The Family Center Announces Special Needs Resource Fair
Featuring 30+ Vendors on February 28
Grosse Pointe, MI – The Family Center of Grosse Pointe & Harper Woods, a nonprofit organization that provides resources and education to empower families to successfully navigate life’s social, emotional and physical challenges, will host a Special Needs Resource Fair in partnership with the War Memorial on February 28, 2023, from 4-8 p.m.
The event is The Family Center’s first comprehensive resource fair showcasing opportunities and support for neuro-diverse children and their families. It will take place in the newly opened Alger Center at the War Memorial, 32 Lake Shore Drive, Grosse Pointe Farms.
More than 30 vendors will offer a wide variety of educational, recreational and occupational resources along with mental health, legal and government services. The fair is geared toward parents and caregivers looking for supportive opportunities for their neuro-diverse children ages birth to 26. Attendees will be able to gather general information, ask questions, and interact with vendors and other parents. A quiet recovery space will be available.
Admission and vendor participation are free.
In addition to the War Memorial, fair partners include “The Arc, Full Circle, Grosse Pointe Public School System Transition Services, Kids On The Go and Lumen Pediatric Therapy, who work tirelessly every day to provide support and opportunities for children with special needs and their families,” said Jennifer Bingaman, Family Center executive director.
The Full Circle Foundation understands that it truly does take a village to support special needs individuals and their families at every stage of life, said Stephanie DiVirgil, program coordinator for the foundation. The resource fair will offer convenient learning about local resources for benefits and guidance, she said.
Kimberly King, special education transition services coordinator for the Grosse Pointe schools, said: “We are so very excited to be able to offer this opportunity to the families in our community. Getting plugged into resources early on is the best way to support your child. For students with special needs, the transition to adulthood can be overwhelming. Finding the right support network to navigate continuing education and other options that help them grow into a more independent young adult life is key, and this fair is a great step in the process.”
“We are so excited to be a part of the community coming together to support and provide these resources for our families,” added Kristy Schena, director and founder of Kids On The Go, a nonprofit that provides special needs children 3-17 with physical, occupational, speech and recreational therapies year-round.
For more information visit https://www.familycenterweb.org/ or contact Jennifer Bingaman at jennifer.bingaman@familycenterweb.org.