TheraFriends Community Partnership

✨ Giving Tuesday is HERE! Every child deserves access to life-changing therapy, and today, we’re counting on YOU to help make that happen. Your donation provides: 🧡 Early intervention services. 🤝 Social groups that foster connection and growth. 🌟 Hope for families who need it most. Be the someone who opens doors for kids in need. Let’s hit our $5,000 goal together! 👉Donate Here: https://lnkd.in/g4_kjjJV #GivingTuesday #TherapyForAll #EveryGiftCounts

🌟 Tomorrow’s the day! When you support TheraFriends this Giving Tuesday, you’re giving kids access to therapy that helps them build confidence, friendships, and essential skills for life. Let’s work together to reach our $5,000 goal and make therapy accessible for every child in need. Set a reminder now—you don’t want to miss this chance to make a difference! 👉Donate Here: https://lnkd.in/g4_kjjJV #GivingTuesday #TherapyMatters #ChangeLives

🚨🚨Each day, families in our community face barriers that prevent them from accessing the essential pediatric therapy services their children need. Many struggle with financial burdens or limited access to providers, and even families with Medicaid or private insurance often face tight eligibility restrictions and documentation hurdles. 🤩🤩But someone like you is changing that. 💛💛Just this year with the help of donors like you, we provided 258 therapy hours to 30 children, making a world of difference for 24 families. But the need is still growing, and there’s more work to be done. 💕💕When generous supporters like you give to TheraFriends, we’re able to provide neuro-diversity-affirming therapy sessions and therapeutic social groups that open doors for children with disabilities who would otherwise miss out on crucial early intervention. These services don’t just help children meet developmental milestones; they empower them with social and emotional skills that last a lifetime. 🤝🤝This Giving Tuesday, we’re aiming to raise $5,000 to reach even more families in need. Will you partner with us to make therapy accessible to every child who needs? As a thank you, each donor for our Giving Tuesday Fundraiser will be entered in for a chance to win a pair of UNC Men’s Basketball tickets vs. SMU on January 7, 2025! 🎁🎁Your gift, no matter the size, changes lives. Together, we can make sure more children in our community can get the therapy they need to live their best lives—their way. Donate Here: https://lnkd.in/g4_kjjJV 🥰🥰Thank you for being someone who cares. Let’s make this Giving Tuesday our biggest yet. With gratitude, TheraFriends Community Partnership IMAGE ID: a physical therapy graduate school student volunteers is exploring nature and playing in a a small stream with two children in an outdoor therapeutic playgroup. Below the picture on a blue background the text in white reads, “GIVING TUESDAY: ‘Our child has consistently enthusiastically gone to the group every time...that’s unheard of for him. it’s clear he is comfortable and can be himself here!’ Parent of a Neurodiversity-Affirming Peer Connections Group Member”

Help make a difference in the lives of Triangle families (and get entered for a chance to win UNC bball tix!)

❤️❤️Someone like you can make all the difference. ❤️❤️ Giving Tuesday is just a week away—a chance for you to transform children’s lives. 🏀🏀This year, all donations earn a chance to win a pair of UNC Men’s Basketball tickets vs. SMU on January 7, 2025!🏀🏀 For many children in our community, access to quality therapy is out of reach. But through the generosity of supporters like you, TheraFriends is breaking down financial barriers and providing essential services for children with disabilities and their families This year, we’re aiming to raise $5,000 to provide therapy for kids who need it the most. With your help, we can give children access to neuro-diversity-affirming therapy sessions and social groups that build skills and confidence for life. 🗓️🗓️Be sure to mark your calendar, spread the word, and join us next Tuesday for this important day of giving.🗓️🗓️ Image ID: a picture of co-founder/OT, Stephanie, walking alongside and supporting a young child balancing and walking across a log. Print in white across the picture reads “we need someone like you”

**2 SPOTS LEFT in our Pre-Teen/Early Teen Neurodivergent Group** **Thanks to generous donations, we have 1 SCHOLARSHIP AVAILABLE** Click Here to sign-up: https://lnkd.in/g58mr5Xx Have questions? DM us here or EMAIL: hello@therafriendscommunity.org WHO: Neurodivergent tweens/teens *We define neurodivergence as any neurotype diverging from the “norm”. No need for a formal diagnosis - if you think you belong in the Neurodivergent community, you do! WHAT: Our groups are kid-led, joy-based & facilitated by two neurodivergent Speech-Language Pathologists, who will support each child in sharing their passions & socializing in a way that feels authentic to them. Group facilitators will support the development of the following skills: *Self-advocacy *Emotional regulation & use of regulatory tools *Problem-solving *Effective social communication *Collaboration with peers to achieve joint goals WHERE: Chapel Hill, NC (location will be provided to registered participants) WHEN: Wednesdays from 4pm-5pm; December 4th-18th *Registration is complete upon receipt of payment. Please reach out if you have any questions: email us at hello@therafriendscommunity.org, or call us at (919) 355-8194. Image ID 1: a purple flyer with hands holding a megaphone on either side of the flyer and the text in the center reads: 1 SCHOLARSHIP SPOT AVAILABLE! TEEN NEURODIVERGENT PEER CONNECTIONS GROUP, SIGN-UP FOR OUR NEXT 3-WEEK SESSION IN DECEMBER STARTS ON DECEMBER 4TH!; ** SEE POST FOR DETAILS**

📣📣 CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP 📣📣 ⭐️ MEETS VIRTUALLY ⭐️ What: Our FREE support group celebrates the inherent worth and uniqueness of each child. We realize that caregivers of neurodivergent children and children with disabilities often may feel alone, feel that their child isn’t understood by others, or can be overwhelmed with setting up appointments, making medical decisions, and navigating school decisions and meetings (e.g. IEP meetings). We hope to provide support for these challenges while celebrating the children themselves. Why: Our hope is that this group will be an opportunity for support, connection, and gaining understanding of our children’s needs as well as resources available in the area. Who: 🌈♾️♿️🧑🧒🧒 We aim to be a group which is inclusive of all identities, backgrounds, disabilities, family structures, and experiences and are committed to being an LGBTQ+ inclusive group. Caregivers who believe their child might be neurodivergent or have a disability are welcome– no formal diagnosis is required! We want our group to be as accessible as possible, and welcome any feedback or discussion of accommodations that would make the group a better experience for you. 🌈♾️♿️🧑🧒🧒 Where/When: Sign up for a casual, virtual, monthly support group for caregivers of neurodivergent children and children with disabilities. Next meeting is November 6th from 7:15pm-8:15pm! Scan QR code or find form in bio. to sign-up! IMAGE ID: A white flyer with a blue square centered in the middle with white text that reads, “ CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP **FREE** **MEETS MONTHLY ** a QR Code is centered below the text. A separate white box is centered at the bottom of the flyer with the text in green that reads, “SCAN QR CODE ABOVE TO COMPLETE INTEREST FORM” on the right side of the white box and reads, “Starts November 6th!! 7:15pm-8:15pm” on the left side of the white box. Hands of varying skin colors are reaching the blue box on all sides. Some hands have hearts, rainbow infinity symbol, and accessibility icons on them.

Board Chair, Saren R. and Co-Founder/Executive Director Stephanie Hall thoroughly enjoyed meeting incredible and passionate innovators while gaining knowledge both days of the North Carolina Center for Nonprofits Conference #24ncnpc We look forward to future collaborations and implementing some new strategies!

🎉We couldn’t be more excited to introduce you to our part-time occupational therapist, Chelsea!! ⏱️She has limited openings now so find our waitlist in the bio. or email us at: hello@therafriendscommunity.org, if you would like to receive OT services from the amazing Chelsea! 🤝We are building such a great team (our SLPs rock too!) and with continued community support through fundraising, we can serve even more kids in the Triangle!! ❤️Chelsea was raised in Cary, North Carolina since she was 5 years old. After receiving her Master’s of Occupational Therapy from East Carolina University, she found her way back home as a pediatric occupational therapist. Prior to completing her OT program, she attended Meredith College to receive her Bachelors’ in Exercise and Sports Science as well as worked in the Meredith Autism Program. Between her undergraduate and graduate degree, she worked at Victory Junction, a SeriousFun camp, as a counselor for the summer. She also worked as an exercise coach and with the Autism Society of NC. She has worked in a various of settings including clinics, homes, schools, and community spaces. She has experience evaluating and treating kids ages 3-14 years old with diagnoses consisting of Sensory Processing Disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit Disorder, Motor skill deficits, social skill delays, emotional regulation difficulties, and executive functioning challenges. She has treated kids 1:1, in small social groups, and within classrooms. She enjoys and encourage parental involvement through hands-on interactions in treatment, questions throughout sessions, and providing resources for parents. Together, she strives to create strong relationships with the child and families to provide the support and knowledge to achieve their goals for a happy and fulfilled life. Outside of working, she enjoys spending time with loved ones, outdoor activities (hiking, camping, rafting, rock climbing to name a few), trying new restaurants and coffee shops, puzzles and board games, arts and crafts, and baking.

⭐️Meet our newly elected Board President, Saren! ⭐️ We are so grateful to have her on the TheraFriends team! Saren Richardson is a writer/editor committed to raising awareness of human rights issues and driving programmatic impact through strategic communication. While she currently works in global nonprofit communications, her background includes over a decade of direct support experience in community programs for individuals with disabilities, mental illness, and housing instability. She has a passion for championing inclusion and supporting anyone facing barriers to equitable health resources — because healthcare is a human right. Saren has had personal and professional experience with neurodiversity and knows firsthand what a positive outcome autonomy-led therapeutic support can have, which makes her thrilled to support the mission of Therafriends. She lives in Durham with her husband, daughter, and two finicky cats. IMAGE ID: a graphic with white background and rainbow colored lines around the edges that has the text: “Meet: Saren; Board President.” A picture of Saren smiling is centered in the middle of the graphic.