New Beginnings for Special Needs, Inc.
NBSN is 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Bergen County, New Jersey which aims to provide special-needs individuals with services and tools that can promote independence while creating stronger ties to our communities. NBSN was established in 2016 by a group of parents of special-needs young adults who identified a need for a longer-term vision for our special-needs children. NBSN is the DDD certified provider agency for the New Day Program. The following is a sampling of services and programs that NBSN has been providing local families.
NBSN provides one-off get togethers during school break weeks like this one when on one dreary, freezing day in February 2017 our member families got together at the Galaxy Gym in Orangeburg, NY for a day of exercise and fun!
The Korean School of New Jersey dedicated its very first choir performance held at Saint Peter’s Church in Manhattan on March 25, 2017 to NBSN and donated all proceeds from the event to our organization! Thank you to the children of the choir, the organizers and a special shout out to Principal Hyunjoo Hwang Kim of the school!
NBSN’s operated an After School Program in 2018-2019 at our old location in Cresskill, NJ. The program was open to all children on the autism spectrum with IEPs. The program aimed to provide opportunities to participate in various activities aimed at enhancing social and adaptive skills, problem solving abilities as well as daily living and leisure skills. We plan to re-open our After School Program in our new location soon!
NBSN was the proud recipient of the 2018 and 2019 Nanum Grant Award awarded by the Nanum Foundation. We would like to express our great appreciation to the Nanum Foundation for believing in our mission and supporting our efforts! The grant proceeds were used to fund our After School Program.
NBSN periodically hosts Parent Seminars on topics such as DDD Services and Special Education. Presentations are all translated into Korean. We will be hosting more seminars soon on topics like special-needs trusts, SSI and Medicaid.
NBSN has been hosting a monthly parent support group for Korean families of special needs individuals since November 2016. Each month, parents gather to discuss a monthly topic and share information. (And sometimes, just for the heck of it, we have non-autism related topics too! The picture is from our event on October 19, 2017, when florist Sophie Lee who runs a shop in Fort Lee, New Jersey, joined our monthly support group session for a fun afternoon of bouquet making.)
NBSN has hosted a Summer Day Camp during the last week of August in 2017, 2018 and 2019. (You know, that last week in August when NOTHING is open!) We were not able to hold the camp in 2019 due to COVID and this year we are busy getting ready to open our New Day Program - but we'll be back in 2022!
All of NBSN's programs have truly benefited from the dedication of volunteers from our local community. Many special-needs individuals crave socializing with peers, both typical and special-needs, so the time our volunteers contribute are very precious. We hope to continue this tradition for the newly launched New Day Program as well. Please join us!
Before we had to temporarily close in March 2020 due to COVID, NBSN ran a Saturday Program for our young adult participants who often have little access to weekend leisure activities with their peers (aka hang out with friends!). The program was run by our wonderful Saturday Program Director, Sarah (that's her in the plaid coat), with the help of our volunteers - mostly local high school student with an RN thrown in for good measure :). Everyone always had a good time and, of course, pizza. We plan to resume our Saturday Program in Fall 2021.
Like any small community-based non-profit, we are always fundraising! Blueberries, kimchi, Korean jujube, Polish sausages - you name it - if its good, there's a fund raiser coming soon! Now that we are on social media (did we mention we are on Facebook and Instagram now?) you'll get to participate too!