ACCESS® Celebrates 25 Years of Building Brighter Futures for Individuals with Special Needs
ACCESS® Group, Inc. will kick off its 25th year of service on August 19, 2019 for the 2019-2020 academic year. ACCESS began in 1994 as a small therapy clinic in Little Rock serving just a handful of early childhood clients with special needs. Over the course of 25 years, ACCESS has expanded to serve more than 780 families per year across 35 counties in Arkansas, as well as families from its bordering states.
The growth of ACCESS has been truly parent and community driven,” says Tammy Simmons, Executive Director and Co-founder. “As the needs of our families and that of the community have evolved, we have responded to those needs and provided a variety of resources for individuals with developmental disabilities and language and learning disorders. Every individual deserves the opportunity to expand their individual potential through innovative instruction, and we have been able to do just that.”
Each day, ACCESS delivers its mission to over 300 individuals ages 6 weeks through adulthood through evaluation services, therapy, full-time education, vocational training, and more. This year, ACCESS is excited to continue serving the needs of the community by adding behavioral health services and counseling to its menu of services. “By offering behavioral health services, we have rounded out our repertoire to allow our team of professionals to better serve the whole individual,” explained Tammy. “Behavioral issues are often the result of frustration that cannot be adequately expressed, something that can occur frequently for those with a disability or developmental delay. By expanding our team to include behavioral and mental health professionals, we are proud to continue meeting the needs of families throughout Central Arkansas.”
Throughout the 2019-2020 academic year, ACCESS will celebrate its 25 years of service through a variety of events, fundraisers, and more. “We would not be where we are today without the support of our staff and the community,” said Tammy. “It is important that we celebrate this success together and look to the future as we continue to search for new and innovative ways to build brighter futures.”
ACCESS is fortunate to be a led by a dedicated Board of Directors who volunteer their time and efforts to advocate for and advance the mission. “On behalf of the ACCESS Board of Directors, I would like to thank our donors and the incredible outpour of support from our community,” said Skip Ebel, Chairman of the ACCESS Board of Directors. “Your gifts of time and resources are the driving force behind our efforts. Every investment directly impacts the children and young adults that we serve and affords new levels of independence and opportunities.”
For more information about ACCESS or how to support this organization, please contact Krysten Levin, ACCESS Marketing and Special Events Manager, (501) 217-8600.
About ACCESS
Mission: Expanding Individual Potential Through Innovative Instruction
ACCESS is a 501c3 nonprofit offering evaluation services, full-time education, therapy, training and activities for individuals with disabilities. Founded in 1994, the center comprises ACCESS Early Childhood Program, ACCESS Academy, ACCESS Therapy, ACCESS Academic Therapy (specialized tutoring), ACCESS Life, Project SEARCH Arkansas: ACCESS Initiative in partnership with Arkansas Rehabilitation Services, Waiver, ACCESS Evaluation and Resource Center, and Behavioral Health and Counseling. The ACCESS Stella Boyle Smith Early Childhood campus is located at 10618 Breckenridge Drive in Little Rock, Arkansas. The ACCESS Academy and Young Ault Campus is located at 1500 North Mississippi Street in Little Rock, Arkansas.
2019 ACCESS Board of Directors
Walter M. Ebel, III, Chairman
Shay Sebree, President
W. Scott Davis, Vice President
Jackson Farrow, Jr., Treasurer
Amy Baden, Secretary
Heather Allmendinger
Shelly Baldwin, MD
Fred Davis
Brandon Freville
Jane Hartz
Beth Johnson
Harold Joyner
Kurt Knickrehm
Mark Langston
Lynn O’Connor
Olivia Ramsey
Becky Scott
Philip Tappan
Katherine Ann Trotter
25th Anniversary Celebrations
22nd Annual Starry Starry Night
November 9, 2019
ACCESS Academy and Young Adult Campus
1500 N. Mississippi St.
18th Annual ACCESS Cup
Chaired by Chris McNulty
May 11, 2020
Chenal Country Club
14th Annual Bingo Bash
Chaired by Kelli and Mason Miller
July 2020