ABOUT US

Get To Know US

Extra Special People, Inc. (ESP) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization with a passion for enhancing the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. ESP serves individuals ranging from 4 to 30 years old from Watkinsville, in Oconee County, and the seven surrounding counties in Northeast Georgia: Barrow, Clarke, Greene, Jackson, Morgan, Oglethorpe, and Walton.

ESP's mission is to provide opportunities that allow children with all levels of ability to participate in social, functional, and recreational activities that are both fun and educational, and to give parents of children with disabilities the resources to raise children who are happy and healthy. Because when children thrive, so do their families.

SUMMER CAMP

ESP's largest program is the ESP Summer Camp, a seven-week program that provides continuous learning as well as social and recreational opportunities for young people with disabilities. ESP Summer camp offers a two-campers-to-one-counselor ratio, which affords the much needed attention and support for children with developmental disabilities. The camp runs for six consecutive weeks as a day camp allowing for a variety of activities designed to enhance each participant's social, cognitive, adaptive, and motor skills. The seventh week is a residential week (i.e. overnight camp), which gives an opportunity for each camper to build confidence and independence, while supplying their families with a much needed "break".

Parents pay for each week of camp but due the extremely high cost of having the high staff to camper ratio; most parents cannot afford the full cost. Without your support, the campers may not be able to attend, and for many of them it is the only time they are able to have a positive experience interacting with other kids like them. LEARN MORE

YEAR ROUND

ESP remains open throughout the year providing Saturday clubs, programs for adults with disabilities, family networking, and informational activities. Join our mailing list for updates!
ESP offers many different year-round programs, such as the once-a-month Saturday program known as ESP Club. Lasting four hours, ESP Club provides the kids with a day similar to that of ESP summer camp including opportunities for campers to partake in a wide variety of activities such as: bowling, swimming, arts and crafts, sports and games, community outings, sleepovers, day trips to Stone Mountain, Pump It Up, Discover Mills Mall, tubing down the Chattahoochee River in Helen, Georgia and many more.

Who We Are

Laura Whitaker, Executive Director (meet me) laura@extraspecialpeople.com

Catherine Rayburn, AmeriCorps Member, Assistant Camp Director & Program Coordinator
catherine@extraspecialpeople.com

Samantha Plotino, AmeriCorps Member, Development Associate & Communications Coordinator
samantha@extraspecialpeople.com

Gayle Smotherman, AmeriCorps Member, Family Involvement Coordinator & Assistant Programming Director
gayle@extraspecialpeople.com

Janet Konecny, Administrative Assistant
janet@extraspecialpeople.com

Meet Our Board

Joe Moon, Chairman
CEO, Mobile IT Solutions

Carter Strickland, Campaign Cabinet Chairman
Writer, ESPN

Beth Pope Page, Vice Chairwoman
Preschool Support Specialist, Madison County Schools

Chris Griner
Executive Director of Finance, Barrow County Schools

Chuck Toney, Parliamentarian
Assistant to the President, UGA

Dr. Allison Nealy
Lecturer, Department of Communication Sciences and Special Education, UGA

Joan Baird
Student Services Director, Madison County Schools

Sallyanne Barrow
Associate Director of Alumni Relations, UGA

Chuck Williams
Representative, District 113

Toni Swan
Director of Operations and Finance, Athens Academy

Jake Berton
CEO, Athens Social Media

(PAC)
Parent Advisory Committee

Amy McCollum
Christine Chaney
Cyndi White
Heather Allen
Joan Baird