The organization of special needs families is a non-governmental organization that was founded in 2001 with the aim of giving extracurricular activities and a supportive community for children with special needs. Its offices are in the California State of the U.S.A. The organization offers programs such as the afterschool enrichment program, Saturday enrichment program and social group, summer day camp, and recreational opportunities. These programs involve activities such as music therapy, homework help, occupational therapy, hiking, swimming and community outing.
The organization was founded by a couple who felt the need of providing families and individuals with special needs a full and active life. The goals of the organization are to support community integration so as to enable people with different types of disabilities to lead a normal and fruitful life. This is made possible through advocating for a stable and healthy environment which is all inclusive. The organization depends on funds from well wishers and organized donors.
People with special need demand full attention from those taking care of them as well as total dedication. Due to these requirements the person giving care to these people need special training to acquire relevant skills such as taking vital signs, giving medications and performing dressing changes when required ( Sen 19). Depending on the disabilities, the caregivers learn how to use sign language and Braille. It is also important for the caregivers to exercise virtues such as patience, resilience, kindness, dependability, good organizational skills, listening skills as well as the ability to communicate well.
The USA government uses organizations such as the organization of special needs families for transforming lives and communities by mobilizing public and private resources to locate and grow community solutions. Therefore, these organizations enable the government to be a catalyst for impact. The US government does this by making such NGOs tax exempt through United States International revenue code26 .These organizations receive contributions from individuals corporation as well as unions.
However, some of the politicians in the US use the charitable organizations such as the special needs organization by increasing the organizations audit around political activities. According to US laws charities are allowed to use up to 10 % of their resources for political activities. It is however clearly stated that this resources should never be for partisan activities. In that context, such an organization can oppose a government policy but it cannot support a particular candidate. Backing a specific candidate can lead to a shutdown of the institution and subsequently suing by any member of the public.
In line with the vision of the organization of special needs families, the US government advocates for a national public policy which ensures empowerment, integration and inclusion of children and adults with disabilities in all parts of society. States such as California have taken community integration to mean opportunities for participation in schools, careers, homes and relationships enabling the normalization for people with special needs. The involvement of the political systems and charitable organizations in the need for integration has attained participation of people with disabilities in regular environment.
The California political system has established agencies, institutions and programs that look after the welfare of people with special needs. The state constitution establishes mandatory funding levels for agencies and institutions that provide support for the disabled in the society. The state is, therefore, mandated to make budgetary allocations that cover institutions such as the organization for special needs families. However, at a certain point when the state cut the expenditure to such organizations and projects, the affected institutions with support from special interest groups pressed the California Supreme Court to order the reinstatement of funding to these institutions and programs.
The special needs organization has worked with the children through adulthood allowing them to receive the extra help they need to thrive and become fit members of society. They assist in advocacy, education and advice. They even support parents of such children with both emotional and financial support where needed. In addition, they help these parents in shaping and influencing public policies that affect their families by promoting active participation of the parents (Rogers 74). The organization of special needs families works to build strength and break isolation among the people with special needs and at the end contributes in creating a culture of total inclusion, idea generation and massive success. Among the key focus is supporting youths with disability into leadership positions through putting up workshops and conferences to encourage them to seek leadership opportunities at both local and national levels. The high levels of unemployment make it difficult for people with special needs to get formal jobs ( Hunt 56). Organizations for special need assist the disabled to get an education the need and later help them in finding place in work force and even assist them to start their lives.
The organization of Special Needs Families makes the society view disability as a useful life experience that affects all the society rather than a chronic problem for the individual to overcome. Although it may be the most tenuous form of association, such an organization can lead to worth-while gains that give children the opportunity of familiarizing themselves with others. By so doing, it ensures inclusion of the people with special needs into the society.
References
Hunt, H A. New Technologies and the Employment of Disabled Persons. Geneva, 2004. Print
Rogers, Linda J, and Beth B. Swander. Semiotics and Dis/ability: interrogating categories of Difference. Albany: State
Sen, Amina. Psycho-social integration of the handicapped: a challenge to the society. Delhi, India: Mittal Publications, 2005. Print.
