FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: Monday, October 11, 2004
CONTACT: Debbie Abrams
561-394-0785:Tel
561-289-1378:Cell
561-394-6762:Fax
Moms of Special Needs Kids Get a Night Out
Founder of Support Program is Recognized Nationally
DAVIE, Fla.—Mothers of Special Needs Individuals (MOSI) is hosting a Mom’s Night Out on Tuesday, October 19 from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. The evening will provide an opportunity for mothers of special needs children to get together, while getting a much needed evening off. Mom’s Night Out will be “an evening of fun, food and friendship” and will be held at Gija’s Nails, 4301 SW 124th Avenue in Davie. Moms attending will receive free manicures. To attend Mom’s Night Out, call (954) 236-9415.The founder of MOSI, Valerie Herskowitz, will be recognized in New York City later this month for her work on behalf of special needs children and their families.Owner of Dimensions Therapy Center in Davie, Valerie Herskowitz, is a veteran speech therapist, and the parent of an autistic child. To recognize her 23 years of service to children with special needs children and their families, Herskowitz has been selected as a finalist for a “Stevie”—a new national award that recognizes women small business owners. The awards are produced by the creators of the prestigious American Business Awards, hailed as “the business world’s own Oscars” by the New York Post.
Herskowitz will attend the awards ceremony on Friday, October 22 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City. The Master of Ceremonies will be Bill Rancic, winner of the hit television show “The Apprentice” and now spokesperson for Avanta, sponsor of the award.
Dimensions Therapy Center is a finalist for the Community Involvement Program of the Year award and Herskowitz is a finalist for the Lifetime Achievement Award. More than 600 nominations from small companies were submitted for consideration in 18 categories. In addition to MOSI, Herskowitz has organized a Family Club. Each month, this group hosts get-togethers that enable families to feel comfortable socializing with their special needs children. On November 14, the Family Club will have their annual movie outing and will be seeing Polar Express as guests of Warner Brothers. Other activities the Family Club has participated in include bowling and trips to the zoo. About Valerie Herskowitz
Valerie Herskowitz’s career as a speech pathologist has spanned the past 26 years. Since 1981, as owner of Dimensions Therapy Center, she has been providing private therapy services to families in the South Florida area. She is on the adjunct faculty at Nova Southeastern University and is considered to be the premier authority on the use of computer-based intervention with special needs individuals.Ms. Herskowitz is the President of the National Autism Registry. This non-profit organization was started to help families cope with the stresses of parenting a child with autism. This organization offers all services to its members free of charge. Ms. Herskowitz also serves on the board of the Broward County Chapter of the Autism Society of America. Ms. Herskowitz’s interest in special needs is not just professional: Her youngest son, Blake, was diagnosed with autism in 1993 when he was two years old. Her company, Dimensions Therapy Center, offers speech and occupational therapy, as well as computer based therapies.
