Attendance at this year’s 2019 Autism Expo & Art Exhibit resulted in connections for AIM with other amazing agencies that are impacting the lives of those with Autism and those of diverse abilities.

After all the years of service we have provided to our local communities, we are still making connections and learning about incredible opportunities for the population we support.

We are so happy to share information on these agencies with you!  Below is a list of 5 new connections for AIM, that may be new to you, and their important impact upon our community.

1. ACCES-VR

Although not truly new to us in knowledge of their great work, AIM Services just received a new grant through ACCES-VR that has allowed us to begin offering pre-employment skill building for individuals starting at the age of 14. This unique opportunity enables youth to be prepared for what is to come after they leave school. The mission of ACCES-VR is to assist individuals with disabilities to achieve and maintain employment and to support independent living through training, education, rehabilitation, and career development. To learn about AIM’s ACCES-VR program, Click Here.

2. CREATE Community Studios

AIM believes in and supports the power of arts in the lives of those we support. We are especially excited to have discovered a new community art studio that will benefit individuals with diverse abilities. CREATE, located in Saratoga Springs and Schenectady, offers expressive art therapy classes, workshops, wellness activities, and open studios to promote art making and the creative process as a vehicle for personal growth, communication, and social change. It is the belief of CREATE that the beneficial experience of art-making should be affordable and accessible to everyone. Our goal is to use expressive arts as an equalizer across cultural and economic barriers, and for participants to learn how to use art as an expressive medium to increase their general wellbeing. To learn more about CREATE, Click Here.

3. The Fast Break Fund

AIM Services has several of its own Recreation Programs for children and young adults. We understand the power and benefits of these group programs and are always happy to learn of new recreation opportunities. The Fast Break Fund, located in Ballston Spa, offers year-round recreation sports programs for underprivileged children, and children of diverse abilities, at no cost. The Fast Break Fund believes that with exposure and participation in sports, young men and women are provided opportunities to build self-esteem and confidence, to gain valuable life-long skills…these life skills are beneficial for children to learn fundamentals and lead a healthy, productive lifestyle. Recreational Programs offered at Fast Break include baseball, basketball, golf, yoga, and bowling. To learn more about The Fast Break Fund, Click Here.

4. The Parent Network of the Capital Region (PNCR)

We always love promoting networks for families and opportunities for advocacy. The PNCR, located in Latham, NY, has a mission to provide parents with the knowledge, skills, and resources to facilitate productive relationships with their school districts ensuring an appropriate education for their child. This network offers incredible resources, trainings, links, and a newsletter to promote the needs of parents with children with diverse abilities. To learn more about PNCR, Click Here.

5. Yogibo

AIM is always on a mission to fill our Recreation Programs, Day Habilitation Programs, and Residential Settings with comfortable and assistive furniture and accessories that directly benefit the individuals we support. Yogibo is a unique company producing bean bags that provide incredible comfort. Even more, their bean bag products provide sensory comfort to those on the Autism Spectrum. These bean bags are known to provide exceptional proprioceptive sensory input, promoting body awareness and helping to organize the brain for focus and attention. They are especially effective when used for snuggling, pushing, pulling, crashing, or jumping into to provide deep pressure input. Yogibos also serve as an excellent compression tool, conforming to your body and providing calming, uniform pressure. Yogibo can be found online by visiting their site here, or by visiting their store located in the Crossgates Mall in Albany.

 

AIM Services is grateful for this year’s opportunity to participate in the Autism Expo & Art Exhibit. Our new connections will endure and the impact upon the families and support workers who were in an attendance are lasting. Thank you Saratoga Bridges, Skidmore College Psychology Department, Upstate NY Autism Alliance, and The Law Offices of Wilcenski & Pleat, LLC for another wonderful and important event.

Get Involved! Click Here.