Our History
We’ve grown…and we’re growing!
Panhandle Special Needs opened its doors in 1975 with only a handful of clients and a few determined parents trying to create a safe and productive environment for their adult disabled family member. More than 40 years later, our agency now features specialized employment training, individualized life skills training, an adult day health center, a retail greenhouse and our retail thrift store The Cottage.
Currently serving 80-100 clients per year, our array of services can be accessed individually or in combination to create a customized support plan that best meets the needs of the individual based on where that person lives, works and plays.
Trinity Nicholson
DDA Administrator
In addition to our main facility, we own and operate additional locations that allow us to expand our work opportunities for clients as well and provide additional funding to support our services and programs.
The Cottage
Our unique thrift store is set up in a beautiful old Craftsman style house built in the early 1900’s, equipped with eight rooms full of quality home and garden items priced to sell. Founded in 2010, The Cottage not only provides financial support to the programs at PSNI, but it also provides employment training opportunities for our clients as well.
With over 30 dedicated volunteers, The Cottage is a well-run business with a festive atmosphere and friendly staff. This tight knit group runs the store and organizes special events while the clients at PSNI process the donations and perform daily cleaning duties.
