Hotline and website helps families with special needs children find services

    Families with special needs children in the greater Philadelphia region have a new resource: a website that offers an extensive list of service providers.

    It also has an option for people who are not web-savvy.

    Looking for a summer camp for a child with special needs? A speech therapist, or options for after school care? The new website, www.specialneedsphilly.org, offers resources within seconds.

    The Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Greater Philadelphia hosts the site, and has partnered with ten other organizations to gather the info.

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    The group’s Sherrie Eisman says families can also call in with questions and speak to a social worker: “To answer questions for people who might not be able to access the web, maybe they don’t have a computer, or they just need somebody to spend a little bit of extra time helping them find a resource.”

    The number to reach the social worker is 800-859-S-N-Philly

    Since going live a month ago, over 600 people have used it.

    “People are looking for summer options for their children, they are interested in socialization programs for their children and teens particularly, people need help with job coaching and training for their adult children,” said Eisman.

    Eisman says the site is interactive – families can submit feedback and providers can ask to have their services listed.

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