Medicaid Waiver Florida

This site contains helpful information about Medicaid Waiver service in Florida and how to apply for these services.  There is a monthly newsletter on the site that you may sign up for to keep you up to date with Waiver news.  http://waiverprovider.com/  I have used MedWaiver services for my daughter, Linsey, for several years now.  It is an important resource for people with disabilities.

Local CIL in Winter Park, FL

The local Center for Independent Living in Winter Park, FL can help you find the answers to many questions that you may have.  http://www.cilorlando.org/  Happy holidays to all.

New Resources

This information comes to us thanks to the Orange County Office on Disability newsletter.  You can send an email to samme.ripley@ocfl.net and she will add you to the email list.  As part of their December newsletter the following resources were listed that I found to be very helpful:  Parenting Special Needs - free online magazine that provides information on guiding children/individuals with special needs.  www.parentingspecialneeds.org  Also, One Place for Special Needs - social community that allows the disability community to share resources and make connections in their own neighborhood.  www.oneplaceforspecialneeds.com  I hope this information helps each of you.  I wish everyone a happy holiday season.

Our goal and first resource

The core issue of this category is to develop a directory of information, programs, professional services and resources to help special needs families in their community.  It is my observation that there is a “disconnect” between families and the resources available to them.  With the help of individuals, parents, school workers, medical personnel and social workers, I believe that we can build a network that will close this gap.  What do we need?  We need the organization’s or individual’s name, website, and contact information, and maybe a quick abstract of what they do.  If you have personal knowledge of this person, organization or service, please tell us your story.  The information that you submit will be reviewed and added to our community resource section on our website, www.projectmindful.org. 

I will lead with the following:  New Hope for Kids, Inc., Fern Park, FL, www.newhopeforkids.org.  In 1985 the Children's Wish Program was founded as a not-for-profit charity to grant wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses who have not yet reached their 19th birthday nor had a wish granted previously. A life-threatening illness is defined by New Hope for Kids as any illness which will in all likelihood shorten the child's full life expectancy. Since its beginning, more than 1200 wishes have been granted. Also:  New Hope for Kids' Grief Support Program provides a safe and supportive environment where children grieving the death of a loved one can share their experience with others facing the same feelings of loss. Offering a unique opportunity for children to begin and continue their grief journey, New Hope for Kids strives to provide our families with hope, healing and renewal. We also extend support for the entire family through parent support groups, community awareness projects, information and referral services, as well as family events and summer camps throughout the year.

In the beginning

In November 1992 a child was born forever altering the lives of a young couple and their son.  That new baby, just days after being welcomed into the world, was diagnosed with a condition that would impact the lives of everyone around her. The very basics of raising a child, for this young couple, changed with the diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy for their second child, Linsey.  Many questions were raised with very few meaningful answers available.  In the next few years the parents would find a few individuals with special skills and knowledge that would make raising a child with a disability easier.  With time comes the entry into the local educational system, the need for specialty physicians, surgeries, transportation, family support services and many more services necessary to raise a special needs child.  Luckily, over the years, the parents were able to connect with some great local organizations that assist special needs families.  Most importantly, Linsey was blessed with a family that would sacrifice for her, and give her every opportunity to develop and succeed.  Throughout the amazing first 18 years of Linsey’s life she has maintained a true desire, and personal passion, to be treated as just another person.  However, from a parenting view, the responsibility of raising a child with special needs has been much more overwhelming than it should be.  This family experience is the true inspiration for Project Mindful.