Dr. Phillips Charities to host Special Needs Advisory Council meeting

With the Special Olympics USA Games coming to Orlando in 2022, local leaders already are meeting to make sure the city is adequately prepared to serve the organizations, athletes and families involved.

That's why Dr. Phillips Charities leaders are hosting a lunch on Wednesday, July 24, for community leaders to collaborate and share ideas on what is working already and what needs to be done prior to the Special Olympics USA Games. The group is called the Special Needs Advisory Council.

Wendy Oliver, director of grants at Dr. Phillips Charities, said that presenters will share news, information, successes and data related to serving those with special abilities. The goal, Oliver said, is to positively shape attitudes, access and opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

The group will focus on the following things, according to Oliver:

• Best ways to leverage this group’s expertise
• Building a model that local and outside philanthropy can proudly support
• Special Olympics 2022 readiness
• Addressing local needs through a world-class forum
• Ways to align local IDD service-providers and showcase that alignment
• Collaboration and special-needs access at Orlando’s theme parks

"This is an opportunity to build a model to bring world-class attention for amazing work in Central Florida with the IDD population," Oliver said.

For more information, call Dr. Phillips Charities at (407) 422-6105.