I write this today to share our past, present and future. The “how we got here, what we are doing now and what we hope to do in the future” story.
How did we get here? I have been teaching in a special education classroom for 22 years at this point. One of the things that came to my attention a few years ago, was that parents did not have the time nor energy to find the resources they needed. And if you googled “Autism and Occupational Therapy” and your city you may or may not have found what you needed. It was easy to find the big agencies with Autism in their names. But sometimes their data bases are not specific enough or only house their agencies’ resources. I had a vision of a comprehensive, all inclusive, small “mom and pop” agencies, support groups, events, gatherings, clubs, large national organizations, searchable by city, covering the whole state of TN. So I took the beginner knowledge of web design I learned as a teacher and started Pick Up the Pieces TN. As I got involved with this cause, I found myself drawn to decision maker meetings. I have been attending the TN Council on ASD (sitting in the public section) as an educator and advocate, advocating for my families and speaking from the front lines. These meetings along with my own time reading and researching fueled the creation of the website I had envisioned complete with community calendar and list of resources by city.
Since 2017 when we started, we have taken the steps to update our outreach with a more professional website, social media accounts, videos, and making our presence known in the disabilities community. I love serving families, so we have started the hands-on services of advocacy, tutoring, consulting. We have had t-shirt campaigns and have started the process to trademark Pick Up the Pieces TN. Our website, blog, calendar, social media accounts and services are the crux of our organization at this point. While the pandemic has put a damper and a delay on some of those features, our heart is still in the same place of serving the Autism and Special Needs community
What are our future plans? Where do we see PUTP in 5 years? What does the future hold? Oh we have big plans, BIG PLANS I SAY! (to quote Big Plans by Bob Shea)
We would love for our database to become an app! Where you can input your zip code, age group, and disability, and find services and events near you! As well as getting notifications and alerts as to when things are happening too! No more researching, you just register and wa-la! Instant knowledge!
Another goal is to start more Pick Up the Pieces sites! Each state needs their own Pick Up the Pieces Organization! Pick Up the Pieces TX, Pick Up the Pieces IL, Pick Up the Pieces FL! I can see it now! Statewide and local resources in the same format for every state. Compiling large organizations, small nonprofits, therapy centers, support groups? All in one place? Bring it on!
Some other big ideas we have: opening a private school or therapy center, creating a mobile special needs classroom, opening an Autism/Special Needs Resource Center…
Yep, we have big plans, BIG PLANS I SAY! So, watch out world. Stand back. You don’t get what you don’t ask for. If you see a need, fill it. What if your dreams actually came true. Do something. Miracles happen here.