Community Resources
All information included in this website is for informational purposes and should not be considered as legal advice or a direct recommendation of Hall County Schools. None of the programs, organizations, or services listed are endorsed or sponsored by Hall County unless specifically run by Hall County.
Looking for a Social Skills Group?
Pre-literacy, Language and Communication for 3 year olds - Kindergarten (Wednesdays 10 - 11:15)
Social Connections and Communication for 1st - 5th grade (Wednesdays 12 - 1:30 or Wednesdays 3:45 - 5)
Social Connections and Communication for 5th - 8th grade (Wednesdays 12 - 1:30 or Wednesdays 5 - 6)
Cards, Coffee, and Conversation @ Alpharetta Social Pavillion (for October) Rising 9th - adult (Tuesdays 6-7:15)
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GMT20201124-181940_SRC-GVRA-P_1686x768.mp4IMPORTANT UPDATES REGARDING VOCATIONAL REHAB SERVICES - PLEASE VIEW!
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS REGARDING YOUR CHILD"S ELIGIBILITY - PLEASE CONTACT THEIR VOCATIONAL REHAB SERVICE COORDINATOR.
Vocational
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AVITA Community Partners - a resource for individuals and families in northeast Georgia experiencing the disabling effects of mental illness, developmental disabilities, and addictive diseases.
Aim to Be3 - Located in downtown Gainesville, this organization partners with individuals ages 14 - adulthood with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. " We encourage them to Be Empowered, Be Engaged and Be Exceptional in their lives, community, work and faith." This organization provides vocational training, support networks, community activities and opportunities for spiritual growth.
Creative Enterprises - Employment opportunities along with social and life skills training to individuals with disabilities. This is accomplished through on and off-site work training, job placement assistance, educational programs and community involvement events; along with a variety of additional resources.
Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency - operates 5 integrated and interdependent statutory programs that share the goal of helping people with disabilities become fully productive members of society through independence and meaningful employment.
LEAP - an innovative program designed for individuals who want to strengthen their overall life skills in order to achieve independence. Participants benefit from job readiness training, life skill development, and extensive social skill instruction. The goal of this program is to produce independent young adults by helping them improve their job-related, social/emotional, and communications skills.
PRISM - vocational training day program and in-home training and support
Randy and Friends - community job development and coaching to help our associates with special needs both internally within our Enterprise companies and in the community with several local businesses in Hall, Dawson, Forsyth, and Fulton counties.
Travel
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Beaches Resorts - The all-inclusive resorts, located in Turks and Caicos and Jamaica, provide autism-friendly kids’ camps with specially trained staff. All of the resort restaurants cater to special dietary needs, as well.
Disney's Disability Access Services - Disney, the happiest place on Earth, has developed their Disability Access Services to accommodate those families traveling with individuals with disabilities. With call back times for rides to shorten the amount of time spent in the cue line, to letting you know where sensory break stations are throughout the park, their program is easy to use and effective.
Dollywood Accessibility Guide - A center with hosts dedicated to supporting guests with special needs. You will be logged into the system so that if there's an emergency information can be communicated quickly and easily. Additionally, you will be given a Boarding Pass tailored specifically for your riders with disabilities to include rides you will be able to participate in. Lastly, a Calming Room has been created for the purpose of helping Guests with special needs who may have a sensory overload while visiting Dollywood.
Franklyn D. Resort and Spa - The Jamaica resort offers up to 50 percent off rates year-round for families traveling with children with special needs. Plus, the resort provides every family with a personal, professionally trained vacation nanny. Parents will feel safe knowing the resort has trained staff to help their family have an even better time in Jamaica.
Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines - Royal Caribbean became the first autism-friendly cruise line in 2014. The cruise line provides sensory-related toys, autism-friendly movies and modified kids’ programs for those with disabilities. The crew on the ships are required to be certified and trained in autism awareness, and some staff have had hands-on training that allows them to assist those with special needs even further.
TSA Cares - a helpline that provides travelers with disabilities, medical conditions and other special circumstances additional assistance during the security screening process.
Tradewinds Island Resort - Staff at this resort are CARD certified (Center for Autism and Related Disabilities). The staff are prepared to assist families with special needs. They offer safety kits (corner cushions, door alarms, outlet covers, etc), have a social book that you can download from their site ahead of time to help your child know what to expect during their stay, and the KONK (Kids Only No Kidding) Club offers sensory features and dietary accommodations.
Residential
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Annandale Village - residential program for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities
Just People - a private not for profit agency that provides a wide variety of support services to adults who are considered "high-functioning" with developmental disabilities (Downs, Autism, Asperger's, MMR, and Learning Disabilities), people with Mental Illnesses, and Head Injury.
Our Neighbor - 2 independent living homes within the City of Gainesville
Recreational Opportunities
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Support Groups
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General Special Needs Parent Support
ADHD
Autism
Blind/Visually Impaired
Lighthouse Guild - Parents of Children with Visual Impairments
Cerebral Palsy
United Cerebral Palsy of Georgia
Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Hearing Loss Association of America
American Society for Deaf Children
Down Syndrome
Atlanta Down Syndrome Association
Gigi's Playhouse - Down Syndrome Achievement Center
Mental/Behavioral Health
Georgia Dept. of Behavioral Health
Muscular Dystrophy
Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy
Spina Bifida
Spina Bifida Association of GA and TN
Traumatic Brain Injury
Clothing/Safety Equipment/Medical Equipment/ Mobility
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ACE Healthcare - provides NO COST home care to medically fragile children under 21 years of age.
Big Red Safety Box - a program of the National Autism Association (free of charge safety toolkit for autism families in need of wandering-prevention tools
Georgia Care Planning Council - provides a list of medical equipment and disability aids by city.
IAccess.Life Adaptive Clothing - Adaptive clothing is apparel that is specifically designed to make dressing easier for individuals with special needs including physical disabilities, spinal cord injuries, and learning disabilities.
If I Need Help ID and Registry - provides special needs safety products and a system to help reunite you with your loved ones in the event that they wander or have issues communicating in a critical situation.
Jordyn's Summer Shirt Project - Jordyn has autism. The shirt project was created with the purpose of teaching her job skills. She rolls every shirt, adds a wristband and signs a thank you card.
Medical Alerts (Lauren's Hope) - medical alert bracelets and jewelry
Numotion - provides mobility products and services for adults and children.
Omni Healthcare Services - offers the opportunity of in-home nursing care and personal care to medically fragile children. State-of-Georgia provider of professional, skilled nursing care to children in the comfort and safety of home.
Sunshine on a Ranney Day - a nonprofit organization that renovates homes for children with special needs using top of the line construction and design. Through partnerships and donors they provide no cost wheelchair accessible bathrooms, dream bedrooms ad in-home therapy rooms.
Your Choice Caregivers - a private home care agency that specializes in the Georgia Pediatrics Program (GAPP), designed for individuals under 21 years of age with special needs.
Community Agencies and Services
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Autumn's Gift Respite Care - fun, customized, inclusive, guilt-free respite care experiences and day programs.
Creative Community Services - Offers a variety of programs and services for adults with developmental disabilities, foster youth, teen parents, and more.
Great Prospects, Inc - offers community-based programing for young adults who have graduated or transitioned from high school and are interested in maintaining current skills and learning more about skills needed for adult life.
Hi-Hope Service Center - provides community access, residential and employment services to adults with developmental disabilities.
The Bridge of Georgia: Center for Ability Development - offers a K-12 program, therapeutic services, summer camp programming, special needs salon, and adult programming.
Your Respite: Special Needs Childcare - provides respite for parents of special needs children tailored to the family's particular needs. Hourly daytime care, hourly evening care, overnight care, multi-day care.
