Programs
Aid Another provides inclusion programs that exclusively considers special needs families. Aid Another provides inclusive educational, cultural and recreational programs that are designed to improve quality of life, reduce isolation and enhance social settings. Aid Another is committed to building a network of support, advocacy and inclusion within our community that exclusively focuses on solving the challenges of special needs families. All donations support the following programs.
Creative Arts
Aid Another is committed to bringing the joy and benefits of dance and music to students with disabilities. The special needs dance program and special needs music class are designed for individuals with mental, physical and/or developmental impairments. The goal of these programs is to enrich the lives of children through the exploration of music, movement and dance concepts in a safe, supportive and structured environment. Children are encouraged to find their artistic expression and love of the arts. Each class allows children to increase pragmatic skills, spatial awareness, gross motor skills, patience, teamwork and cooperation. Children also learn choreography, increase creativity and build socialization among students and teachers. Aid Another has partnered with Baila Fuzion Dance & Creative Arts Center to offer dance classes that allow for an intimate learning experience. Dance and music classes will begin in the Fall 2023.
The purpose of Family Paint Night is to offer activities that the whole family of special needs children can enjoy. Aid Another has partnered with Baila Fuzion Dance & Creative Arts Center who has offered their venue to host Family Paint Night at a substantial reduction in costs. Family Paint Night will be place where special needs families can enjoy a social gathering to engage in a fun, enlightening and positive atmosphere of painting, socialization and dining. This event allows for exploration and encouragement of painting that will help tune fine motor skills and social interaction.
Baila Fuzion has designated a space for Aid Another to create a sensory room that is specially designed to create a safe space, facilitate therapeutic alliance, and provide opportunities for engagement in prevention and crisis de-escalation strategies. This space allows children to experience a pleasurable, calming, organizing and exploratory experience. The sensory room will contain multi-sensory equipment which is vital and effective for children and adults with sensory disorders. The sensory room has a controllable light source, good proprioceptive input (equipment that allows individuals to be “squished” or “hugged” to provide deep pressure input to their body such as blankets, big floor pillows, bean bag chairs and of course, bear hugs!), tactile input activities such as playdoh, funny foam, textured balls, textured books/puzzles, coloring of textured materials, finger-paints, etc., auditory equipment to allow sounds of white noise and/or classical music, and sensory toys that provides visual or tactile input such as spinning toys, light-up toys and stretchy or squishy toys.
Aid Another is committed to bringing the joy and benefits of dance and music to students with disabilities. The special needs dance program and special needs music class are designed for individuals with mental, physical and/or developmental impairments. The goal of these programs is to enrich the lives of children through the exploration of music, movement and dance concepts in a safe, supportive and structured environment. Children are encouraged to find their artistic expression and love of the arts. Each class allows children to increase pragmatic skills, spatial awareness, gross motor skills, patience, teamwork and cooperation. Children also learn choreography, increase creativity and build socialization among students and teachers. Aid Another has partnered with Baila Fuzion Dance & Creative Arts Center to offer dance classes that allow for an intimate learning experience. Dance and music classes will begin in the Fall 2023.
The purpose of Family Paint Night is to offer activities that the whole family of special needs children can enjoy. Aid Another has partnered with Baila Fuzion Dance & Creative Arts Center who has offered their venue to host Family Paint Night at a substantial reduction in costs. Family Paint Night will be place where special needs families can enjoy a social gathering to engage in a fun, enlightening and positive atmosphere of painting, socialization and dining. This event allows for exploration and encouragement of painting that will help tune fine motor skills and social interaction.
Baila Fuzion has designated a space for Aid Another to create a sensory room that is specially designed to create a safe space, facilitate therapeutic alliance, and provide opportunities for engagement in prevention and crisis de-escalation strategies. This space allows children to experience a pleasurable, calming, organizing and exploratory experience. The sensory room will contain multi-sensory equipment which is vital and effective for children and adults with sensory disorders. The sensory room has a controllable light source, good proprioceptive input (equipment that allows individuals to be “squished” or “hugged” to provide deep pressure input to their body such as blankets, big floor pillows, bean bag chairs and of course, bear hugs!), tactile input activities such as playdoh, funny foam, textured balls, textured books/puzzles, coloring of textured materials, finger-paints, etc., auditory equipment to allow sounds of white noise and/or classical music, and sensory toys that provides visual or tactile input such as spinning toys, light-up toys and stretchy or squishy toys.
Recreational Activities
Aid Another has partnered with Great Neck Little League in Virginia Beach, Virginia to create a special needs T-ball league, the Champions. This division provides the opportunity for children with special needs to pursue their dreams of participating in team sports. The goal is to provide an environment that enhances the player’s self-esteem, physical mobility and embodies the spirit of teamwork and community. Champions is open to all players between the ages of 4 and 23 years old, or who remain in a school setting, and has special needs that would prevent them from playing in a traditional baseball or softball program. The Champions’ division also offers opportunities to volunteer as a junior buddy (“buddies”), aged 7 to 14, to assist our Champions in learning the fundamentals of baseball. Buddies in turn learn the core principles of integrity, acceptance and understanding of children with special needs. The Champions participate in the Spring and Fall seasons.
Aid Another has partnered with Great Neck Little League in Virginia Beach, Virginia to create a special needs T-ball league, the Champions. This division provides the opportunity for children with special needs to pursue their dreams of participating in team sports. The goal is to provide an environment that enhances the player’s self-esteem, physical mobility and embodies the spirit of teamwork and community. Champions is open to all players between the ages of 4 and 23 years old, or who remain in a school setting, and has special needs that would prevent them from playing in a traditional baseball or softball program. The Champions’ division also offers opportunities to volunteer as a junior buddy (“buddies”), aged 7 to 14, to assist our Champions in learning the fundamentals of baseball. Buddies in turn learn the core principles of integrity, acceptance and understanding of children with special needs. The Champions participate in the Spring and Fall seasons.
Resource Development Center
Aid Another is committed to advocate for empowerment of families affected by disabilities to understand their legal rights, to navigate government and social service agencies and to develop a long-term life plan. Aid Another will meet with special needs families to develop an Individualized Family Service Plan (“IFSP”) to assist in providing services, resource information, coordination of referrals, provide emotional, physical and financial support and to create a “Life Care Plan” (“LCP”). A LCP includes creating a will, medical directive, power of attorney, a special needs trust, securing government benefits (Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security and/or Medicare Waiver), letter of intent, legal and estate planning and designation of a guardian, conservator and/or trustee. This program is designed to ensure a secure future for an adult child with special needs and to provide his or her family with peace of mind.
Aid Another will host and conduct various educational opportunities for the community and special needs families to be educated regarding various social, legal and supportive issues. Training sessions will incorporate a number of medical facilitators to provide information regarding developmental delays, social interaction and behavioral components. Aid Another will also host seminars and lectures regarding the multitude of issues special needs families endure such as applying for government benefits, health and well-being, legal proceedings, financial securement and assistance in attending public schools.
Aid Another is dedicated to offering opportunities for families to come together and discuss their feelings, concerns and problems. The process of sharing with other parents who understand their situation makes a difference. Aid Another is committed to providing mutual aid and emotional support for families who are in similar predicaments. By participating in support groups, families will become aware that their unique challenges are not so unique and solutions may become evident. Group meetings can expose information about medical treatment/strategies, public policy, legal issues, protections from discrimination and financial assistance.
Aid Another is committed to advocate for empowerment of families affected by disabilities to understand their legal rights, to navigate government and social service agencies and to develop a long-term life plan. Aid Another will meet with special needs families to develop an Individualized Family Service Plan (“IFSP”) to assist in providing services, resource information, coordination of referrals, provide emotional, physical and financial support and to create a “Life Care Plan” (“LCP”). A LCP includes creating a will, medical directive, power of attorney, a special needs trust, securing government benefits (Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security and/or Medicare Waiver), letter of intent, legal and estate planning and designation of a guardian, conservator and/or trustee. This program is designed to ensure a secure future for an adult child with special needs and to provide his or her family with peace of mind.
Aid Another will host and conduct various educational opportunities for the community and special needs families to be educated regarding various social, legal and supportive issues. Training sessions will incorporate a number of medical facilitators to provide information regarding developmental delays, social interaction and behavioral components. Aid Another will also host seminars and lectures regarding the multitude of issues special needs families endure such as applying for government benefits, health and well-being, legal proceedings, financial securement and assistance in attending public schools.
Aid Another is dedicated to offering opportunities for families to come together and discuss their feelings, concerns and problems. The process of sharing with other parents who understand their situation makes a difference. Aid Another is committed to providing mutual aid and emotional support for families who are in similar predicaments. By participating in support groups, families will become aware that their unique challenges are not so unique and solutions may become evident. Group meetings can expose information about medical treatment/strategies, public policy, legal issues, protections from discrimination and financial assistance.
Family Portraits
Aid Another understands the difficulty of taking family portraits and has partnered with various photographers who have made the necessary accommodations to allow families to schedule a photo session that fosters to the needs of the family. Families are able to take family photos without the stress of time constraints and unpredictability.
Aid Another understands the difficulty of taking family portraits and has partnered with various photographers who have made the necessary accommodations to allow families to schedule a photo session that fosters to the needs of the family. Families are able to take family photos without the stress of time constraints and unpredictability.
Vocational and Lifestyle Development Program
In 2021, Aid Another will partner with ACE Distribution Center to located in Virginia Beach, VA. It is a shared goal that ACE Distribution Center supports Aid Another’s vocational and lifestyle development program that focuses on solving challenges by implementing accommodations that encourage special needs individuals to engage in everyday work activities, improve quality of life by providing gainful employment and training, reduce isolation by encouraging social interaction with fellow employees and enhance social settings by offering a safe and supportive work environment. Aid Another understands the complexity and multitude of individuals with disabilities. Every special needs individual will receive personalized and individualized training that focuses on their specific abilities and consider any disabilities that present as a challenge in working an a specialized environment. The job placement/training programs will consist of an Individualized Training Plan which will be established to create a sufficient and productive training program that addresses the specific needs and abilities of each individual to ensure adequate training practices, aVocational Education and Training Plan whichestablishes individual educational and training programs are vital elements in creating a successful opportunity for the advancement of job placement, and a Life Skills Training Plan which understands that every individual’s ability to adapt to “societal norms” will differ for each individual. While it is important to ensure an employee’s ability to work, it is also imperative to provide an individual with lifestyle skills that will exceed the workplace and be invaluable for everyday living.
In 2021, Aid Another will partner with ACE Distribution Center to located in Virginia Beach, VA. It is a shared goal that ACE Distribution Center supports Aid Another’s vocational and lifestyle development program that focuses on solving challenges by implementing accommodations that encourage special needs individuals to engage in everyday work activities, improve quality of life by providing gainful employment and training, reduce isolation by encouraging social interaction with fellow employees and enhance social settings by offering a safe and supportive work environment. Aid Another understands the complexity and multitude of individuals with disabilities. Every special needs individual will receive personalized and individualized training that focuses on their specific abilities and consider any disabilities that present as a challenge in working an a specialized environment. The job placement/training programs will consist of an Individualized Training Plan which will be established to create a sufficient and productive training program that addresses the specific needs and abilities of each individual to ensure adequate training practices, aVocational Education and Training Plan whichestablishes individual educational and training programs are vital elements in creating a successful opportunity for the advancement of job placement, and a Life Skills Training Plan which understands that every individual’s ability to adapt to “societal norms” will differ for each individual. While it is important to ensure an employee’s ability to work, it is also imperative to provide an individual with lifestyle skills that will exceed the workplace and be invaluable for everyday living.
Previous Programs
Aid Another hosted bi-monthly Inclusion Sunday Brunch at OSB where families can came together and enjoyed a meal in a loving environment that took into consideration the difficulties of dining with special needs children. Aid Another invited members of the community to attend. This opportunity allowed the community and special needs families to come together to experience the joy of special needs children. The hope is for “typically” developed children to learn that children who are “different” are just as fun, loving and friendly as they are and differences do not matter.
WE ARE LOOKING FOR A NEW PARTNER! Interested in hosting a Sunday brunch for Aid Another,if so, please email Christine Ross at christineross@aidanother.com.
Aid Another hosted bi-monthly Inclusion Sunday Brunch at OSB where families can came together and enjoyed a meal in a loving environment that took into consideration the difficulties of dining with special needs children. Aid Another invited members of the community to attend. This opportunity allowed the community and special needs families to come together to experience the joy of special needs children. The hope is for “typically” developed children to learn that children who are “different” are just as fun, loving and friendly as they are and differences do not matter.
WE ARE LOOKING FOR A NEW PARTNER! Interested in hosting a Sunday brunch for Aid Another,if so, please email Christine Ross at christineross@aidanother.com.