ABOUT
About TwiddleU Inc.
TwiddleU Inc is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides education for Autistic and neurodiverse children and implementation of food programs to address the needs within the greater Atlanta area. We provide fun and innovative ways for children to learn and we give parents the resources they need to help their children progress.
History
TwiddleU was founded to serve the local community due to a lack of resources for children with Autism and neurodiversity. As the parent of a 5-year-old daughter with level 1 autism, the CEO has experienced these challenges firsthand. With the help of other mothers within the area, she decided to create a platform to share information, provide mentoring and design programs that would benefit the kids.
The mission of TwiddleU
Mission Statement
The mission of TwiddleU and its Twiddle Bugs program is to help children on the Autism spectrum and neurodiversity avoid regressing on the progress made during the school year by providing educational, speech, occupational, and play therapy resources for autistic children at minimal or no cost to families in need. In addition, we are dedicated to involving parents in their child’s education. For parents, we offer co-working spaces, career training and community support, so they can be involved in their students educational journey.
TwiddleU is unique in that it specifically addresses the issues black children on the autism spectrum face and the roadblocks many black parents face in getting their children the help they desperately need. We offer camps, informational sessions for parents, pop-up events, and parent-to-parent networking. We also offer free or low-cost programs to lessen the burden for parents facing financial difficulties.
Previously, we have hosted our programs at various venues which has become costly or unavailable throughout the year. Moving forward, we want to ensure our programs are held in a safe, reliable environment since parents rely on us to provide a safe haven for their children. Therefore, we are seeking to secure a permanent facility for our programs, camps and events since safety, reliability and accessibility is a must when providing support to families and underserved communities.
Education
Our educational resources expand outside of the traditional school model in order to provide the best resources for students to help students grow intellectually, interpersonally, and emotionally to greatly enhances a student’s chances for success. By including the parents in the decision making process, we are able to create specialized plans for each individual child while combining play and social interaction. Since Autistic and neurodiverse students learn best through hands-on education, we incorporate sensory exploration and alternative learning through agriculture, horticulture and gardening as part of our sustainable living curriculum.
We are passionate about providing resources to children with Autism and helping them achieve success now and in the future. If you would like to obtain additional information about our programs and services, please contact us directly.
“I tell young people: Do not think of yourself, think of others. Think of the future that awaits you, think about what you can do and do not fear anything.” (Rita Levi – Montalcini, Italian neurologist and Nobel Prize winner in Physiology)
Co-Working
Our unique model incorporates parents and families throughout the educational process. Unlike traditional school models, parents don’t have to worry about before or after care and transportation to or from school. Our operations enable parents to work or learn in a quiet environment alongside their children. Our goal is create a community space where parents no longer have to worry about how to balance a career and their children. With our pilot program, families can have it all!
Diversity & Inclusion
We believe that every family should have affordable access to early diagnostic testing to ensure that their children are provided the necessary educational resources at an early age. On average, African American children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been diagnosed more than three years after their parents expressed concerns about their development. By providing our programs at no cost to parents, we are able to support historically underrepresented backgrounds.
Twiddle Bugs Summer Camp and Programs
For families of children on the autism spectrum, COVID-19 has created overwhelming challenges. A huge part of these difficulties come from the fact that critical support systems have either changed or are no longer in place.
As a result, TwiddleU launched the Twiddle Bugs program in July of 2021. The new program focuses solely on providing children on the autism spectrum with the hands-on and in-person sensory learning that is so critical for their speech and development.
Our 2021 summer camp was a success – incorporating speech, occupational, and play therapy as well as much-needed peer socialization. Please visit our Twiddle Bugs page to find out more about the program and how you can become involved!