Members and Unified Partners of the Florida Special Arts Center

Eylsa Weissbaum (Unified Partner)

My Future Contribution to Society

I was raised surrounded by individuals with special needs. Children and adults of all ages seemed to warm up to me. I guess you could say I was born with the heart for it. My mother is a teacher and has been for over 25 years. For the duration of her career, she was a Speech Pathologist going from class to class working with children. Within the past 10 years, my mother has switched her occupation to be a PLACE teacher. She works with the same class on a daily basis with a group of Developmentally Delayed kids from the ages of 3-5 years old. The children’s disabilities vary from Developmentally Delayed to Autism. Working with the special needs population is in my blood. In the future, I would like to go to college and major in educating the special needs as well as business techniques.

My ultimate goal is to open a center funded by donations as well as the government. The center would welcome all adults with special needs. My staff and I will educate our adults and eventually set them up for success with an occupation.
The lack of support from the government to help individuals with special needs is atrocious. Thousands of children a day are born with disabilities ranging from Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mentally Handicapped, Brain Damaged, and many more.
Unfortunately, public schools only offer education to the children up until a certain age. Around the ages of 19-21 years old, you have many parents asking themselves, “What do I do with my child?” I want to solve those parents’problems. My center, “Jessica’s Place,” will welcome adults of all ages. The staff at Jessica’s Place will train and educate our adults and set them up with an occupation. Only success is offered at the center!

Everyday of my life I work with the special needs population. I am an active volunteer at the “Florida Special Needs Arts Center” in Sunrise, Florida. Programs throughout the week are offered to those with disabilities. On Mondays we have Color guard practice. Our world-renowned color guard has traveled to New York for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. We were the first of our kind to do such a thing. I proudly participated and marched with the color guard. On Wednesdays, we gather for choir and instrumental practice. Members learn how to play various instruments and learn many popular songs. Fridays, we gather for Arts and Crafts. Crafts are created and touching pieces of art are made. My life is dedicated to those with disabilities. Everyday, I am the caretaker to a 25-year-old woman named Jessica. Hence, the name “Jessica’s Place.” There is no place I’d rather be than with Jessica or the members of the Arts Center.

My positive contribution, I believe, can change the lives of so many people. To provide a life for those who can’t provide for themselves will be so rewarding.