History of BISNF

PHOTOS

History of BISNF

The Bainbridge Island Special Needs Foundation (BISNF) was formed as the result of efforts that began around 1980. Several parents of profoundly handicapped children began meeting with each other, school educators, and other community resources to identify ways that could be employed to improve otherwise likely outcomes. These initial meetings resulted in the formation of a Special Parent Teacher Organization. This group provided certain steering and advisory functions, a lobby, and sources for funding needs not provided within the structure of state education. These functions continue today under a separate banner, while BISNF's focus has targeted the transition years and those that follow involvement in the public school system. BISNF was incorporated as a non-profit on November 19, 1999 and the IRS 501C-3 application for non-profit status was started soon after.

The Stephens House was established in 2002 by the Bainbridge Island Special Needs Foundation (BISNF) as a group supported employment program that provided even the most severely developmentally disabled adults with the opportunity to learn appropriate work behavior and skills, focusing on each individuals needs and interests with the goal of finding meaningful, productive community employment.

Stephens House participants learned proper behavior and social skills while they succeeded in a variety of vocational and interactive tasks. Training included volunteer work for local businesses, creation of an extraordinary line of bath and body products, raised bed cultivation for floral bouquets, multi-media art instruction, and life skills (i.e. household chores, lawn and landscape maintenance, and food preparation).

The Stephens House, located in the heart of the Bainbridge Island business district, provided a place for interaction between community and clients. We sold an extensive line of Stephens House art, body products, cut flowers and donuts, and created special events to increase awareness and give back to our patrons.

In 2009 BISNF shifted the focus of our activities to life enhancing programs that increase physical health, mental wellbeing, and social interaction for our clients, while providing respite for their caregivers. Today, many of our activities include outings into the community such as swimming at the community pool, bowling in the local bowling alley, trips to the Seattle Aquarium, Game Works, many of the areas museums.