Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Barisano. Them and their team share their story with us below:
Jessica (Hassler) Barisano is the Founder of Collaborative Corner for Exceptional Children, a Central Florida-based non-profit organization created for families and children within the disability community.
With a focus on Special Education Planning and Advocacy, Jessica specializes in advocating on behalf of families and children within the public school system. She enjoys collaborating with families, school-based teams, and medical professionals (both) nationally and throughout the various Florida school districts to bring a whole-child approach to education.
Earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Hospitality and Tourism from the University of Central Florida in 2006, Jessica’s diverse background in hospitality, tourism, business management, and philanthropy has given her a solid foundation to develop and grow Collaborative Corner.
In 2012, Jessica’s passion for the exceptional needs community evolved as she navigated her family’s journey with her older son, Joseph Trenton. As a “medically complex” child, “Trent’s” wide variety of diagnoses include Autism, ADHD, Genetic Growth Disorder, a Rathke Cleft Cyst (located on the pituitary gland), Developmental Delay, Speech and Language Delay, Vision Impairment, etc.
Through the complexity of her son’s medical conditions, she quickly recognized that the world of exceptionalities lacked accurate resources, access to medical and therapeutic specialists, coordinated care, education, and inclusion (and much more). Using her professional background in over-lapping, multi-service business models, Jessica took this approach to “managing” Trent’s needs and her younger son, Jacob, who shares similar diagnoses.
As Trent became school age, Jessica’s desire to help other exceptional children within the school system grew tremendously, prompting her interest in assisting families in receiving the appropriate educational services and accommodations for their children. In early 2019, Jessica received her Special Education Advocacy training through the IEP Advocate Training and Shadowing Program under Pam Lindemann and the Central Florida school districts. Upon opening Collaborative Corner for Exceptional Children in July of 2019, Jessica has used her training and experience to assist Collaborative Corner families in navigating the Exceptional Student Education system through 504 Plans, Individualized Education Plans, Educational Planning, and consultation. Jessica’s personal and professional experience throughout the Florida school districts and within the various disability communities assists her in successfully advocating for medically complex children and children with unique needs.
With a passion for assisting families in creating their own “road map” within their children’s educational, medical, and therapy environment, Jessica’s goal for Collaborative Corner is to ease the process of the diagnosis stage(s) for a family of a child(ren) with exceptional needs. Her mission is to ensure that a Collaborative Corner is a place for families to receive free, accurate, and quick information and interact with specialists and other parents who can relate to their journey.
Always putting families first, Jessica and the Collaborative Corner team insist that YOU are the expert on your child. Through collaboration, coordination, and communication, our mission is to serve the community and families with a whole-child, whole-family approach to care.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Read and Listen to Podcast Interview for Orange Socks: Inspiring Life Despite a Diagnosis https://orangesocks.org/jessica-and-jonathan-growth-hormone-deficiency
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Founder of Collaborative Corner for Exceptional Children a Non-profit Organization
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Read and Listen to Podcast Interview for Orange Socks: Inspiring Life Despite a Diagnosis https://orangesocks.org/jessica-and-jonathan-growth-hormone-deficiency
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.collaborativecorner.org/
- Instagram: @collaborativecorner
- Facebook: facebook.com/collaborativecorner
Image Credits
Erin Miller Photography
