Join me as I chat with Gary Tonks, the President and CEO at The Arc of Ohio – the state’s premier organization for disability advocacy. Discover the essence of The Arc, and learn how families in Ohio can tap into their invaluable services at no cost. Dive into the myriad ways The Arc stands as a beacon of support in this episode.
About Gary Tonks:
Gary Tonks is the president/CEO of The Arc of Ohio in Columbus, the state’s oldest and largest grassroots organization representing individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities and their families.
About the Arc of Ohio:
The Arc of Ohio is the voice of people with developmental disabilities, their families, friends of people with disabilities, and those who work with them. The Arc of Ohio is a grassroots organization which advocates for human rights, personal dignity and community participation of individuals with developmental disabilities through legislative and social action, information and education, local chapter supports, and family involvement.
About Rob Gorski and The Autism Dad podcast:
Rob Gorski is a single Dad to three amazing autistic boys and the Founder and CEO of The Autism Dad, LLC. Multiple award-winning blogger, podcaster, content creator, social media influencer, and respected public figure for well over a decade.
Connect with Rob Gorski:https://theautismdad.com
Today’s Sponsors:
Aceing Autism
ACEing Autism provides tennis programs for children on the autism spectrum aged 5 to 18, focusing on growth, social skills, and physical fitness. Tailored to individual needs with one-on-one volunteer support, the program includes weekend sessions and offers scholarships for accessibility. It aims to build confidence and social connections, with extended support available beyond age 18. More information can be found at aceingautism.org.
Meerkat Village
Being a special needs parent often requires a superhuman ability to manage a ton of different things all at once. Between work, school, doctor appointments, therapies, our own self-care, and everything else life can throw at us, it can be tough to manage all these things. Don’t even get me started on trying to keep everyone communicating with each other. That’s where Meerkat Village can help.
They say it takes a village and this is especially true for special needs families. Meerkat Village is a platform for android and iOS that helps to keep everyone in your village communicating and coordinating their efforts to support your child. Whether you’re tracking your child’s progress at school or brainstorming new strategies to help with behavioral concerns, Meerkat Village keeps everyone connected, and on the same page.It’s all done inside one, easy-to-use, HIPAA and FERPA-compliant app.
For more information, visitmeerkatvillage.com
Kinjo
Kinjo transforms Roblox from mere gaming to a valuable learning platform. Aiming to make each gaming moment both fun and educational, Kinjo provides expert-reviewed content through seamless integration with a child’s Roblox account. Games undergo rigorous evaluation by specialists, with top-rated ones receiving a ‘Flames’ rating for their educational quality. While playing, children earn Kinjo Coins, turning in-game accomplishments into tangible rewards. While kids enjoy the engaging content, parents gain insight into their child’s gaming activities. Beyond being an app, Kinjo represents a leap in educational gaming, blending entertainment with deep learning. The basic version is free, with a premium Kinjo Plus option offering added benefits.
Explore the future of gaming at theautismdad.com/Kinjo and get a 10% discount on Kinjo Plus with code “theautismdad”.
