​Special Needs Housing & Transportation Conversation (October 7, 2015)

Boca Raton, FL – October 7, 2015 – Unicorn Children’s Foundation, in partnership with Palm Beach County Youth Services Department and Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County, will be hosting a panel conversation on housing and transportation issues relevant to the special needs, disability and/or mental health community on Thursday, October 8, 2015 from 2:30-4:30pm at the Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County, 2300 High Ridge Road, Boynton Beach.  The following experts will discuss the landscape of needs and services and will be sharing their company’s role in providing housing and/or transportation options supports, or services to create a more inclusive and engaging community for residents of varying abilities:
Tomas Boiton, Founder & CEO, Citizens for Improved Transit
Commissioner Paulette Burdick, Palm Beach County Government
Genevieve Cousminer, Executive Director, Center for Independent Living Options
Gerry Driscoll, Southeast Region Manager, Agency for Persons with Disability
Louis Ferri, Operations Manager, Palm Tran/Connections
Cathy-Alice Koyanagi, Chair of Palm Tran Service Board
Michael Pecar, Real Estate Development Director, Neighborhood Renaissance
Elaine Rotenberg, Clinical Director, Alpert Jewish Family Services
Maria Rubin, Operation Analyst/Community Affairs, Agency for Persons with Disability
Carlos Serrano, Director of Operations & External Affairs, Department of Economic Sustainability
Clarinda Shabass, School District Transportation
Sheryl Soukup, Executive Director, Florida Residential Options of Florida
Claudia Tuck, Director, Palm Beach County Human Services
Since January 2015, over 190 participants representing more than 100 private, public and civic organizations, as well as parents and individuals challenged by special needs have come together monthly to discuss their experiences, concerns, ideas, and solutions.  These community conversations are part of a larger community needs assessment on special needs and disability that was commissioned by The Unicorn Children’s Foundation with funding support from Palm Beach County Government, Quantum Foundation, Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County, Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County, Ruth Rales Jewish Family Service, Autism After 21, Els for Autism, and the Autism Project of Palm Beach County.  A presentation to the larger community is planned for Tuesday, December 1, 2015 from 5-8pm at the Palm Beach County South County Civic Center where we will unveil the current landscape of supports and services, the gaps in available services and supports, barriers to accessing services, and a business model to create a more coordinated and comprehensive continuum of care, engagement, and inclusion for individuals with special needs and/or disability.
 
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Unicorn Children's Foundation is a non-profit organization providing education, awareness and funding opportunities to organizations for special needs children in an effort to help kids excel in the community.  For millions of special needs children with developmental, communication and learning challenges, finding a cure is like chasing a rainbow in that a cure remains elusive. The Unicorn Children’s Foundation is expanding the collective special needs community to help acknowledge, celebrate and integrate the special qualities possessed by neurodiverse children with Autism, ADHD, Bipolar, Asperger’s, Dyslexia and other learning disorders. ​