“When you are truly inspired to act, it gives back to you ten-fold.”

As the father of a special needs child, Robert Monsheimer found himself in the same situation countless families face when it comes to getting their kids the educational programs and support they need to  succeed.   Rather than give in to the frustration caused by the lack of awareness, information and organization around special needs educational programs in his local Montgomery County, Maryland school district, Bob set out to “find a way to make a way”.  His community work created a concrete way to unite parents facing similar obstacles concerning special needs educational program access with the resources and information they required to help them get the support they needed.  In the process, Bob has pioneered a new information system for his local school district that has aided the ability for school administrators to become more aware and in turn connect parents with the right programs for their child.

Bob launched a website, www.emocosn.com, that serves as a community-based clearinghouse for special needs educational programs, information for parents, and program requirements in the school district.  This has created a transparent solution to the lack of coordination that parents face when engaging in the process of educational support for their children.  With information about the special needs educational process more readily available, the lives of families with kids in special needs programs are more at peace and families can focus on actual learning and growth rather than being tied up in administrative proceedings.  As a result, more county dollars have been shifted from the legal tangle special needs families often find themselves in to get access to the right educational programs and services to helping support the programs themselves.  Bob’s model has also provided other school districts with a replicable way to enhance the quality of life for special needs families.  Robert’s community volunteer work has also spilled over into his role at Verizon, as the process of uniting two sides stuck in a lock-step battle creates a business frame of mind that helps him come up with resolutions, step outside of the box and truly listen.  As Robert puts it, “When you move from the world of complaints to the world of problem solving, what you can build is limitless.”

To join Robert as part of the Verizon Community Champions Program, contact Engagement@verizonfoundation.org