Autism Educational Support for Owen

My name is Owen Poe, but my family calls me Bubba. I am 8 years old and love to jump on the trampoline, swing, watch movies and play in the water. I love anything with sharks, especially whale sharks, and dinosaurs. My favorite foods are chick-fil-A, apples, and my mom's special cookies. If you know me at all, you know I love giving "BIG HUGS". 

I also have Autism Spectrum Disorder. I have lots of trouble speaking, and like to use my favorite movie catch phrases a lot like "Don't Worry, Be Happy" from Flushed Away and "Incoming!" from Story Bots. I can understand what you're saying to me, even though I can't always respond. I flap when I get excited or listen to music. I've got the best calf muscles around, because I like to walk on my toes. 
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The money raised in this campaign will go towards a full evaluation and educational support/therapy services from Jacob's Ladder using their Pod's of Care Program. Jacob's Ladder is a Neurodevelopment School and Therapy Center located in Roswell, Georgia. This program is a customized program including an evaluation and training of a caregiver to provide services to Owen at home. There are several steps to getting Owen evaluated and get him the support he needs to continue to learn and grow. 

Step 1 ($3200): Initial Neurodevelopmental Evaluation, Program Design and Parent Overview- Owen will undergo a variety of assessments to determine his auditory, visual, fine motor, speech and language, and tactility abilities. He will also undergo a QEEG (Quantitative  Electroencephalogram) that will map the functioning of his brain while being exposed to various stimuli. They will also assess his emotional/behavioral issues and academic performance. 

Step 2 ($2800) : 1 Week of Intensive Program Implementation at Jacob's Ladder- Following the evaluation, Jacob's Ladder staff will discuss the findings and best course of action with Kelly (Owen's mom). During this week, Owen will receive 1:1 instruction to implement the program designed specifically for him. Staff will video all sessions and monitor his progress throughout the week. 

Step 3 ($500) : Professional Training of the Program/Implementation- Kelly will receive training in implementing the program designed at home. This takes place at Jacob's Ladder by their staff. 

Step 4 ($1500) : Monthly Support/ Case Load Management- With this service, Jacob's Ladder staff will assess Owen's progress throughout the first month. This also makes staff available to Kelly for any issues or questions she may have while implementing Owen's new program at home. 

Materials ($300-$500): A variety of educational/therapeutic materials will need to be purchased from Jacob's Ladder to begin Owen's program at home. 

Unfortunately, insurance does not cover the cost of any of these services. While Owen does currently receive at-home services for things like speech, he has hit a plateau in his development and education. We firmly and hopefully believe Jacob's Ladder will provide the necessary training, materials, and information to further Owen's growth at home. I have attached the link to Jacob's Ladder website and a video explaining their mission. 

We are greatly appreciative of any donations. Your generosity in helping fund this program for Owen means the world to our family. As Owen would say "Tay Tu!" 

Jacob's Ladder: A Love Story 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDf9goQvprg&t=200s

http://www.jacobsladdercenter.com