families note that the concerts help fill a major psychosocial void, enabling them to enjoy enriching activities […]

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Keren Or

Keren Or 350 7th Ave., Suite 701 New York, New York 10001 (Center is located in Jerusalem) Contact: Elizabeth David Dembrowsky info@keren-or.org, 212 279-4070 Keren Or (Hebrew for ray of light) is the only center of its kind in the world under Jewish auspices devoted exclusively to the care and rehabilitation of children with visual impairment who are also physically and/or mentally disabled. Keren Or’s state-of-the-art facilities, dedicated staff, and individualized therapy programs allow each of their students to reach his or her maximum potential. There are several ways to make a difference in the lives of blind children with multiple […]

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American DanceWheels Foundation

American DanceWheels Foundation PO Box 88 Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004 Contact: Melinda Kremer, Executive Director info@americandancewheels.org  215-588-6671 American DanceWheels Foundation (ADF) makes a significant contribution to the lives of individuals using wheelchairs for mobility and their able-bodied partners by providing social and therapeutic dance instruction in Wheelchair Ballroom and Latin Dancing. ADF gives participants a more social perspective than other wheelchair dance programs, because it allows students to dance with a spouse, family member, friend, or significant other employing traditional dance elements such as connection, lead, and follow. ADF’s written curriculum allows people to dance at social events, like weddings […]

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