Host Becky Hennesy brings on a new friend and reformer to the podcast. Her name is Deja Ard and her journey to launching a life-changing childcare center is incredible. It's a unique facility because it is specifically designed to assist children diagnosed on the Austism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Deja is all too familiar with this special needs world after her own son  was diagnosed with ASD at age 2. At first she struggled to find answers to help her son's behavior/speech development. Deja explains to Becky how she went through a series of emotions such as denial, depression, stress, defeat, confusion, guilt, anger, helplessness and most of inadequacy.

But her determination and perseverance paid off. Plus, a divinely-inspired mission trip to Costa Rica where she met a host of other parents with special needs children.  Deja returned from that trip with a vision to not just help her own son, but hundreds of other families experiencing the same challenges she had.

The result was brand new childcare facility called Spectrum of Love Childcare Center located in Duncanville, Texas. As all true reformers do, Deja worked tirelessly to build relationships with others around her. Specifically, she connected with local Independent School Districts, non-profit organizations, and local governmental officials to give her guidance on how to base her programs on the development of functional skills so that children will be successful and independent in school, at home, and in life.

Spectrum of Love Childcare Center classrooms are setup to model a structure vital to teaching functional skills within that academic environment. With Behavior Technicians leading classes and using Applied Behavior Analysis Techniques, Deja says unique students will be better equipped for a successful school year and home life.

Some of the activities at the childcare center include:
- Breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack, and dinner
- Occupational Therapy Techniques with arts, crafts, music and movement
- Circle Time
- Potty Training Assistance
- Functional Life Skills station using Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Techniques
- Functional Social Skills station using Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Techniques
- Nap time
- Behavior Technician Guided outdoor play to cultivate friendships
- Speech Development and Sign Language
- Academic Stations using Montessori Techniques

Contact Deja at: Deja@SpectrumOfLoveChildcare.com

The Reformers Collective podcast is part of the expanding Charisma Podcast Network (CPN).  Click here to visit the CPN main page. While at CPN, look for additional Reformers Collective resources such as Becky's blog articles on the topic of reformation.

Let's keep bringing godly solutions to earthly problems!

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Host Becky Hennesy hangs out with one of her besties! It's Tara Bollinger-Okszuler, the creator of an incredible non-profit organization called Inspire School Programs. In this episode, they breakdown how Inspire was launched, how it's grown, and the secret power of starting small.

They also take listeners into Tara's own "inspiring" journey from Miss Missouri who had a degree in Broadcasting to her "crazy faith"  move to Texas in 2012 to start in Inspire program in Cedar Hill.

So what exactly is Inspire School Programs? Its primary purpose is to create SEL (Social and Emotional Learning) mentoring programs, events and curriculum that inspire students to discover their value, find purpose and build strength to be successful in life while positively contributing to their community.

Inspire School Programs focuses on partnering with local schools to provide SEL programs and mentor students. According to student survey results after a semester of classroom mentoring, Inspire had the following results:

• 86% - felt an increase in self-confidence
• 94% - respect themselves more
• 85% - respect others more
• 91% - make better relationship choices
• 66% - used at least one positive coping technique for anger or anxiety within a week 

Inspire uses classroom mentoring, curriculum and events to create a safe environment to help students develop in SEL competencies. Inspire works with local schools to determine their specific student issues and address them in programs. Inspire’s approach to student mentoring includes academic encouragement, positive coping skills, social and emotional intelligence development as well as mental health awareness.

The Reformers Collective podcast is part of the expanding Charisma Podcast Network (CPN).  Click here to visit the CPN main page. While at CPN, look for additional Reformers Collective resources such as Becky's blog articles on the topic of reformation.

Let's keep bringing godly solutions to earthly problems!

Host Becky Hennesy welcomes America's favorite public school assembly speaker Reggie Dabbs to the podcast. Since the late 1980s, Reggie has been a familiar name for many teenagers who have heard him speak in hundreds of school systems, churches, youth camps and other events around the nation. His impact for the Kingdom is so broad and wide it's nearly impossible to measure.

He and Becky share about his latest move to the Dallas/Ft. Worth Texas region, where he's joined the Trinity Church pastoral staff. They also dive into how his role in the Kingdom has reformation roots that run deep into the hearts of America's youth.

Links to Reggie's website: reggiedabbsonline.com

Born to an unwed teenager, Reggie was raised by foster parents until he was in the fourth grade, and then they officially adopted him and gave him the Dabbs name.

As the Dabbs’ reared Reggie, they instilled in him strong moral values, for which he is genuinely grateful. They also ingrained in him the fact that in every situation he faced, he had a choice. What he did with those choices was entirely up to him.

In the sixth grade, Reggie began playing the saxophone and hated it. At the insistence of his parents he continued to practice and to play. Not until his freshman year in college did he actually enjoy the instrument, and today, he plays with fervor and expertise.

After graduating from college, Reggie began his public speaking. During one speaking engagement, his host asked if he would be interested in addressing a high school assembly. From that small beginning in 1987, Reggie has become a popular public school speaker.

When addressing a school assembly, Reggie talks to the kids in a humorous style about choices each of them has when faced with drugs, alcohol, suicide, etc. Reggie gets in kids faces and tells them that he never smoked a cigarette, never did drugs, never drank alcohol, because he chose not to. He assures them that they can make the same kinds of choices.

Reggie talks to kids about family and how thankful they should be that they have families.  Most of all, Reggie drives home the fact that “You can never change your past, but you can change your future!”

The Reformers Collective podcast is part of the expanding Charisma Podcast Network (CPN).  Click here to visit the CPN main page. While at CPN, look for additional Reformers Collective resources such as Becky's blog articles on the topic of reformation.

Let's keep bringing godly solutions to earthly problems!