SNACK & FRIENDS INC
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Mission Statement
The mission of SNACK* (Special Needs Activity Center for Kids and *Adults) is to fill a void for children, teens, and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders and other developmental disabilities by providing unique programs designed and staffed to address their needs. SNACK also provides pre-vocational training and supported employment opportunities and welcomes those with physical disabilities, verbal and non-verbal language abilities, across all socio-economic, race, and ethnic backgrounds. SNACK activity centers and programs are devoted to "Fun, Friends, and Hope" and offer a variety of group and individual activities to provide our kids with the help they need to thrive - the opportunity to make friends, have fun, improve skills, build confidence, work and participate in activities that typical people do everyday.
About This Cause
SNACK was founded in 2003 when Jackie Ceonzo’s 7-year-old son with autism, Joey, was turned away by a special needs program because “he wouldn’t fit in.” She formulated a plan to establish a center where Joey and other children with special needs would be welcome, regardless of their language abilities, behavioral challenges or skill levels. She envisioned a place where parents and children would feel comfortable socializing and learning life and recreation skills in a creative and safe environment. Jackie worked with a pediatric neurologist, a disability advocate and a behavioral specialist to create SNACK, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization. Over 200 children, teens and young adults are the beneficiaries of SNACK services and programs on a WEEKLY basis. A key philosophy of SNACK is to serve people of all capabilities no matter how challenging the child’s behavior or the degree of his/her disabilities. We are committed to a no “in-take” policy – we are proud to say we never turn anyone away. SNACK primarily serves the population who are more challenged and severely impacted by autism - who require the greatest support yet are frequently rejected from other special needs programs. Our programs are dedicated to helping children achieve their maximum potential and experience all of the joys that childhood has to offer. Today, 16 years later, SNACK continues to be dedicated to helping every child achieve their maximum potential and experience all of the joys that childhood has to offer and supporting our older kids transition to their own version of successful adulthood. Providing high-quality year-round services to a growing, aging, and more challenging population makes SNACK a costly program to operate and maintain. It requires us to attain grants and private funding to ensure that no family in the New York Metro area is turned away because of their child’s needs—and adults with autism are not relegated to inadequate programs, unemployment or worse yet sitting at home regressing with no programming which will surely impede their chances for the best life possible. At SNACK we strongly believe that everyone deserves to have the same opportunities available to typically developing children, teens and young adults in welcoming, safe environment where they can experience fun, make friends, improve skills, become more independent, work, and gain a sense of accomplishment.