What We Do
Connect the community to resources
Advocate for inclusive opportunities
Respect differences
Empower individuals
Support success
Our Mission:
The Unicorn Children's Foundation is dedicated to building communities of acceptance, support and opportunity for individuals and families challenged by special needs and neurodiversity.
Vision:
We envision a world, where all people, regardless of their neurological differences, can be fully engaged members of society who are given the opportunity to:
Key Initiatives:
2017-2018 Programmatic Initiatives:
Area of Emphasis:
Children and young adults with neurodiversity, such as ADHD, Autism, Bipolar, Dyslexia, and general Learning Disorders; Special Needs Educators; Pediatricians; Providers of Multi-disciplinary therapy.
What are Neurodevelopmental Disorders?
Neurodiverse disorders range from Dyslexia, Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), Asperger’s, and other learning disabilities to the more severe Pervasive Developmental Disorder and Autism. Children with neurodiverse disorders are impacted by challenges that affect their ability to communicate effectively, develop and sustain relationships, tolerate their surroundings, navigate their social world, and/or succeed in academics.
Neurodiversity refers to the idea that people experience the world differently, based on their neurological attributes. The neurodiversity movement recognizes neurological differences as equally valid, unique, and socially beneficial neurological experiences of the world that should be celebrated. Rather than taking the perspective that these individuals are broken or impaired, we direct our focus to developing each individual’s strengths and interests into competitive advantages.
While there are many theories and no definitive answers, tremendous progress has been made in developing evidence-based strategies that can help children and young adults overcome these challenges. These best-practice strategies should address specific challenges rather than specific diagnostic labels. We hope to provide parents, professionals, and policy makers with tools that allow these individuals to reach their maximum potential and become fully engaged members of the communities in which they live.
How Are We Helping?
The Unicorn Children’s Foundation is working toward a future where every child in the world with a neurodiverse disorder will have access to early identification and effective treatment so that they can lead productive and fulfilled lives. We raise funds to support education, awareness, and research that will improve the quality of life for our most vulnerable members.
Federal EIN:
57-1168205
Connect the community to resources
Advocate for inclusive opportunities
Respect differences
Empower individuals
Support success
Our Mission:
The Unicorn Children's Foundation is dedicated to building communities of acceptance, support and opportunity for individuals and families challenged by special needs and neurodiversity.
Vision:
We envision a world, where all people, regardless of their neurological differences, can be fully engaged members of society who are given the opportunity to:
- Obtain and sustain employment
- Pursue continued academic endeavors
- Access quality healthcare
- Enjoy social/recreational activities
- Access housing in communities of their own choosing
Key Initiatives:
- Promoting early identification of symptoms associated with developmental, communication, and learning disorders;
- Developing and disseminating worldwide ground-breaking and extensive evaluation and treatment guidelines;
- Developing innovative and effective therapeutic and educational programs;
- Fostering communication and collaboration between parents, professionals and policy makers to promote learning and increased awareness;
- Providing adequate tools and resources to better meet the needs of our beneficiaries.
2017-2018 Programmatic Initiatives:
- Special Needs Advisory Coalition - regular convening of representatives from the public and private sector who have an interest in special needs services and supports to encourage cooperation, collaboration and coordination of efforts to create a comprehensive continuum of care.
- Creating Compassionate Children Campaign™ - Distribution of a character development curriculum designed to help students create a culture of understanding, acceptance, inclusion, and respect by encouraging meaningful change in preschool and elementary school classrooms. In doing so, we can foster caring peer support and eliminate bullying.
- Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) Autism Parent Coaching Scholarship - Managing a scholarship fund to help parents implement the teaching of crucial developmental skills in everyday routines of a child with autism.
- Unicorn Village Academy Scholarship Fund - Managing a scholarship fund to help students develop a passionate interest in an area where they can find success upon completion of high school at the Unicorn Village Academy, a community based life-skills, academic, and career academy for neurodiverse youth.
- Project SEARCH - an international evidence-based pre-employment training model that is a unique, business led, one year school-to-work program that takes place entirely at the workplace.
- Incubator of not-for-profit special needs programs - Establishing a collaborative fund that will be supported by like-minded funders to provide financial and administrative assistance to innovative and emerging programs that address the gaps identified through community needs assessments and conversations.
Area of Emphasis:
Children and young adults with neurodiversity, such as ADHD, Autism, Bipolar, Dyslexia, and general Learning Disorders; Special Needs Educators; Pediatricians; Providers of Multi-disciplinary therapy.
What are Neurodevelopmental Disorders?
Neurodiverse disorders range from Dyslexia, Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), Asperger’s, and other learning disabilities to the more severe Pervasive Developmental Disorder and Autism. Children with neurodiverse disorders are impacted by challenges that affect their ability to communicate effectively, develop and sustain relationships, tolerate their surroundings, navigate their social world, and/or succeed in academics.
Neurodiversity refers to the idea that people experience the world differently, based on their neurological attributes. The neurodiversity movement recognizes neurological differences as equally valid, unique, and socially beneficial neurological experiences of the world that should be celebrated. Rather than taking the perspective that these individuals are broken or impaired, we direct our focus to developing each individual’s strengths and interests into competitive advantages.
While there are many theories and no definitive answers, tremendous progress has been made in developing evidence-based strategies that can help children and young adults overcome these challenges. These best-practice strategies should address specific challenges rather than specific diagnostic labels. We hope to provide parents, professionals, and policy makers with tools that allow these individuals to reach their maximum potential and become fully engaged members of the communities in which they live.
How Are We Helping?
The Unicorn Children’s Foundation is working toward a future where every child in the world with a neurodiverse disorder will have access to early identification and effective treatment so that they can lead productive and fulfilled lives. We raise funds to support education, awareness, and research that will improve the quality of life for our most vulnerable members.
- We provide parents and professionals with the most up-to-date and effective strategies for identification, evaluation,
and treatment through the development of comprehensive national guidelines and UCF’s informational website and
newsletters. - We support parents with information, advice, and referrals to qualified health professionals.
- We support and shape the educational curricula of our future teachers, ensuring these children are educated by highly qualified teachers.
- We fund groundbreaking research programs to identify effective treatments.
- We helped establish the Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental and Learning Disorders to bring together professionals and health care providers from different disciplines so treatment can grow beyond isolated pockets of theory and practice and become a truly effective, integrated approach.
- We sponsor educational programs designed to help professionals and parents address the challenges that these individuals face.
- We teach parents the skills needed to navigate the complex world of special education and multidisciplinary interventions so that they are able to advocate for the needs of their child.
- We work diligently to increase awareness of these devastating disorders and their early warning signs so their children can receive assistance as early as possible.
- We have created a high school for individuals with neurodiversity that can be replicated in communities around the world. Using a strength and interest based curriculum, we will help these individuals develop life-long social, career and academic skills.
Federal EIN:
57-1168205
