The Offutt AFB Exceptional Family Member Program and Bellevue Public Schools are partnering to present the 8th annual Special Needs Resource Fair. The Offutt Special Needs Resource Fair has become one of the largest special needs resource fairs in the Omaha-Metro with more than 60 vendors from Omaha, the surrounding areas, and across the state. Attendees will have an opportunity to meet with real people from various special needs-related agencies and get to know the people who are committed to their area of expertise. Traditionally, many vendors bring interactive activities that demonstrate their passion and inspire conversation, questions, and exchange of information.
The 2023 Special Needs Resource Fair is set for Thursday, April 20th from 4pm-6:30pm at the Lied Activity Center, 2700 Arboretum Drive.
Special Needs Resource Fair coordinator Jonnie Dreher said the event has grown exponentially over the years, “What was originally designed to help military families new to Offutt or those navigating a new diagnosis has now expanded to help all families under all phases of their journey learn and connect with some of the best agencies that can help and improve quality of life and services for themselves and/or those they care about.”
According to Dreher, Offutt EFMP has sponsored the event for 8 years and even hosted a virtual resource fair during COVID. “This year families who have previously attended can expect the same great event from years past. New and experienced families are going to love all the improvements we’ve been able to bring to this year’s event,” Dreher said.
Some of the more recognizable vendors attending this year include Autism Action Partnership, Autism Center of Nebraska, Nebraska VR, DHHS Disabled Children’s Program and Medically Handicapped Children’s Program, DHHS Division of Developmental Disabilities, PTi Nebraska, and Disability Rights Nebraska.
“We ensure attendees will not experience high-pressure sales or gimmick promotions. Each agency is vetted and reviewed to ensure they offer a service that will provide quality-of-life support and/or initiatives that benefit our special needs community. Our goal is that each person who attends this event learns something new or makes a new connection.”
Jonnie Dreher, Special Needs Resource Fair Event Coordinator
A few of the vendors that are new to the fair this year include Circle Theatre Omaha, AllPlay Miracle Buddy Baseball League, Impactful Learning, Region V, Ollie Webb Center, and the Munroe-Meyer Institute Trailblazers Program.
Dreher also added food trucks to the fair this year including La Cabanita Taco Truck, the Funnel Cake & Sweet Treats Truck, and Dippin Dots. Dreher said, “We also want to be mindful that this event takes place over dinner time so we will have some food trucks and a designated eating area, so no one has to go home hungry.”
Navigating a resource fair can sound overwhelming or challenging for some people so it is helpful to know what type of resources you are looking for before you arrive. Vendors will be organized by the following categories of services to make it easy for attendees to navigate the event:
- Advocacy, Legal, and Financial
- Camps, Sports, and Recreations
- Education and Employment
- Mental Health
- Offutt & DOD Support Agencies
- State Programs
- Therapies & Adaptive Devices
At the check-in table maps will be provided along with a list of the agencies available.
If anyone is interested in volunteering or would like to register as a vendor, please email Event Planner Jonnie Dreher at jonnette.dreher.1@us.af.mil.
One point Dreher emphasized was that all attendees should be comfortable at the fair, especially when talking to the vendors, “We ensure attendees will not experience high-pressure sales or gimmick promotions. Each agency is vetted and reviewed to ensure they offer a service that will provide quality-of-life support and/or initiatives that benefit our special needs community. Our goal is that each person who attends this event learns something new or makes a new connection. Offutt AFB EFMP and Bellevue Public Schools understand that having special needs or caring for someone with special needs is hard and we want to make it a little bit easier for our community to connect to helpful resources and support.”
Photos provided by Offuutt EFMP
