Mission Statement
Our mission is to research, develop and distribute Occupational Therapy and other life changing products including DVDs, games, workbooks and therapy equipment to service the special needs community. We currently design, develop and manufacture specific product lines that help special needs individuals improve their quality of life. We are dedicated to making Occupational Therapy available to all children with special needs and are committed to raising the funds necessary to support these goals.
With innovative products in the hands of special needs families, children's futures will be brighter and more fulfilling. By focusing on each individual child and their needs it is our dream that children of today with special needs will flourish and grow. Working in partnership with our team of Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, Speech and Language Pathologists, professors, teachers, doctors and families of children with special needs, we are sure to provide a full range of results-driven solutions, including idea generation and validation, product design and implementation, and post-launch evaluation.
Special Needs United Foundation plans on becoming a global center of excellence for Occupational Therapy and innovative product development.
Founders
Jackie Olson
As a mother of a son with autism, Jackie Olson has become an active participant in the special needs community. When searching for help for her son early on, and having little success, Jackie found occupational therapy to be the answer she hoped for. Having seen significant improvements in her son while receiving occupational therapy, Jackie became a supporter and proponent of OT for children with special needs. Using resources she garnered from her career as a producer, Jackie created instructional occupational therapy videos, with OT Britt Collins, so parents could learn the basics of occupational therapy and how they could implement it into their child's daily lives.Jackie founded Special Needs United in 2009 with aspirations to provide occupational therapy for children with special needs who's families don't have access to it either because of financial reasons, geographical location, or simply lack of guidance. Jackie plans to spread awareness of occupational therapy by speaking at conventions and conferences around the country, as well as educating individual families, giving families access to volunteer occupational therapists, and working with companies to improve occupational therapy products.
Jackie Olson resides in southern California with her husband and son, and can be heard monthly on Autism One Radio with Britt Collins, M.S. OTR/L.
Britt Collins, M.S. OTR/L
Growing up with a sister with special needs, Britt felt a special connection with children early on in life. Since then, Britt has graduated from Colorado State University with a Masters Degree in Occupational Therapy and is now recognized by the AOTA as a licensed occupational therapist. She has also taken courses in neuro-developmental treatment, sensory integration for children, behavioral modification, and is certified in applied behavioral analysis.
In 2003, Britt crossed paths with Jackie Olson when Jackie reached out to occupational therapy to help her sons progress. Britt's results where so overwhelming, Jackie recruited her to star in a series of instructional occupational therapy videos for parents to learn how to implement OT into their child's daily lives.
In 2009 Britt co-founded Special Needs United with Jackie with goals of bringing occupational therapy to families of children with special needs. Britt's focus on sensory integration through occupational therapy has led her to work with children with various special needs, such as autism, ADHD, and cerebral palsy. Her experience and expertise make her an invaluable asset to SNU.
Britt currently resides in Oregon, and works with children in outpatient, inpatient and rehabilitation settings in a pediatric hospital. She can be heard monthly with Jackie Olson on Autism One Radio.
