Michelle's Action Angels Community Outreach is happy to highlight many great resources available to individuals with special needs and their families. We are always looking for new resources that benefit the community. If you are interested in partnering with MAACO or know of a great resource we can highlight, please don't hesitate to contact us at mgaafoundation@gmail.com.
4 Paws for Ability service dogs are the best fit for young children with autism and teens and adults who are very affected and will not be able to live independently.
Enjoying the outdoors should be for everyone, no matter their abilities or limitations. Adaptive Sportsmen works to make this possible. Their mission is “providing recreational opportunities for physically challenged people”. They arrange guided hunts, fishing trips and ATV rides for individuals with disabilities. They also serve as a resource for accessibility- listing piers, waterfowl blinds, and places to rent or buy accessible outdoor equipment.
ART THERAPY PROGRAM AT CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL OF WISCONSIN
Art Therapy uses the psychotherapeutic relationship between the art therapist, the patient, and the artistic process to improve cognitive and sensorimotor functions, foster self-esteem and self-awareness, cultivate emotional resilience, promote insight, and reduce and resolve conflicts and distress.
Autism Intervention Milwaukee, also known as AIM, is a company that helps diagnose and treat children with autism. AIM mainly works with children from birth to five and provides services in the Milwaukee and Waukesha areas.
AUTISM SERVICE DOGS OF AMERICA
ASDA was founded in 2002 by Priscilla Taylor. Incorporating her love of dogs and her background in special education, she formed this non-profit, community-based organization to aid children with special needs.
Founded in 1979, the Autism Society of Wisconsin works to improve the lives of those affected by autism in many ways. On their website, you can connect to the local affiliate in your area and find great resources like support groups, upcoming events, and a local resource guide.
Camp Createability in McFarland, WI is a Video and Entertainment program for individuals 8-25 with autism or other disabilities. While really fun, the programs were created to increase employment skills and the workshops and camp all end in making a mini film, with film credits for everyone involved.
This is a great website that can be used many different ways depending on your needs at any given time whether you are in need of a caregiver in your area to looking for advice on a particular subject to sharing your own story with others.
CENTER FOR AUTISM AND RELATED DISORDERS, LLC (CARD)
The Center for Autism and Related Disorders, LLC (CARD) is the world’s largest provider of top-quality, evidence-based autism treatment, effectively treating individuals of all ages who are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Cerebral Palsy Guidance was created to provide answers and assistance to parents of children with cerebral palsy. Our goal is to reach as many members of the cerebral palsy community as possible, building up a network of support, as well as providing necessary assistance.
Education about cerebral palsy, connections with other families of children with cerebral palsy, and financial planning can go a long way in helping your family manage cerebral palsy.
CHILDREN & YOUTH WITH SPECIAL HEALTH CARE NEEDS
Located at the family resource center in Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, this is a great place to start for resources on where you can seek out help. The website has a calendar of events for support groups and information sessions plus a resource directory by county, great suggestions for reading materials, medical insurance options and programs, respite information, special education information, and more.
CREATIVE COMMUNITY LIVING SERVICES, LLC
CCLS provides services and supports for individuals with disabilities, traumatic brain injury, mental health and seniors with aging concerns in more than 20 counties throughout Wisconsin.
CREATIVE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
CEO is a private nonprofit company whose mission includes assisting individuals with disabilities in being able to have fulfilling employment opportunities in the community.
Curative Care is a resource serving Milwaukee and surrounding counties that is dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities or limiting conditions thrive. Purposeful, goal-oriented activities are provided to children, adults, and seniors to help create independence and improve functionality and quality of life.
This non-profit was created to provide recreational fishing opportunities for all anglers with disabilities regardless of their age, race, gender, or disability.
This organization provides individuals with special needs of all ages the support, friendship, and inclusions that they deserve. Together, these individuals, with a team of community volunteers, engage in a variety of shared social, recreational and therapeutic experiences.
THE GARDETTO FAMILY COMMUNITY DENTAL CLINIC
This unique dental clinic specifically serves children and adults with moderate to severe cognitive or physical disabilities that prevent them from being treated in standard private practice or community clinics.
IndependenceFirst offers over 20 programs and services to people with disabilities of all kinds, in all age groups and provides programs on disability awareness, employment tips and access to the general community.
This fantastic company sells unique, one-of-a-kind instruments, hand-crafted by unique, one-of-a-kind individuals. Guitar-building is about precise adjustments, something many individuals with autism excel at.
Unlocking Potential: Innovative Library Programs Enhancing the Lives of Autistic Individuals.
Lifestriders is a non-profit organization located in Waukesha, WI, that provides physical and mental healing through equine-assisted therapy for children and adults with special needs.
Mattress Nerd is a company dedicated to helping our consumers make the best lifestyle and purchasing choices for their sleep health. Mattress Nerd provides educational resources, how-to guides, product reviews, and discounts on sleep-health products.
MILWAUKEE CENTER FOR INDEPENDENCE
Since 1938, the MCFI mission is to assist individuals and families with special needs to better live and work in the community. They accomplish this by offering a variety of programs and services for all ages from infancy through older adulthood.
The goal of Music for Autism is to expose those with autism and their families to high quality, professionally performed music in an environment where individual differences are celebrated. All U.S. concerts are free for those with autism and their families. No concert near you? Have fun with their online Musical Zoo!
This website gives you lists and maps to different State Parks with special accessible cabins and hundreds of miles of accessible trails throughout Wisconsin.
Parentgiving is a wonderful resource for caregivers and has great tips on caring for seniors with autism. Thank you to Anna and Noelle at Learning Haven for reaching out!
This website is designed to be a starting place for parents and is run by families, for families. There are compiled lists of resources, free training, educational materials, and support groups. It is run by families for families.
We are pleased to be developing a partnership with PreventEducate.org to assist with providing much-needed training for first responders.
Pure Vision Arts is New York’s first specialized art studio and exhibition space for people with developmental disabilities. PVA is staffed by trained professionals with backgrounds in art education, fine arts, and art therapy who provide mentoring and support to the artists who attend the studio.
Reel Movies for Real Needs is hosted at certain locations one Saturday each month. Movies in this program are shown with the sound level moderated and lights left on low. Pricing is the same as a matinee movie and the selections change each month. Visit their website to see a list of locations and movies.
The Sensory Club has an open-gym concept that features various therapeutic swings, a jumping island, a rainbow acrobat, monkey bars, rock climbing wall, cargo nets, crash pads, heavy cubes, a self-cleaning sanitary ball pit, and more.
SEWASP provides adaptive alpine skiing and snowboard lessons for people with disabilities in southeastern Wisconsin and surrounding areas. Instruction is generally provided at Alpine Valley Ski Resort near East Troy, Wisconsin on Thursday evenings from January through mid-March.
Society’s Assets is a non-profit organization with offices located in Racine, Kenosha, and Elkhorn, providing a full range of services to help individuals live independently in the community. Assistance can range from a telephone consultation about your transportation needs to staff completing simple, weekly household tasks or daily personal care, and more.
SPECIAL NEEDS RESOURCE PROJECT
The Special Needs Resource Project was created by Linda Jorgensen. Linda’s unique experiences with the military and as a Licensed Practical Nurse gave her inside knowledge of many state, government, and medical programs. She started a website where other parents and individuals could go and find links to resources that would get them started, whether on legal issues and insurance or educational programs and advocacy groups.
The Special Olympics of Wisconsin (SOWI) has 7 regions which host competitions in 18 Olympic style sports for adults and children with intellectual disabilities. The organization includes over 10,000 athletes and is the largest sports program in Wisconsin for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
ST. ANN CENTER FOR INTERGENERATIONAL CARE
St. Ann Center for Intergenerational Care has two Milwaukee campuses that offer day services to people of all ages and abilities, plus a host of services open to the community. Among them is an Aquatic Center with a warm-water, wheelchair-accessible pool at the Stein Campus, 2801 E. Morgan Ave.
ST. COLETTA DAY SCHOOL OF MILWAUKEE
Since 1956, St. Coletta Day School has been providing quality educational programming for children with intellectual disabilities.
VARIETY - THE CHILDREN'S CHARITY OF WISCONSIN
Variety serves physically disabled children age 21 and younger. Their mission is “Providing life-enriching assistance to Wisconsin children challenged by physical disabilities.” They have six specialized programs to meet specific needs.
Wings for Autism and Wings for All is an airport “rehearsal” specially designed for individuals with autism spectrum disorders and people with other intellectual/ developmental disabilities, their families and aviation professionals.
Often siblings of individuals with disabilities feel isolated and can get lost in the family’s journey with the individual with a disability. Some of the programs that they offer are sibshops, summer programs, future plannings, social events and much more. Their website offers many resources and opportunities for siblings to connect with each other.
A modern social networking + content app for families raising children with special needs. It helps millions of families make meaningful connections, find resources, schedule playdates, get advice from childhood development specialists, and shop for imaginative products that will support their child's unique needs.
WISCONSIN CAMPS
Easter Seals Camp Wawbeek, 1450 Highway 13, Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965
WisconsinElks/Easter Seals Respite Camp, 1550 Waubeek Road, Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965
Wisconsin Badger Camp, P.O. Box 723, Platteville, WI 53818
HoneyRock, 8660 HoneyRock Road, Three Lakes, WI 54562
SERVICES
Bridge The Gap, Inc. provides: Daily Living Skills, Summer Camp, Preschool, Grants, Sensory Swim, Teen Programs, IEP Assistance, Social Skills Classes, Friendship Groups, Employment Support, Community Support. Our purpose is to decrease financially related stress, increase understanding and strengthen familial ties through education and raise public awareness of Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Buddy’s World and Friends was created with a child’s imagination in mind. We have created a world where characters live out ones imagination within a diverse product base. We have recently become a publisher of Children's Books through Ingram Content Group.
Family Voices of Wisconsin focuses its work on health care and community supports in three areas: education and information, including trainings, fact sheets and newsletters, Family Leadership activities, including our Advocacy for Change Institute and, public policy and systems change.
Good Friend, Inc.'s mission is to create autism awareness, teach acceptance of differences, and foster empathy among typically-developing peers.
Navigating Autism, Inc. was created in February of 2009 as a central place where the families of those recently diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders can come for unbiased information in easily-understandable terms about treatment options, school expectations, Wisconsin insurance mandates, funding opportunities for uncovered treatments, and more.
Adaptive Clothing & Accessories
Adaptive clothing & accessories for kids' special needs. Sizes 2-18.
The only Emergency Contact wristband fully customizable to communicate medical, special needs and allergy alerts.
K. Louia wrote: "Sooo excited right now!! My son's Alert Me Band came in the mail today!! It turned out wonderful & I love it! My son is fixing to turn 9 & isn't able to communicate his disabilities due to his Speech Delay, this definitely puts a Mother's mind at ease!! Thank you #alertmebands!"