FEAT OF LOUISVILLE INC
1100 E MARKET ST, LOUISVILLE, KY 40206 www.featoflouisville.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: FEAT OF LOUISVILLE IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION OF PARENTS AND PROFESSIONALS DEDICATED TO ENSURING THAT ALL INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL THROUGH ALL FORMS OF EFFECTIVE EARLY INTERVENTION.

THE ENDEAVOR PROGRAM, IN COLLABORATION WITH CARRIAGE HOUSE PRESCHOOL, IS PROVIDING A COST-EFFECTIVE, COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM FOR ALL YOUNG CHILDREN WITH AUTISM AND OTHER DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES IN THE KENTUCKIANA AREA. THE ENDEAVOR PROGRAM IS A YEAR ROUND THERAPEUTIC PRESCHOOL PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN AGES 2-6, WHO HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER AND OTHER DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS THERE CONTINUES TO BE A WAIT LIST BECAUSE THE PROGRAM REMAINS FULL WITH OVER 40 CHILDREN IN THE PROGRAM. THESE CHILDREN ARE LEARNING VITAL SKILLS THAT ARE OFFERING THEM OPPORTUNITIES TO MOVE INTO TYPICAL KINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS IN JCPS AND OTHER PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN OUR AREA

DREAMS IN MOTION SUMMER CAMP, IN COLLABORATION WITH DREAMS WITH WINGS, IS CRITICAL TO HELP TWEENS, TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS WITH AUTISM LEARN KEY BEHAVIORAL, SOCIAL, AND SELF-HELP SKILLS IN A SUPERVISED ENVIRONMENT THAT IS TYPICALLY NOT OFFERED DURING THEIR NORMAL SCHOOL YEAR PROGRAMS. THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDE MEANINGFUL WAYS FOR THE CHILDREN TO DEVELOP FRIENDSHIPS, IMPORTANT LIFE SKILLS AND OVERALL COMMUNITY LIVING SKILLS THAT POSITION THEM TO BE MORE ENGAGED IN TYPICAL ACTIVITIES GOING FORWARD. TYPICALLY, THE YOUTH ARE OUTSIDE AND BUILDING PHYSICAL ENDURANCE AND FITNESS THROUGH FUN ACTIVITIES BUT, DUE TO THE PANDEMIC THE CAMP WAS HELD VIRTUAL. NOT HAVING THIS TYPE OF PROGRAM WOULD DEFINITELY FORCE THESE CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS TO BECOME MORE ISOLATED AND EXCLUDED FROM THE COMMUNITY, WHICH WOULD BE A DISSERVICE TO THEM AND THE COMMUNITY IN GENERAL. THE CAMP SERVED ~ 50 YOUTH AND TEENS IN 2020 AS WE SEEK TO FIND WAYS TO EXPAND OUR LOCATION TO ALLOW FOR ADDITIONAL STUDENTS AND OFFER MORE PROGRAMMING DURING THE SUMMER.

EMPLOYMENT IS A CORE FEATURE OF LIVING A PRODUCTIVE AND FULFILLING ADULT LIFE. MOTIVATION, COMPETITIVE SKILLS AND HARD WORK CAN HELP ADULTS ACHIEVE THIS GOAL. WHILE THESE ATTRIBUTES MAY BE IN AN INDIVIDUAL'S CONTROL, THE DECISION OF THE EMPLOYER IS NOT. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM IS AROUND 85%. ADULTS WITH AUTISM HAVE BEEN AN UNTAPPED LABOR POOL DUE TO A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING, AWARENESS AND EDUCATION ON THE PART OF THE EMPLOYERS. THE LARGE PORTION OF THE AUTISM COMMUNITY HAVE THE SKILLS AND POTENTIAL TO SUCCEED IN THE JOB MARKET, AND THESE SKILLS CAN BE REVEALED, SHARPENED AND HONED WITH THE HELP OF A JOB COACH. THE JOB COACH AT BLUEGRASS CENTER FOR AUTISM HELPS STUDENTS WITH AUTISM TO LEARN, ACCOMMODATE, AND PERFORM POTENTIAL WORK DUTIES. ANOTHER COMPONENT OF THE JOB COACH IS TO ALSO HELP WITH INTERPERSONAL SKILLS THAT ARE NECESSARY IN THE WORKPLACE. THE JOB COACH IS ESPECIALLY HELPFUL FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY HAVE MORE SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES, BUT WITH THE RIGHT TRAINING THEY ARE ABLE TO HELP DISCOVER, STRENGTHEN, AND SUPPORT NECESSARY SKILLS AND THE NEEDS OF THAT PARTICULAR STUDENT. THE COACH IS IN ESSENCE AN EXTENSION OF "ON THE JOB TRAINING" AT TIMES, AND WITH CONTINUED WORK, CAN TRANSFER THE SKILLS AND WORK ETHIC TO THE INDIVIDUAL WITH AUTISM. THIS PROGRAM SUPPORTED ~17 STUDENTS DURING THE YEAR.

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