Programs
- Carriage House Preschool and the Endeavor Program
Carriage House Educational Services &Preschool is owned and operated by the Kentucky Center for Special Children's Services, Inc. The preschool provides quality services to preschool children through a variety of program options, with a staff committed to providing developmentally appropriate services to all enrolled children.
In 2003, Carriage House collaborated with FEAT (Families for Effective Autism Treatment) of Louisville to extend the traditional preschool program to provide a specialized, intensive program for children with autism and other developmental disabilities. The Endeavor Program is geared toward serving the unique educational needs of these children. Today, Carriage House Educational Services &Preschool continues to provide quality services to individuals, families, organizations and educational facilities through our trained and experienced staff.
13101 Eastpoint Park Blvd.
Louisville, KY 40223
Director: Mary Horvath (502) 253-1293
Office Manager: Ann Phillips (502) 253-1293 - Dreams In Motion Teen Summer Camp
This full-time, Monday through Friday, summer day camp for individuals with autism ages 12 to 21, was started by a group of working mothers, many of them founding FEAT members, who had no other summer care options for their teens. The site and community-based camp offers life-skill activities as well as enjoyable summer outings.
Camp Director: Jackie Shircliff (502) 238-4820 - Music Therapy
Certified Music Therapist, Patricia Guobis, offers individual and group music therapy consisting of activities such as playing small hand held instruments, dancing, singing and turn taking. Children are grouped by age and ability. Weekday, weeknight, weekend sessions are available. Classes are held in the St. Matthews area.
Patricia Guobis: (502) 456-2682 - Respite
Many children with autism qualify for the Home and Community Based (HCB) Waiver Program. This waiver is based on the child's disability, not the family's income. Within the HCB program is the respite benefit. Respite provides a much needed break for caregivers of those with autism. Depending on how you use your benefit, you can have up to 80 hours of respite every 6 months through a certified provider of HCB services. Two agencies that offer pediatric respite services are CareTenders and ResCare.
Relief (Respite) Workers are needed for many families with children with autism in the Metro Louisville area. Respite workers offer parents the chance to run errands, spend quality time with each other or just get a break. The hours are very flexible since you work with each family on as needed basis. This is service that's greatly needed in the community and offers many students a great learning experience in helping children and families affected by autism. There are two avenues to offer your services as a respite worker. One is to become an employee of an agency that offers respite such as ResCare or CareTenders. The other is to offer your services privately. The pay for the agencies ranges from $9-$12/hr while the private pay is negotiable. If you are interested in learning more or would like to get in touch with families who need this service, please contact: FEAT of Louisville (Families For Effective Autism Treatment).
Jodie Steele
Board of Directors
(502) 541-1801
E-Mail us for more info. - Sibling Support
Sibshop Sibling Support Groups and Workshops are a multi-agency collaborative effort. Sibshops are opportunities for brothers and sisters of children with special health and developmental needs to obtain peer support and education within a recreational context. They reflect an agency's commitment to the well-being of the family member most likely to have the longest-lasting relationship with the person with special needs. The Sibshop model intersperses information and discussion activities with new games (designed to be unique, off-beat, and appealing to a wide ability range), cooking activities, and special guests. The cost for events is low and financial scholarships are available.
Abby Ramser: (502) 584-1239
Amanda Westmoreland: (502) 303-4409
E-Mail us for more info.
Sports and Recreational Programs
- Locker Soccer
Locker Soccer is an indoor soccer facility that offers special needs soccer. The program is based on learning coordination skills, having fun, taking turns, and learning social skills.
450 Commercial Drive, Suite 105
Louisville, KY 40223
Rob Zimmerman: (502) 254-6040 - Southern Indiana YMCA—Clark County
This YMCA offers special needs indoor soccer, special needs swimming lessons, and basketball. They also have family get togethers and field trips.
4812 Hamburg Pike
Jeffersonville, IN 47131
Angie Cannon, (812) 283-9622 - Swimming Program—"Getting Our FEAT Wet"
In the fall of 2007, FEAT collaborated with All About Kids to start a swimming program for children/teens with autism. Each 30-minute session, held on Friday evenings, is limited 4 children with 4 instructors. The pool is reserved for our exclusive use during these sessions. Each child's plan to learn to swim is customized to his/her needs. This program is offered at a reduced cost to FEAT members and scholarships are available.
Jodie Steele (502) 541-1801
E-Mail us for more info. - YMCA TOPS—The Opportunity to Play Sports
This is a special needs sports program offers all children the opportunity to play sports regardless of ability. Sports offered are spring soccer, baseball, fall soccer and winter basketball.
Northeast Louisville YMCA
9400 Mill Brook Rd
Louisville, KY 40223
Sandy Hicks: (502) 329-4788