Health & Fitness
Making a Splash in Social Media to Find & Share Resources, From Canada to Cornwall to Connecticut
Local Non-Profit, Sensations Charitable Foundation, learning and teaching the ropes of social media on a shoe string, driving its mission on many fronts.
Sensations Charitable Foundation has become well versed in the social media climate this past year and has established some noteworthy connections to maximize it's efforts to create, conduct, and support effective programs and services for those with disabilities and health conditions. Sensations has used two Facebook accounts (EmpoweringAbilities &Connectwithsynergy)and an enewsletter to share resources and program updates for local supporters. If not for our Facebook connections, we would not have been the first private agency in Southeastern Connecticut to provide effective Playgroups based on the philosophy of the Life Is Good Playmakers. Amazing!
Those who do not like Facebook are welcome to follow on Twitter. Sensations Charitable Foundation believes that Twitter has been a helpful resource for connecting with others in the field across the world as well as discovering resources that families and professionals in the community might not be aware of due to the potentially exasperating amount of information available through social media networks. Some of the groups that are connected via Twitter are: STAR Services, KaBoom, LIGPlaymakers, Sensory Trust, and Children & Nature. With the current economic climate it would be nearly impossible to connect with these other resources while maintaining high quality programs. The funds can only be divided in so many ways. Social media allows us to increase our reach and research without increasing the budget.
As a an organization grown locally in CT the founders, Kate O'Boyle and Brian Armstrong, realize that not everyone is on Facebook or Twitter yet still might appreciate recieveing daily updates in a newspaper format. In addition to Patch for all your hyper local news you can recieve news from across the web in Empowering Abilities, an online customized newspaper focusing on news releated to Positive Psychology, disabilities, and getting outside.
Find out what's happening in Waterfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
One final unique resource we have begun using is 8tracks, an online free music server that allows people to create music mixes and share. Since we conduct play groups and believe music is a great energy changer with kids, why not listen to the music we use in our playgroups when at home, Life can Hurt, Play Can Heal
The beauty of these resources is that anyone can learn how to negotiate the social media world, control it, and use it to increase how effectively it gets the word out to its clients locally while also reaching peers across the country without any additional time or money.
Find out what's happening in Waterfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
If you are interested in learning more about increasing your online presence, networking effectively online, and streamlining the time you spend online so you can increase time with loved ones; reach out and connect today. We can help you recreate our template and teach you the positives and negatives we learned along the way.
About Brian Who am I and what do I do? I am the father of three children, husband to a very special woman, and work as a Social entrepreneur supporting children with disabilities, the families who love them, and professionals who serve them. I was born and raised in Southeastern CT (Hanover to be exact). Went to Hofstra University and graduated with an interest in developmental psychology. After interning and becoming a certified Special Education teacher. For ten years I worked as a special education teacher, district behavior consultant, and assistive technology coordinator. The work was rewarding yet I always believed I could have a positive impact on more than 5-10 families a year.
In July of 2009 I left teaching to create a better life for my family and reach for my dream to be an effective positive influence on families, school districts, and service providers across the region. Early in 2009 Synergy Center was created, followed by Sensations Charitable Foundation as vehicles to support families with social, emotional, and behavioral needs. Since their creation we have made a positive difference in the lives of more than 150 families, teachers, and service providers. Working with Patch is an opportunity to continue our work and connect people to information and services their families need to be their best, yet may not find in through typical channels. As I say to people who either help our cause or come to us for support - Let's Play!
