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Special Needs Advisory Board reports programs, seeks partnerships for expanded activities
Summary
The Special Needs Advisory Board summarized recent and planned programs including a sensory-friendly movie, painting event, ongoing classes and a special-needs registry run with police. The board seeks cooperation from parks, recreation and local partners to expand sports programs and accessibility features at parks.
At the Feb. 4 meeting the Special Needs Advisory Board reported a series of recent activities and upcoming programs: an annual Valentine-themed painting event with a 30-person cap; a sensory-friendly movie screening earlier in the year at the Miami Lakes Theater on Main Street; an annual fall picnic; ongoing cooking classes at JiJi’s Playhouse; two weekly dance classes and a martial-arts program the board wants to expand. The board said it is planning an April resource fair with Arts for Autism and is working with the police on a special-needs safety registry to flag households with vulnerable residents.
Board members said the local theater has been difficult to coordinate with because of slow responsiveness and payment logistics. The board also described an animation program offered with Miami-Dade County for adults over 21 and asked for assistance from parks and recreation to pilot a sports program and a sensory-friendly park feature.
Officer Amador (Sheriff's Office liaison) and the police department were credited for operating the safety registry; the board encouraged residents with family members who have autism, dementia or other conditions to register so first responders have relevant information in the event of a call.
The board requested stronger lines of communication with venue partners, more parks and recreation collaboration for inclusive programming, and continued town support for resource fairs, classes and awareness events.
