Golden Isles Special Needs Resources
Every parent hopes to provide the best opportunities, resources, and care for their unique child. Whether you are new to the area or recently began seeking professional support services, finding the provider that best suits your child's needs can be daunting. Rest assured that many Golden Isles special needs providers are dedicated to supporting, educating, empowering, and advocating for children and their families with mental illness, emotional disturbances, behavioral differences, and beyond.
Golden Isles Counseling and Learning Services
The Glynn County School System has several special education programs and support services.
- Play Therapy - Play Therapy uses the therapeutic powers of play to help clients prevent or resolve psychosocial difficulties and achieve optimal growth and development. Through the language of play, children can improve interpersonal relationships and repair family relationships.
- School Challenges - Does your child struggle with poor focus and behavioral challenges in the classroom? They can help identify underlying causes for difficulties and specific needs for success that are crucial to creating effective 504 plans and IEPs when necessary.
- Behavioral Therapy/ Parenting Education - If you’re struggling with problem behavior and frequent emotional outbursts, they can help you bring cooperation and peace back into your home. Children learn and practice prosocial behaviors to meet their needs and express emotions more effectively. Simultaneously, parents are taught to effectively use several skills and techniques for improving their children's behavior.
- Their mission is to work with their community partners to create meaningful opportunities and progress for children with autism and their families.
- They offer Early Intensive Behavior Intervention (EIBI) programs serving clients with profound language and communication delays.
- Their Brunswick Parent Group meets on the first Tuesday of each month.
- Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) Belinda Montelbano began her career in Applied Behavior Analysis in 2011. However, her ties to the autism community came several years earlier when her son was diagnosed. Her passion for this field and the families we serve is compelling. She believes strongly in a community approach to treatment and strives to make meaningful progress in the lives of children on the autism spectrum.
- Dr. Larry Daugherty and Mrs. Laura Johnson are a father/daughter team and co-owners of Light of HOPE. Laura’s daughter was diagnosed with ASD in 2017. As an educator, Laura’s primary concern was finding resources to help her daughter. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy was unavailable in the community, so they traveled 90 miles twice a week to receive services and experienced amazing results. Laura and Larry decided to open their own ABA clinic in the Golden Isles to serve children in the local community. Light of HOPE opened its doors in May of 2020 and continues to serve the WHOLE child by offering more than just one therapy in isolation.
- They aim to work closely with parents and the community to provide high-quality therapy and education while empowering and training our staff to be the best therapists.
- Morningstar Children and Family Services, Inc. was founded in 1996 to provide residential and community counseling services to children, youth, and their families. These programs provide quality therapeutic services to children and youth who have multiple diagnoses, often including intellectual disabilities.
- Morningstar serves children and adolescents up to the age of 21.
Extracurricular
- Soar was established as a 501(c)(3) in 2015 to strengthen the quality of life for individuals with developmental disabilities in Glynn and McIntosh Counties.
- Programs include an Adult Enrichment Club, a Special Sports Support Program, and an Adult Health and Wellness Program.
- Click here to view their brochure.
- The Penguin Project is a musical theater production that casts children and young adults with disabilities in all roles. All participants sing, dance, and act in the show. Those individuals (Artists) will get assistance from on-stage peers (Mentors).
- The Penguin Project is open to anyone aged ten and up with a disability. Participants must be no older than 20 to start the program. This includes (but is not limited to) Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism, intellectual disabilities, learning disabilities, visual impairment, hearing impairment, and neurological disorders.
Sensory-Friendly
Carries a selection of toys for children with special needs like ADHD, autism, or sensory processing disorders. They will provide a private, sensory-friendly shopping experience with dimmed lights and minimal background noise. Contact them to schedule.
The Southeast Georgia Health System (SGHS) holds sensory-friendly Santa visits every year. The free sensory-friendly Santa event was designed for children who may not be comfortable in environments with bright lights, loud noises, and long lines. Click here to view SGHS events.
For additional Golden Isles educational resources, click here. For a list of parent resources available in the Golden Isles, click here.
