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Discover the inspiring stories and experiences of our users who have found invaluable resources, support, and connections through SpecialNeeds.com.

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John Luthor

SpecialNeeds.com has been instrumental in helping me find the right resources for my child. The wealth of information and supportive community is invaluable.

Sarah Taylor

As a teacher, SpecialNeeds.com is my go-to website for understanding my students' diverse needs. The strategies and tips shared have been very helpful.

Alex Hales

The user interface of SpecialNeeds.com is very friendly and easy to navigate. It's a great platform with a lot of useful features for individuals with special needs.

David Warner

SpecialNeeds.com is a beacon of hope for parents like us. The online resources are fantastic and the supportive community is heartwarming.

Jessica Brown

The speech therapy resources on SpecialNeeds.com are top-notch. They've been incredibly helpful in my practice.

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I've found so much support and understanding in the SpecialNeeds.com community. It has made all the difference for my family.

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SpecialNeeds.com is an invaluable tool in my classroom. The educational resources and community support are amazing.

Oliver Smith

SpecialNeeds.com offers practical and actionable occupational therapy strategies. It's a resource I use daily in my practice.

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Navigating the world of special needs parenting can be challenging, but SpecialNeeds.com provides resources and a community that truly help.

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Guide your special needs-related business to reach its full potential. Here's the straightforward path to success

Begin by signing up for an account to join our community and initiate your journey.

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With your account set up, it's time to create your business listing. A well-crafted and engaging listing can attract more visitors.

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Choose from our range of packages for your listing, including various features to suit your needs. We offer multiple options, including a free package.

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Once you submit your listing, our team will review it. Upon approval, your listing will be published on the site for public viewing.

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Discover our extensive directory featuring a wide range of special needs-related listings. Add your listing to join our growing community.

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Engage directly with users through our messaging feature. Manage all your conversations efficiently from your dashboard.

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Draw more visitors and grow your business. You have full control over your listing and can update or modify it as needed from your dashboard.

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Privacy Policy

Hi there! At SpecialNeeds.com, we care a lot about keeping your information private. We promise to do our best to keep your information safe and sound. This means we collect only the necessary information to provide you with the best possible experience on our site, and we take all the necessary steps to protect your information from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure.

1. Our Promise

When you join our site, we collect your email, display name, and password. We don't ever collect your location unless you tell us it's okay. Additionally, we use various analytics tools, which may collect other information like which pages you visit on our site, your IP address, and other data related to your use of our site. These tools help us understand how our site is used and enable us to improve your experience.

2. What We Collect

We collect information from you when you fill out forms on our site, like when you sign up. We also use cookies and Google Analytics to learn more about how you use our site. If you choose to enable the distance search feature, we'll collect your location information after getting your consent by clicking a button.

3. How We Collect It

We use your information to help you use our site and to make our site better for you. We also use it to see how people use our site, so we can make it better for everyone. Your location information, if you choose to share it, is used to help you find resources and services near you.

4. How We Use It

The majority of your information is kept confidential and is not shared with any third parties outside of SpecialNeeds.com. However, for users interacting with our directory listings (such as camps, schools, etc.), we may share aggregated and anonymized analytics data with the owners of these listings. This data may include metrics like the number of page views, time spent on the site, and other related usage statistics. It's important to note that this shared data will not include any personally identifiable information and is solely used to provide insights to our paid listing owners.

5. Who We Share It With

We use some fancy tech stuff to keep your information safe, like HTTPS for secure browsing, bcrypt to keep your password safe, and encryption to keep your location safe if you choose to share it with us. We also store your encrypted location information (if provided) in your browser's local storage and not on our servers, to add an extra layer of security.

6. How We Keep It Safe

You can change your email and password whenever you want. You can't change your display name once it's set, though. If you want to delete your account, you can do that, too. And remember, you can always tell us to stop using your location info by revoking your consent.

7. Changing or Deleting Your Info

Our site isn't made for kids under 13. We don't collect information from anyone under 13, and if we become aware of any such information, we will take steps to delete it.

8. Kids Under 13

Our site is made for people in the U.S. Even though we collect some information from people outside the U.S. through Google Analytics, our website is not targeted at them, and we do not use their information for anything other than Google Analytics.

9. People Outside the U.S.

Sometimes we might need to change this policy. If we do, we'll send you an email, and we'll put a notice on our site and on our social media accounts, if we have any. Please keep checking so you always know our latest policy.

10. Changes to This Policy

Remember, we're here to help. If you have any questions about this privacy policy, just ask!

Privacy Policy for SpecialNeeds.com

Terms and Conditions

Terms and Conditions for SpecialNeeds.com

Hi there! Welcome to SpecialNeeds.com. We're a website that helps people learn about special needs resources, like camps, schools, and therapists. We also share articles and news about special needs topics. But before you start exploring, we need you to understand and agree to our rules.

1. Welcome to Our Site!

Our site is primarily made for people who are 13 years or older. However, individuals under the age of 13 may access the content on our site under the supervision of a parent or legal guardian. While they cannot register for an account, they are welcome to read and learn from the information available with appropriate guidance.

2. Who Can Use Our Site

We want everyone to have a good time here, so we have some rules. You can't use our site to do anything illegal, to bother other people, to share spam, or to post mean or offensive things. And please, don't share anything that belongs to someone else without their permission.

3. Our Rules

Users can add items to our directory, but we'll need to say okay first. We use a smart computer program to check if anything mean or offensive gets posted. And we'll take down anything that's not okay right away.

4. Adding to Our Directory

If you break any of our rules, we might have to stop your account. This means you won't be able to use our site anymore. We don't want to do this, but sometimes we have to.

5. Accounts and What Can Happen

We do our best to share good, helpful information. But we can't promise that everything is perfect or right for you. We're not doctors, and we don't give medical advice. Always check with your own doctor or do your own research.

6. What We Can Promise

If we have a disagreement, we'd like to work it out with you. But if we can't, then we'll have to ask a neutral person or group (this is called an arbitrator) to help us solve it.

7. What Happens If We Disagree

Sometimes we might need to change these rules. If we do, we'll send you an email, and post on our social media accounts, if we have any. Please keep checking so you always know our latest rules.

8. Changes to These Rules

You may cancel a paid plan at any time from your account page. If you cancel within 30 days of your original signup, we will refund everything you have paid for your listing to date. After 30 days, when you cancel or move to a lower plan, we will refund the unused portion of what you have paid, prorated by the time remaining in your current billing period. All refunds are issued to your original payment method; we do not issue account credit. If you switch from annual to monthly billing at the same tier, your annual access continues through the period you have already paid for and monthly billing begins when it ends; nothing is charged or refunded at the time of the switch. Refunds outside the stated policy are at our sole discretion.

9. Refunds and Cancellation

Remember, we're here to help. If you have any questions about these terms and conditions, just ask!

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At SpecialNeeds.com, we strive to foster a community of trust and reliability. One significant way we ensure this trust is through our Verified Badge. You may have spotted this little checkmark symbol on our platform. But do you know what it signifies? Allow us to pull back the curtain on this important aspect of our platform. The Verified Badge isn't merely decorative - it's a symbol of authenticity, accuracy, and connection. When you see this badge associated with a company, you can rest assured that the company has been thoroughly vetted and is confirmed to be genuine. But how do we ascertain this genuineness? The process is both rigorous and meticulous. To earn the Verified Badge, a company representative or a SpecialNeeds.com staff member must first register with us and provide evidence of their affiliation with the company. This is typically in the form of a business email address. However, the badge doesn't just signify affiliation. It's also a testament to accuracy. The representative or our staff member is responsible for verifying all information associated with the company - from contact details to rates and features. Only when every piece of information has been scrutinized and confirmed do we award the coveted Verified Badge. Maintaining the Verified Badge isn't a one-time effort - it requires an annual renewal. Each year, company representatives are required to reaffirm their details and reverify their information. This ensures that the data associated with Verified Badge holders remains up-to-date and accurate. If the information isn't refreshed yearly, the Verified Badge status lapses. This renewal requirement serves as an ongoing commitment to accuracy, reinforcing our dedication to providing reliable, current information for our community. But why is this badge important? Why should you, as a user of our platform, trust it? The answer is simple. The Verified Badge is your compass on SpecialNeeds.com, guiding you with the assurance of truth and reliability. This badge is our commitment to you. It's our guarantee that the information you're viewing has been checked for accuracy and confirmed for authenticity. Whenever you see this badge, you know you're looking at a company that has been meticulously verified. That's our promise to you. So, as you explore the vibrant world of special needs-related businesses on SpecialNeeds.com, remember to look out for our Verified Badge. It's more than a symbol - it's the mark of trust you can rely on.

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Verified Listing: Last verified <lastVerified>. Click to learn more.

Waitlist

Details about availability and payment methods offered by the counselor.

Details about the counselor's session fees.

Indicates if the counselor provides online sessions.

Various payment methods accepted by the counselor.

Information about the counselor's waitlist status.

Essential details about the counselor to help understand their professional background.

The specific age groups the counselor primarily works with.

Languages in which the counselor can conduct sessions.

Affiliations with professional organizations or bodies.

Detailed information about the counselor's educational qualifications and credentials.

The institutions where the counselor acquired their formal education.

Certifications the counselor holds in their respective field.

Acronyms or abbreviations representing the counselor's qualifications.

Educational degrees or diplomas acquired by the counselor.

The institution or organization that provided the counselor's prelicensing.

The name of the individual who supervised the counselor during their training or licensing phase.

License number of the counselor's supervisory entity.

The year the counselor graduated from their educational institution.

The counselor's areas of expertise and methods of treatment.

The types of participants the counselor typically works with.

Specific mental health or life issues the counselor is trained to handle.

Therapeutic methods or techniques used by the counselor.

Areas where the counselor has advanced expertise or focus.

Various methods through which counseling is provided.

Matthew Sprong provides specialized counseling services through Empathic Empowerment Counseling, PLLC, focusing on individuals, couples, and families navigating complex life challenges. As a Certified Rehab Counselor (CRC), he offers unique expertise for those managing disabilities, traumatic brain injuries (TBI), or adjusting to significant life transitions. He creates a safe, supportive environment to help clients process emotions, develop coping strategies, and find direction during times of uncertainty.
His practice is particularly well-equipped to support the special needs community with practical advocacy and accommodations. Matthew can assist with disability evaluations for service animal eligibility, navigating IEP and 504 plans, developing return-to-school or return-to-work strategies, and securing ADA reasonable accommodations. His clinical expertise also covers a wide range of issues including anxiety, trauma, PTSD, learning disabilities, and peer relationship challenges.
Offering both in-person and telehealth services, Matthew works with teens, adults, and elders. He is an ally to the LGBTQ+ community and accepts various insurance plans, including Aetna, BlueCross BlueShield, Cigna, and UnitedHealthcare. Currently accepting new clients, he provides individual sessions at a rate of $150 and accepts several payment methods, including HSA.

Matthew Sprong is a counselor in Springfield, IL specializing in disability advocacy, IEP/504 support, and life transitions.

Matthew Sprong

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