Frankie's Lighthouse
The following plan has been developed to present a profile of a proposed expansion of a child daycare center in Mount Juliet, Wilson County. The principles involved are highly qualified and bring a complementary mixture of childcare knowledge, business experience and building expertise to the project.
Frankie’s Lighthouse will offer a multi-sensory area for children with special needs. By incorporating the sensory area and child day care, working parents won’t have to find two separate facilities to meet their child’s needs.
According to a recent survey from the Elementary School, more than 40% of school age children are left home alone without supervision. Over 70% of families with young children will have mothers in the work force, creating an urgent need for accountable and high quality care arrangements for their children.
With incorporating, it will allow us to maintain our client’s needs earlier and for a longer period of time. Childcare will always be needed.
Frankie’s Lighthouse goes beyond meeting that need by offering “high” quality care in the home-like and professional environment. Although there are several child care facilities in the area, there are no centers in the area that offer a multi-sensory setting. Since all children learn through play and hands on experience, Frankie’s Lighthouse will be able to enrich special needs children as well as typical through these surroundings, while developing, reinforcing and enhancing cognitive skills, gross motor skills, fine motor skills, self esteem, social skills and nervous system stimulation.
Since Wilson County is one of the fastest growing counties in Northeastern Tennessee, it proves additional childcare facilities will be needed in this region for both typical children and those with special needs. By including all children and paying attention to quality care in professional, comfortable environment is what sets our program and facility apart from the rest.
Project Narrative
According to the Department of Education of Wilson County, the percent of children with disabilities are high.
Based on this, there is a tremendous need for individuals with sensory, cognitive, and physical disabilities to receive therapy that will allow them the opportunity for relaxation, stimulation and interactive activities. Their needs can be addressed by utilizing a Multi-Sensory Interactive Play Environment where sensory stimulation and experience can be relaxing, stimulating, and interactive and also range from passive enjoyment to active decision making.
At the present time, there are no agencies in Davidson County that offers this innovative approach.
The target population includes individuals with special need, including, but not limited to Autism, AD/HD, Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, Downs Syndrome, as well as numerous other disabilities. Both children and adults of all ages with developmental delays and neurological disabilities would benefit from the use of a multi-sensory environment, although anyone can enjoy and reap the benefits of spending time in a Multi-Sensory Environment.
A Multi-Sensory stimulating environment otherwise known as Snoezelen was developed in the Netherlands to satisfy the special perceptual needs of individuals with severe physical, learning and sensory disabilities. Studies have shown that children who use the multi-sensory rooms appear much happier and attend to tasks more intensely than they do in the non-sensory environment. It is a safe, comfortable environment where the primary senses are stimulated by the wonderful combination of music, light, gentle vibrations, tactile sensation and aroma-therapy: which are combined for enjoyment of those who use these rooms. Thus, the effect of any therapeutic intervention is optimized and quality of life is enhanced.
These Multi-Sensory Environments have greatly expanded, numbering over two thousand in schools, hospital, group homes, residents, day care centers. An understanding of the multi-sensory environments (Snoezelen) has subsequently spread to Canada where there are now forty to fifty rooms in use. They are now spreading to the United States. Frankie’s Lighthouse D.C. Inc. is the first of its kind in Davidson County.
Frankie’s Lighthouse Inc. was founded in September, 2002 through the efforts of Nery Ortiz, a mother of an Autistic child. Daughter, Frankie, after whom the center was named, was not born autistic but developed autism after an illness at 15 months. Nery Ortiz received Early Intervention to help teach Frankie and today she is progressing well.
Nery Ortiz has continued her quest to further develop Frankie to her fullest potential by placing her in a number of programs offered by state organizations. Because of Frankie’s condition, she was asked to leave these programs. Ms. Ortiz realized that if she had this situation occurring with her child, there must be other parents equally frustrated and upset by the lack of services and knowledge available to assist their children. So was born Frankie’s Lighthouse. There are now seven sensory rooms in PA with the help of Ms. Nery Ortiz and sensory equipment affiliates.
Frankie’s Lighthouse D.C Inc. is now coming to Mount Juliet, Wilson County Tennessee. They have recently acquired the services of networking with the help of parents of disabled children and acquiring services of professional marketing, and public relations firms to assist them with their future growth.
Our goal is to develop a complex with diverse sensory zones which will provide opportunities for individuals with disabilities to discover explore and stimulate the entire spectrum of their sensory and motor skills in a motivating and non-threatening environment.
We will accomplish this with the aid of a Certified Special Education Teacher, Occupational Therapist also specializing in sensory integration, BCBA and a Physical Therapist.
Services provided at Frankie’s Lighthouse D.C. Inc. to children 3-5 years of age:
One Snoezelen Room
One Sensory Gym Room
Computer Room
Dramatic Play Room
Reading and Writing Room
Resource Room for parents
Music and Drama Room
Respite twice a month (evenings) Parents date night
Daycare for 3-5 year olds (pending)
There will be a separate room with a built in wall movie theatre. This has been one of the most requested rooms beside a Snoezelen room by parents of special needs children. A special place to show movies will allow parents and children to have a night out together. This room will also allow parents to attend workshops, support groups and movies as a social outlet while their children play together in another area.
Acquisition of 4 acres of land and 5,000 sq. ft. facility to create an Interactive Multi-Sensory complex to provide services to 50-90 children with special needs who have difficulty functioning and/ or learning in the current school environment. This facility will be leased with option to buy.
Provide Occupational, Physical, and Speech therapy to all special needs children through the efforts of a Certified Staff Therapist.
Provide Daycare and social opportunities for children with or without disabilities to at least 20+ children in Wilson County.
Fully staffed, Frankie’s Lighthouse D.C. Inc. will employ 6 certified individuals.
Improve quality of life for all participants.
D. Projected Schedule and Key Milestones and Dates:
Signed Lease/ Purchase--Begin 2012
Complete
Renovations
Décor
Equipment Installation
Open for business
E. Certification or Assurances:
All staff teachers and therapist will be certified to practice in the state of Tennessee.
F. Documentation to Support Budget Costs:
Proposed Budget attached as Frankie’s Lighthouse D.C. Inc.
About Us
In order to enlighten you of our company history and the current aspiration of
Frankie’s Lighthouse D.C Inc., it is our hope that this website will be beneficial to you as it is rewarding to us. It is our hope our hope that it will become a major benchmark along the path for a mutual and continuing success.
I say “continuing” because a commitment was made the day I was informed that my daughter Frankie was diagnosed with Autism to pursue this work; not only for her but for all children regardless of disability; and we have not wavered from that commitment.
We are pleased and excited of having this honor of sharing this site with you. In the event you may have any additional questions and or comments feel free to contact me directly.
In event that a formal meeting is justified we will be more than happy to attend any meeting at any destination so that we can address this matter.
Once again welcome to Frankie’s Lighthouse D.C. Inc. Thank you for your time and consideration.
© Copyright 2011 ~ Pamm's House ~ All Rights Reserved
