NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT:

Kids On The Go

BY ANGELA ARLINGTON

Founded in 1999, Kids On The Go is celebrating 25 years of providing free therapy for children with special needs. Kids On The Go started as a summer program to bridge the learning gap between the school year and summer. Today, Kids On The Go provides more than 50 programs in southeastern Michigan throughout the year and 4 programs in Traverse City during the summer. Kids On The Go is a pediatric non-profit program designed to provide children with special needs (3-17 years old) with physical, occupational, speech and recreational therapies both over the summer months and during the school year.

The mission of Kids On The Go is to recognize and facilitate the goals of children with special needs and to further develop their current skills through therapeutic and wellness programs for the children and their families. “Our vision is to provide a safe environment that will foster opportunities for growth, inclusion and provides valuable resources for our community,” Kristy Schena explains.

“We provide free therapy programs for children with special needs (ages 3-17). Our programs include direct therapy courses which include a multidisciplinary camp, summer sounds, literacy, handwriting, picky eater; STEAM classes include Robotics, Art therapy, music therapy, gardening, theater; health and wellness classes which include: flag football, cheerleading, golf, tennis, boxing, baseball, fitness; parent/caregiver and sibling workshops; and a Teens to Work program which provides early job skill lessons for teens with special needs. Traverse City offers a multidisciplinary camp, hiking, yoga, and a picky eater course as well.”

Kids On The Go offers families a financial break from the costs of private therapy. “Often insurance companies do not provide the benefits a child needs to continue his/her therapies. Private therapy can range from $75-115 for only 15 minutes of therapy. Kids On The Go keeps these children “going” so they maintain their skills instead of falling behind. In addition, Kids On The Go offers a child with special needs an opportunity to participate in programs often that their typically developing peers only have access to. Kids On The Go offers a safe place for a child to learn and make new friendships. Kids On The Go is a place where parents can be relieved of the financial burdens that often accompany a diagnosis and gain resources from our Kids On The Go Family.”

Kristy adds, “Kids On The Go is always looking for volunteers for programs and for special events (annual gardening day, gardening club, Annual Golf Outing, Fall fundraisers. We also look for businesses that are able to offer our teens an opportunity to tour or learn more about job opportunities.”

TESTIMONIALS:

From a camper who is now 13 and started at KOTG when she was only 4 “I have been meaning to write this note for a long time. I want to thank you for everything you do to make

Kids on the Go such a wonderful place for kids with special needs. I have been going to the camps for about seven years and have learned so much from all the great teachers and leaders. I have learned to:

• Hold a pencil properly.

• Create artistic pictures.

• Understand stories and what they mean.

• Ride a bike.

• Tie my shoes.

• Act in a play.

• Play tennis.

• Cook some yummy things.

• Garden.

• Make a movie video.

• Have better conversations and good social skills..

• Cheer

• Dance

• About broadcasting news.

• Feel the rhythm of bucket drumming.

My experience has been great and I want you to know how much I appreciated being able to participate in all those camps. I hope you will share this with all the people who help to make these camps possible.”

From a parent: “It with the utmost appreciation and gratitude that I draft this letter thanking you for your contribution to the 2022 Kids on the Go (KOTG) Summer Camp program. My son has attended this program since 2017, and it is something that we look forward to participating in annually. The staff at this organization consistently and genuinely model empathy to all, so rest assured your funds have truly been allocated to an amazing organization!

As the parent of a child with autism, this program is a lifesaver in more ways than one. Aside from the superb service AND great course offerings, the entire program is FREE! With the inflation of groceries, the never-ending therapy copays, supplement purchases, and special dietary requirements my funds are exhausted. The mere fact that no additional costs are required for my son to attend KOTG is pure relief, as I am not forced to make another tough decision between my son’s needs and other fiscal responsibilities. For this reason alone, I am eternally grateful for your donation which covered his cost to attend the camp.

I am happy to share KOTG has positively impacted my son’s quality of life. He has demonstrated improvements in the following areas that will help him function in society:

• Increased verbal commands

• Increased ability to follow two step instructions

• Improvement with handwritings (sizing and shape)

• Increased desire to tolerate other children

In closing, I would like to say THANK YOU again. Words cannot express how truly grateful and blessed my family is for this opportunity. Please never forget, the best way to determine the effectiveness of community programming is to measure its impact in that community. I’m here to proclaim, KOTG is making a POSITIVE difference for the young people who are often overlooked and ignored.

Please take pride in knowing your contribution had a tremendous impact on my son, which in turn benefits my family, my neighbors, friends and OUR COMMUNITY. I strongly encourage you to continue funding/ donating to this amazing organization, as they have developed a phenomenal program. Please do not hesitate to contact me for further questioning.”