|
Home of the Equine Rehab Therapy Program
 |
Sign the
P.C.A.A.C. Petition!
The Pasco County Achievers of America Center
(P.C.A.A.C.) is a proposed four building complex that will
serve individuals with disabilities, senior citizens, and the
general public. This center's main purpose is to improve the
quality of life for everyone living in our community, the
surrounding communities, and the State of Florida. With programs
for special needs individuals and developmental disabilities
such as autism, Down’s syndrome, cerebral palsy, stroke and
brain injury survivors, Alzheimer's support programs, programs
for senior citizens to enhance their quality of life by
providing the skills and training for related learning
abilities, and special education programs for career development
and employment training, adult day training, and assisted
living.
Please sign our online
petition by clicking
here,
or to download a copy of this petition to share, please click on
the image to the left .
Thank You! |
|
11-4-2010
Introducing:
The Equine Therapy Program for special needs individuals with
autism and developmental disabilities.
We would like to introduce a new addition to
the Pasco County Achievers of America Center (PCAAC): The Equine
Therapy Program. This program will enhance the lives of special
needs individuals with autism and developmental disabilities,
giving them the opportunity to improve their quality of life.
Equine therapy gives a person a sense of
themselves, their bodies, and increased contact and interaction
with the surrounding world. This is especially true with
autistic individuals. Their self-confidence is greatly increased
and they form a sense of confidence by learning how to interact
and work with their horse. They quickly form attachments and
relationships with the horse they ride, and this behavior is
then expanded to include trainers, therapists, teachers, and
family members.
Other benefits of equine therapy include:
helping tight muscles relax, gaining a sense of self-confidence,
building muscle strength, increased balance, a gain in sense of
body-awareness, improved fine motor coordination, improved
hand/eye coordination, gaining a sense of self-control, and
teaches patience, making it easier to concentrate, communicate,
and feel more comfortable socializing.
The excitement of riding a horse encourages
speech when the rider wants to communicate with the therapist
and the horse. Non-verbal autistic children have suddenly
started talking when they call the horse's name or ask the horse
to get moving!
Sitting on a horse improves core muscle
strength, balance, posture, flexibility, circulation,
coordination, and breathing (which also make it easier to
speak). The movement of the horse stimulates bones, ligaments,
and joints. A horse moves a person in many positions, by
tilting, rotating, and moving the rider; this would take a whole
session of difficult physical therapy exercises to achieve.
These are the benefit’s individuals experience with equine
therapy
The unconditional, non-judgmental bond
between the horse and the individual encourages more interaction
with people, therefore broadening their ability to socialize,
which is especially difficult for autistic persons to achieve.
One of the greatest benefits of this type of therapy is the
enjoyment they get out of it. It’s a wonderful program and we
are proud to be able include Equine Therapy in the Pasco County
Achievers of America Center.
Sincerely,
Steve Biondo, Founder of
The Achievers of America
|
|
Proposal for the Pasco County Achievers of America
(P.C.A.A.C.)
For site plans of The Pasco County Achievers of America Center
(P.C.A.A.C.) please click
here
For a 3D drawing
of The Pasco County Achievers of America Center (P.C.A.A.C.) please
click
here |
We would like to inform you of a proposal that The Achievers of America
Inc. has presented to State Senator Mike Fasano and Representative Peter
Neher of Florida. It's a project called, The Pasco County Achievers
of America Center.
Our goal is to help as many individuals as possible with well needed
programs for special need individuals with developmental disabilities,
senior citizens and the general public.
This project will focus on the health needs of individuals and will be
beneficial to doctors and agencies in the community, and the surrounding
communities throughout the State of Florida. This facility will bring
well needed jobs to these areas. This project can be used as a model
throughout the country, improving the quality of life for those
individuals who are served.
The location of the property is in Pasco County, Hudson Florida, on
Hicks Road and Hudson Ave. The property consists of 4.9 acres of
land, enough to build up to two multi story buildings. There is
an existing 11,000 square foot building, along with ample
parking, which is occupant ready.
This property has a flood zone X designation, and is zoned C2 commercial,
therefore allowing us to put up these buildings, making this a choice
location.
This facility would be zoned/coded as a shelter, and would be used as a
community shelter in case of an emergency. |
View Larger Map
|
To have this project become a reality, we are seeking a grant from the
State of Florida and need the help of the local community and outside
supporters.
The Achievers of America will help in any way to raise funds for this
project. Mr. Rigo will donate $50,000 to The Achievers of America upon
sale of the property. To help have this proposal become a reality, if
needed, The Achievers of America will donate these funds to the State
and ask other agencies to donate as an in kind contribution.
For more information, please read our letter below to Senator Mike Fasano
and Representative Peter Neher sent on 2/10/10.
Please feel free to make any suggestions and ask any questions that could
be helpful to this project. Your help is needed and will help this
proposal become a reality.
Sincerely,
Steve Biondo, Founder of
The Achievers of America
|
The Achievers of America's letter to Senator Mike Fasano
2-10-2010 |
Dear Senator Fasano,
I hope you and your family are well. As you may be aware of, I have been
active in promoting The Achievers of America program. We have just had
an article in the Sun Coast News and Tampa Tribune news papers a couple
of weeks ago. Enclosed is a copy of The Pasco County Achievers of
America Center plan we used in 2006.
Our goal has been to better the community through The Achievers of
America program, and not only serving special need individuals with
developmental disabilities but also serve senior citizens and the
community.
Our proposal is to build a three building complex in Hudson, (A six story
building, and a two story building along with an 11,000 sq ft existing
building) on Hicks Rd. and Hudson Ave. This property is still available
and the owner, Mr. Pierro Rigo, is willing to work with us, as he has
since 2006 when you and State Representative Peter Neher were working on
this proposal.
This center's main purpose is to improve the quality of life for everyone
living in our community, the surrounding communities, and the State of
Florida. Our programs are for special needs individuals with
developmental disabilities such as autism, Down syndrome, cerebral
palsy, stroke, and brain injury survivors, Alzheimer's support programs,
programs for senior citizens to enhance their quality of life by
providing the skills and training for related learning problems, and
special education programs for career development and employment
training. Programs for teaching daily living living skills to improve an
individual's life by helping individuals to live with their disability
and if possible getting them on the road to live independently.
Even though it is tough times, I feel the time is right to reintroduce
this proposal. Our proposal will bring jobs and build up the community,
giving a boost to this part of Florida, and could be a model to the rest
of the country.
The Achievers of America will help in any way to raise funds for this
project. Mr. Rigo will donate $50,000 to The Achievers of America upon
sale of the property. This donation will be given to the state as an in
kind contribution from The Achievers of America to help have this
proposal become a reality.
We should step up to the plate and request the funding that is needed to
have this project become a reality, even though we have a financial
crisis in our country at this time. I'm sure there are many other
proposals and projects that will come across your desk. What makes this
proposal unique, is that this facility will offer the community needed
services for special needs individuals, senior citizens, and the general
public, serving thousands of individuals for years to come.
We should resume our efforts and ask for assistance to receive a grant
for this project. It would help the growth of our community and bring
needed jobs to our area. I strongly suggest that we take an aggressive
attempt to let our proposal be heard. We will help in advising the
citizens and businesses of Pasco County and the surrounding area of this
proposal, bringing it to everyone's attention.
Your action is very important in having us go on with this worthy
proposal. it will certainly benefit the community.
I look forward to hearing from you and hope we have your support along
with State Representative Peter Neher's support.
Please take this request seriously as we need to put this before the
State of Florida, and if possible, President Obama.
Sincerely,
Steve Biondo, Founder of
The Achievers of America |
 |
Update 2-18-2010
On February 18, 2010, Senator Mike Fasano
was kind enough to respond to our letter. Unfortunately, there
are no available dollars at this time. However, Senator Fasano sounded optimistic that he may be able to help us in the
future.
Click on the image to the left to see the full size letter, or
click
here to download it in PDF
format. |
|
P.C.A.A.C. Plan |
PHASE 1
Population:
- Individuals with disabilities. There are 15,000 on the waiting list.
Many live in Pasco County and are growing older.
Services to be offered at the Facility:
- Programs to improve services to individuals with disabilities and their
families. Providing the skills and training for related learning
problems, adult training, Special education, with professional guidance
that is necessary for individuals with disabilities.
Programs for:
- Down Syndrome, Autism, Cerebral palsy, Stroke survivors, Brain injury,
and other disabilities that effect individuals living in our community.
-
Equine Rehab horse therapy program
to include a state of the art horse barn, to be built on the
necessary two acres of pasture, to assure and properly maintain the six
horses needed for the Equine Rehab horse therapy program. This program
will enhance the lives of those Special needs individuals with Autism
and developmental disabilities giving them the opportunity to improve
their quality of life.
-
Physical therapy / rehabilitation for stroke and brain injury
participants working along with the local hospitals.
Advocacy:
- Families will be able to get information such as the resources that are
available for them. This will help them through the maze. We also will
work with other agencies and will have intake packets that will have the
necessary paperwork and documents that can guide them through the maze.
Making it easier to improve the services needed for their love one.
- Career development training, Special education programs to assist other
programs in the area.
- Support for employment, on one on one, helping them get a job on
location.
- Supported housing facilities, where people with disabilities may live
undependably.
- Offer recreational and socialization programs with support groups.
Working with other
organizations and agencies. Programs to educate and serve the community
human relations.
- Gymnasium, recreation area, sports year round, dance, special events,
affairs, etc.
- Physical Therapy section, Wading pool with current, Sensory skill room,
touch, feel sensation Focusing on persons that need specially designed
therapeutic task to improve activities and improve function.
- Summer camp, recreational programs throughout the year. To have a place
to go, especially during the summer. They sit at home and do nothing.
They need Summer programs. When parents come to Florida, there are no
programs for people with disabilities. People are leaving the State
because of this problem.
- Activities for daily living, day treatment, day training, speech
therapists, teaching all phases of life and participation in the
community, also family support programs.
- This facility is to be built as a shelter for the community, in case of
an emergency situation.
- This facility will be built in accordance with Florida Green
Building Coalition ( F.G.B.C. ) Standards.
PHASE 2
Senior Citizens:
- Sections for the elderly. Our purpose is to promote the physical,
mental, emotional well-being of senior citizens in our community, to be
active participants in their community. To improve and enhance the
quality of life for senior citizens.
- Referral service and guidance for the families and caregivers of the
elderly.
- Offices for clinics, such as, health care, physical fitness, mental
health, reach out programs.
- Alzheimer's support program, helping with related learning problems for
family members.
- Crises center for our returning soldiers, police, and firemen / woman
and the families of those who lost their love ones.
- Offices for Medical and health care professionals such as: physicians,
nurses, educators, social workers, health administrators, optometrists,
dentists, nutritionists, podiatrists, and interested businesses relating
to our program.
Your suggestions and ideas are welcome.
Sincerely,
Steve Biondo, Founder of
The Achievers Of America |
|
|
Thank you for visiting our website ...and don't
forget,
Be a Supporter, It Makes You Feel Good!
©2011 The Achievers of America Inc.
|
