Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Gomes.
Amy, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I am a Physical Therapist by trade. In 1991 I began a home based Pediatric therapy company with a dear friend who is an Occupational Therapist. We grew into one of the largest home based pediatric companies in Central Florida. As the children aged, we noticed that they were not as active after finishing school and therapies and were at home with parents, non employed and isolated from friends. We began a non profit foundation off the profit company and began looking for ways to keep our young adults active. We began working with local businesses, ballet studio, Tae Kwon Do studio and local farms for therapeutic horseback riding. We even purchased a home for young adults to live together, work and have peer interaction. As the years went by we noticed that our kids needed a place of their own and we formed the Central Florida Dreamplex as an LLC off the non profit. This began to provide recreational classes (dance, zumba, tae kwon do, art, music and cheerleading) and we began putting together adaptive sports (wheelchair basketball, power wheelchair soccer, sled hockey and track/field). By this time I had bought out my OT partner and my son was running the Dreamplex. I later merged my profit company into the non profit Dreamplex and we are now one big happy family.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It was a very smooth road as a homebased therapy company. When we began the Dreamplex, more therapists wanted to get off the road and come into the facility. The therapy side of business was very smooth but growing the recreational classes and adaptive sports was slower and a bit more painful. As in any therapy business, it is always difficult to maintain therapist personnel and there is much turnover.
We’ve been impressed with Central Florida Dreamplex, LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Central Florida Dreamplex now provides traditional therapies, recreational therapies, adaptive sports, adult day program and a Pre K through 12th grade therapeutic school on campus. We also have an Orlando facility that offers the traditional therapies. We are the only facility of this type in Central Florida and we are so excited to offer so many programs that provide inclusion for all with special needs.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I knew that I wanted to be a Physical Therapist from the young age of 10. There was a neighbor on my street who had Cerebral Palsy and I spent so much time with her and decided at that time this is what I wanted to do for my career. I adopted 3 children with special needs and my youngest, Abbey, who has Down Syndrome still lives with me. My son who runs the Dreamplex helps with Abbey and we live on the same property with his family. I also made many international mission trips to over 6 countries and fell in love with Ukraine. I built a school for those with special needs as they were not permitted to attend public school. The school was located in Crimea and since the war, it may not be running. Special needs population is my heart and I smile at every activity that takes place at the Dreamplex.
Pricing:
- info@cfldreamplex.com
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cfldreamplex.com
- Facebook: Central Florida Dreamplex
- Youtube: CF Dreamplex cheer video at youtube.com
Image Credits
I put the added pictures with my personal picture by accident (not knowing what the next page was asking for); if you did not receive my personal headshot which would have been the first picture, please let me know.
The added photos are our recreational and sport classes and our school. My child, Abbey, is the cheerleader and the one showing off her cooking class bread creation.
