Exceptional Families Network's primary goal is to help our community better understand special needs so that our children can be accepted as the diverse people they are. Promoting tolerance is only a starting point. It's really about understanding and normalizing differences, so that families who have exceptional children (those with special needs, especially those with invisible disabilities) feel less stress and more inclusion.
To further this goal, we offer consulting and speaking services to anyone interested in learning how to better teach, serve, or work with exceptional children and their families. Speaking and consulting services are open to any group of interested people including, schools, companies, agencies, churches, organizations, and groups. Each speaking or consulting engagement is personalized to meet your specific needs.
Why do I need consulting or speaking services for my organization?
Many people simply have no idea how hard it can be for people with disabilities to leave the safety of their home and venture out to do simple activities in the community. Families who have children with special needs can experience intense anxiety, worry, and stress. It easily becomes worse when those families are subjected to scorn, ridicule, intolerance, and other sorts of negativity surrounding their child or their child's behavior. Families wantand need to participate in their communities! You can help create a better environment for this to happen!
Why choose us?
Our consulting and speaking team members are very knowledgeable about disability. They themselves have a disability, have children who are disabled, or work in a field supporting people with disabilities. In the past, our team has spoken at universities, healthcare facilities, non-profit organizations, government groups, and more including the Children's Museum of Tacoma, Pacific Lutheran University, Kids at Play Therapy, PAVE, Tacoma/Pierce County Health Department, and the University of Puget Sound.
What do we offer?
In addition to custom presentations created specifically for your organization we offer ready to go presentations including:
Invisible Differences
Intended for elementary and middle school students, ideally in a classroom setting
Basic information about autism, including common traits/behaviors
An understanding of invisible differences with analogies and discussion of examples
Hands-on activities to better understand what it's like to have an invisible difference like autism
Tips on how to be a good friend and be more tolerant of someone with an invisible difference
Includes a handout
STAIRS to Success
Intended for employees/volunteers that work with the public
Basic information about autism and other invisible disabilities
Tips on how to work with and better serve special needs populations
Includes a handout
What does it cost?
We offer complimentary speaking and consulting services to organizations that meet the criteria. Otherwise, pricing varies based on your needs. Please fill out our inquiry form to get more information!
