Our Story...
Bryant, Jackie, Imani (daughter), Omari (son, our inspiration for all that we do)
Bryant, Jackie, Imani (daughter), Omari (son, our inspiration for all that we do)
Bryant, Jackie, Imani (daughter), Omari (son, our inspiration for all that we do)
As the parents of a child with Autism we understand the struggles and unique challenges that become a part of everyday life. And it is only through a strong support system based on Love, Hope, Faith & Joy that our family has been able to weather the storms.
Papa, Omari & Imani
Bryant, Jackie, Imani (daughter), Omari (son, our inspiration for all that we do)
Bryant, Jackie, Imani (daughter), Omari (son, our inspiration for all that we do)
When we relocated from New York to Palm Bay Florida in 2006 we were fortunate to have met some wonderful Angels that assisted our family with settling in and with the sudden passing of my father Michael (our family’s guardian Angel, aka Papa).
WHY>>>We Need A Place Where Everyone Understands.... So, Angels Bridging Gaps was born
Grandma Tonya, Nana, Imani, Bryant, Jackie, Omari (Collaborative Holiday Event with SOAK & Nathaniel's Hope Buddy Break)
Grandma Tonya, Nana, Imani, Bryant, Jackie, Omari (Collaborative Holiday Event with SOAK & Nathaniel's Hope Buddy Break)
Prior to arriving to Brevard we started researching resources and found that there were very few available for families living with Autism within the local and surrounding area, and most importantly there didn’t seemed to be a local support group, a place where everyone understands, a place where families and individuals come together to share information and to socialize in a supportive environment.
Grandma Tonya, Nana, Imani, Bryant, Jackie, Omari (Collaborative Holiday Event with SOAK & Nathaniel's Hope Buddy Break)
Grandma Tonya, Nana, Imani, Bryant, Jackie, Omari (Collaborative Holiday Event with SOAK & Nathaniel's Hope Buddy Break)
Grandma Tonya, Nana, Imani, Bryant, Jackie, Omari (Collaborative Holiday Event with SOAK & Nathaniel's Hope Buddy Break)
Angels Bridging Gaps is a Family Affair.
Our family's dedication is based on wrapping supports and enrichment opportunities around Omari and other families like ours that we have been blessed to meet along the way. This journey can be a lonely one, and having a village of support means the world to those living with or caring for a person with a disability.
“ Serving Brevard Families for Over 17yrs”
Omari
Imani & Omari
Imani & Omari
Horseback riding with friends during one of our ABG Monthly Family Fun Days with the Rescued Horses ~Saved Kids ministry of Malabar Baptist Church in (2009-2021)
Imani & Omari
Imani & Omari
Imani & Omari
Bowling with friends during one of our ABG Monthly Family Fun Days at at Shore Lanes Bowling Alley (2009-2021)
Nana & Omari
Imani & Omari
Jackie, Omari & Bryant at High School Graduation... What Comes Next????
Our family was blessed with another beautiful Angel, my mother Anita (Nana) pictured with Omari at Special Olympics Basketball Competition.
Jackie, Omari & Bryant at High School Graduation... What Comes Next????
Jackie, Omari & Bryant at High School Graduation... What Comes Next????
What opportunities are their for adults with disabilities in our local community when it comes to jobs, training, college, transportation, housing, and socialization?
What will his adult future look? What happens when we are gone?
This became a realization in our own family when our son Omari reached the age of 22 and aged out of the school district funding pools. Unfortunately because of the lack of funding most young adults like Omari who has low verbal autism or some other related disability have few options outside of what caregivers can provide once school ends.
Our Answer .... To create an Adult Enrichment Program called ABGworks
In 2021 we incorporated Angels Bridging Gaps as a 501.3c nonprofit to help generate funding to support the creation of programs that serve to fill the gaps in services within our disabilities community. In answer to filling one of the severely underserved gaps we developed an adult enrichment program in 2021 called ABGworks to help provide services and skills training youth and adults with disabilities in our communities, with focus on ages 22-64
How can we make a long term impact for our village of families? Answer - Collaborative Partnerships
Angels Bridging Gaps has always believes in partnering with a variety of organizations, businesses, and individuals in our community to provide resource connections and services to those in need. To ensure the longevity in these crucial and critical programs and wraparound services designed to help support the day to day lives of our youth and adults with disabilities, we have chosen to merge under a newly founded organization called One Voice Coalition of Florida.
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Our goal is to work collectively with others to Empower our Disability Community to join us in our One Voice mission to promote a culture of acceptance, enrichment, and empowerment in the lives of children, teens, adults, and families in Autism, Autistic, and neurodivergent communities.
We offer innovative and inspiring programs, training, services, and opportunities for leadership and volunteerism for those within and supporting autism and disability communities.
OVCFL’s Four Foundational Pillars of Positivity:
^Acceptance ^Enrichment ^ Inspiration ^Empowerment