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Special Needs Adult Day Program

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Financial Need: We are in need of funds to buy a passenger van (seats 12-15) to transport members with special needs to and from community activities. Approximate cost $35,00-$50,500 not averaging in automotive service. Eventually transporting members to and from the day program (will need a second van). 

Thank you for visiting AZ Simply Me's page. My name is Amy Daniels and I am the founder of AZ Simply Me, LLC. Working with my friends with developental disabilities is the only "job" I want to do. Calling it "work" is crazy, but I get paid to do it. Otherwise my friends and I love hanging out and having fun.

A little bit about my background for you. At age 26, in 1993, I started volunteering in the church youth group and at that time I also became a Young Life leader. Eventually I volunteered in the children's ministry. My friends coaxed me into going to college to get my teaching degree. While going to school I worked as an extended day teacher in a Montessori and was a nanny for two different families. I learned more from the Montessori school, the families I worked for and volunteering with kids. Six years later I had a degree, however it was in Child/Human Development and Family Studies from University of North Texas. Thinking I would be more of a social worker with kids in CPS. It was obvious I did not have the mindset or spirit needed to endure the more emotionally negative culture. God had something else in mind - being a teacher. I was emergency certified in a special education classroom in 2002 and everything took off from there. 

After years working in private and public schools I was hired on in a large church in Scottsdale in the special needs ministry. Eventually I became the Director of Special Ministries. This was the highlight of my life for six years. Spending more time in the church responsiblities outside the ministry and trying to be there for the families, students and volunteers and almost no time for my husband I decided to resign to recharge. For the last two and half years I have been providing respite and habilitation for several different families and for long term elderly care in my community. 

In January of 2016 I shared my heart with some friends of wanting to start a day program for those with special needs. Having a son with disabilities they encouraged me and have supported me all along the way. Now, almost a year and a half later preparing and filing paperwork with the state we are almost there. We have a place here in Phoenix right inside my new church home. We will use one of the buildings with a full size kitchen. The Pastor is very supportive. There are several families that I have known hoping to have their student in our day program when we open. 

Excerpts from our policy manual: 
The primary objective of AZ Simply Me, LLC is to provide a holistic day program for adulst with developmental and intellectual disabilities accomodating physical disabilities. The program recognizes the whole person and their abilities to better support them to live more independently in the community. We exist to serve our members because they are fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God and we will assist them with respect and kindness. AZ Simply Me maintains our identity by being sensitive to the impact our behaviors have on our members we faithfully serve not just because it is the right thing to do, but also because God flows from our heart to love others. 

The purpose of AZ Simply Me is to ensure adults with special needs have a safe place to learn life skills, engage in social activities and build community. We are intentional in our amiable approach for all to experience a grace filled community and committed to excellence when serving our members; involve all members in conversation, activities, lessons and events to provide inclusion, discover unique abilities and create an enjoyable environment where everyone is simply free to be themselves.

Having a Day Treatment and Training program for Adults (DTA) the state requires visiting community activities and events at least once a week. We want to provide for our members and doing so we need a passenger van. The monies invested into the program now has been $5,000 thus far. Half of that is spent on supplies needed to pass the checklist for inspection with the Division of Developmental Disabilities, the City of Phoenix and some office supplies. If you are able to help fund our program transportation need we would be incredibly grateful. If you know of someone or company that is willing to support our cause would you please pass this information along to them?

We are grateful for your interest and support! Please be praying for our growth and success to serve our friends with special needs in the community!

A Heartfelt Thank you, 

Amy Daniels


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Donations 

  • Scott & Liana Oram
    • $50 
    • 7 yrs
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Organizer

Amy Daniels
Organizer
Phoenix, AZ

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