EFFINGHAM COUNTY NAVIGATOR TEAM INC

Just wow - what a team !!! A group of spirited - determined - beautiful- differently abled individuals but together a non stoppable ( and quite lovable) team !!
The Effingham County Navigator team inspires many - and they are a joy to watch ! The excitement displayed from just being a “kid” and playing a sport and being part of a team is why this team was developed and developed they have…….in more ways than playing a sport . The Navigators are a blessing to Effingham County and they are very involved in our community.
I am thankful to have the opportunity to watch’s them leave and grow and be a part of their community !!!

I have twin teenagers on the spectrum and Pauline and the Family support group have been really helpful with letting me know the various supports that are available especially with education.

Love this great group, they are always willing to help all children . My nephew loves his Effingham Country Navigator team!

The Effingham County Navigator Team is a game changer for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. This group provides social activities, sports and recreation outings, and support group meetings where parents can share their experiences and resources.

Finding The Navigator group has been such a blessing . The knowledge shared among parents is outstanding. It’s such a great experience to see the relief some parents receive when they get the help they need from the group.

We are so thankful for the Effingham Navigators they are a great non-profit organization. DJ and I are so thankful for the activities that he participates in with this group he loves to play baseball and basketball.

3 years ago we moved here from TN, with our two teenage daughters and our special needs son Xander. From day 1 this team of people made us all feel included and understood. In the world of raising special needs kids it can become stressful and difficult especially in the recent times. We as a family are especially grateful for Baseball season and Christmas parties! As a Mom I'm beyond grateful for what not just Xander gets from this group , we all benefit from seeing TRUE love and inclusion on a consistent basis ❤ Thanks to you all! ❤

It’s a blessing to be able to work with a group of people that truly love all the families they serve. The boys enjoy doing the summer activities.

I can't say enough good things about Effingham County Navigator Team. Our boys are included and encouraged and it makes my heart so happy. Their other siblings do extracurricular activities and being part of ECNT allows them to participate and be included also. I've never been to the meetings because we don't really desire extra support but I know it is there if we need it. ECNT advocates for and loves all who come to them. They are very resourceful and always willing to give advice or help in any way. They are educated on many disabilities and more than happy to share their knowledge. It's nice to be around other special needs parents who can relate and also high school kids who are so kind and encouraging. Our boys love playing ball and get so pumped up and excited when it is time. -Ashley & Jay Smith

My daughter was diagnosed in Jan of 2020 with autism, SPD, and anxiety. We were referred to the Navigators by a church member. This group and all the people and their families in this group have changed my life as well as my husband's and my daughter's life. We immediately went to the support group meeting in Feb and they welcomed us with open arms and provided us with so much support and guidance. The sports activities that they provide for the children and adults has also been a life changer for my daughter. She now is more social and wanting to join activities where before she was to scared or shy to do so. It has opened her world up to so many opportunities. This group is more than just a support group they are now family. It is nice to be around people who are going thru what you are going thru and they don't judge you. They are always there to help and lift you up and guide you in any way they can. I can't say enough the Navigators. My whole family would be lost without them.

I serve many families who have benefited from the love and support the Navigator Team have given them! From time to just play and be kids for the kids, to support groups and information for parents, they do a great job of bringing people together and partnering with other local groups to raise awareness and funds to help children with disabilities in need!

Effingham Navigators is amazing group of people! Inclusion Revolution! They provide and organize sports and other events for special needs and their families! I am thankful and grateful for all they have done for my son Stephen and our family!

The Effingham Navigators are an amazing organization. Pauline Shaw and her team work tirelessly to advocate and provide resources for individuals with developmental disabilities.

This organization deserves more than 5 stars. I could write a book but will keep it as short as possible. This group was formed for kids with special needs to be able to play sports. This organization does so much more and has a huge positive impact on all of the community. This organization is a blessing to all that have been around it and a part of it. They make everyone feel
Like family and most importantly loved. I have met a lot of amazing families through this group that I would have never met if it wasn’t formed. Every community needs a group like the Effingham Navigators.

I love that they include siblings. Lots of different activities and they are so non-competitive.

Back in 2011, I met this wonderful lady Pauline Shaw...she filled me in on what this group was all about...I was truly inspired by this group then but even moreso now! Through the years, I always go to this group and read updates! I’m so moved by all the children, parents, and leaders of this group! The uplifting stories and pics of these beautiful & loving children can change any bad mood that you might have waken to...you know in your heart daily that these children, parents, & leaders of the Effingham County Navigator Team are a huge impact on this county...I love them all very much...some I’ve met, some I haven’t but they are the most awesome group in this county!

There are so many incredible outlets to this organization. Not only do they meet and facilitate events for the children, but they also meet as a support group once a month for guardians to be able to share experiences, give one another tips, offer support, and ask questions. I have attended several meeting and left learning some new information every time! The recreational services provided through this group are fun, interactive, and bring inclusion to another level! I have seen amazing unity come over our county since this group began. I have witnessed first handedly typical kids mentor, assist, and encourage our kids who thought they would never cross a finish line, or home-plate. There is nothing more inspirational in life than witnessing a game or event of the Effingham county Navigators. The way they support one another as adults is incredible, the way they inspire our younger generation is truly a gift, and what they’re doing with our County is something I enjoy seeing, participating in, and will use as a testimony for the rest of my life. A review really doesn’t do this organization justice. You would just have to see it for yourself. They’re a family, and everyone is welcomed with opened arms.

Awesome support to allow all people to laugh and play together! #inclusionrevolution

I absolutely love this group! They do so much for our community ������������

Effingham County Navigator Team has helped my family and I throughout the years. They have been a great outlet and resource for so many families within our community. They’ve helped me as a mother of a child with a disability to navigate the system with knowledge and power to advocate for not only my child but others. They’ve given multiple children opportunities to have lasting and meaningful relationships/friendships that otherwise would not have happened. They have allowed families to spend quality time together without the worries of doctor visits, diagnosis’s , and judgement within the community. They are a great organization and are well deserving of praise and gratitude for all they do.

I have been to their sporting events. They are an amazing group and do so much for the kids.

As a provider in Savannah who has worked with MANY of the families involved with this organization it is very difficult to put into words the immense support The Navigator Team provides to those who are affiliated with them (and others).
The individuals who run it are REAL people (not suits) and live the lifestyle they are promoting day to day.
Being a heart first organization can be difficult but they are pulling it off and anyone involved is changed for the better because of them. They work closely with families to ensure they are involved and informed.
Thank you for all you do in this community!!

Jon - Therapist / Harper Aquatics

The Effingham Navigator Team is amazing. The best throughout GA.

I've never seen my sister so excited to see her Navigator friends. She loves baseball.

The Effingham County Navagator Team has been a great resource for my family and I. We are truly lucky to have them in our community.

Effingham Navagator Team is more then a support group they are like family. My 4 year old grandson was diagnosed with Autism. The Effingham Navagator Team helped with my many questions and also attended his IEP meeting to make sure his needs are being met. God bless the Effingham Navagator Team.

Great organization helping the special needs community. Need more people helping like this.

This is such a wonderful group. It has given my son a chance to participate in sporting activities we probably would not have tried. They are also very supportive if you need help in advising you of your options to provide services to your special needs child. We have been blessed to be a part of it.

Favoritism is rampant and the same individuals are always favored while the rest feel left out.

Amazing support group for adults combined with a wonderful athletic / sports program for children with special needs. They work to involve the child’s whole family in activities. Newer parents have the opportunity to learn from the more seasoned parents as well as develop allies in the daily struggles and joys of life with a special needs child. Each parent and child participant will be blessed for years to come from participating in this amazing group!

It has been a blessing seeing this organization grow the last 8 years! Children and adults have formed lasting friendships. I joined the very first meeting to find supports for my child, but ended up finding a network of families, communiies, and businesses , that have joined together to make the world a better, accepting place for everyone’s tomorrows.

I am grateful. The Navigator Team has made an enormous positive impact on me and and my son' life

Effingham County Navigator Team is an excellent non-profit group. As an adult living with autism, this group has helped me learn to use my own voice in becoming a self advocate, as well as an advocate for others. They provide many social activities, opportunities to play sports, and they also have support meetings for families. The Navigator Team also helps individuals and families find resources to assist those with disabilities to live their best independent lives too!

Being a part of a group of families that have "needs" in common has been great for our family. We started out small, and just attended the monthly support group meeting in the beginning, but before long we were going to every event that The Navigator Team put together. From bowling, baseball, basketball, parties, a small get together, to the big Christmas party at the end of the year they make it fun for all our kiddos, but most
of all they make us feel included, wanted and welcomed! Our son is not a fan of large groups or even leaving the house most days, but when we say we are doing something with ECNT/The Navigator Team he is eager to go!

What an amazing group of people! The "team" goes above any beyond helping with needs a family may have, and with organizing fun events for our children. We started going to support meetings earlier this year, and from meeting ONE we felt welcomed! It takes a village to raise a child, and I am so glad that ECNT is our village.

I joined this group about 6 months after moving to Georgia. My family had been struggling with finding resources for our autistic son. He and I were also struggling to find friends. We joined this group and got both. The Navigators helped my family get signed up with Family Supports, heled us find an advocate for school, advised us on how and when to talk to the school. They've also become our extended family. The Navigators provide so many activities to bring the families and kids together. They help the kids play sports and go on fun outings. My family has found a group to help guide us through the maze of special needs services, is always welcoming and encouraging, and has led to some of the strongest friendships I've ever experienced.

I'm so impressed with the amount of dedication this organization puts forth to help raise awareness for children and adults with disabilities!

Our family has been involved with this group for several years. We have made friendship that will last forever. My son has been able to do sports with this group, which is something that he would not be able to do without them. They are always there for you when you need them without hesitation.

Effingham County Navigator Team is a great group to be a part of. All who attend are welcomed and feel at home. Thanks for some great times.

This group has been one of the best things that has happened for my family. They have helped me figure out next steps since my son's diagnosis, and to get my son's school accommodations in place. My son has made friends (as have I) within the navigator team better than anywhere else. He is able to play the sports he is interested in without embarrassment or reluctance. He took his first ever picture with the Easter bunny because they understood and respected his aversion to being touched. I can't stress enough the positive impact that ECNT has made in our lives.

Effingham County Navigator Team is a great community to be a part of! We have been accepted and loved since our first meeting

This is a great group for children with special needs and their families. They offer lots of fun recreational activities for the children. They are very supportive and help me to see and understand that other people in the community have a family like mine.

This group is wonderful! Great fun for all kids with special needs and their siblings (parents too). We have participated in bowling, basketball, softball, Splash-in-the-boro adventure, Christmas parties and more! Come join the fun and camaraderie, you'll be glad you did!!!