Shorkey Center

10/20/2026

10/19/2026

What a GREAT weekend at the Buddy Walk! We loved coming together with our community to celebrate inclusion, spread awareness, and support individuals with Down Syndrome.

10/16/2026

Happy National Boss Day! 💙

Today we’re celebrating our fearless leader, Mrs. Julie, who is truly driven, dedicated, and always willing to serve wherever she is needed. She supports every department with a great attitude, isn’t afraid to step into the middle of the hard things happening around the building, and leads with both strength and compassion.

Most importantly, Julie loves our children well and is determined to make Shorkey better—not just for today, but for the long run. We are so thankful for all the ways she works behind the scenes, shows up when things get difficult, and continually pushes us toward something better.

We’re grateful to have a boss who leads by serving and cares so deeply about the people and children who make Shorkey special. Happy Boss Day Julie!

10/15/2026

Pediatric physical therapy plays an important role in helping children build the strength, balance, coordination, endurance, and motor skills they need to move through their everyday lives with confidence.

Therapy may look like an obstacle course, a fun game, jumping on the trampoline, or kicking a ball. Even when it looks like play, each activity has a purpose and helps children participate more fully in everyday activities.

We’re thankful for the PTs who help our kiddos move, play, grow, and become more confident in what their bodies can do!

10/13/2026

Put that Halloween candy to work!

Instead of letting seasonal candy just sit in the pantry, use a few pieces as a simple motivator for learning and practicing skills at home!

Candy like M&Ms, Skittles, or other small treats can be used to practice:
🗣️ Communication: Request more, help, want, eat, or a specific color using speech, signs, or AAC
🔢 Counting & math: Count, sort, compare more/less, and practice simple addition
🎨 Colors: Identify, match, and sort by color
👂 Following directions: “Pick up the red one and put it in the cup.”
🤝 Turn-taking: Practice my turn/your turn
✋ Fine motor skills: Pick up candy with fingers, tongs, or tweezers
📚 Motivation: Use one piece as a quick reward after completing a task or practicing a skill

The best part? You don't need fancy therapy materials—sometimes a little seasonal candy can provide a fun, simple way to practice important skills!

10/08/2026

Smoke alarms can be loud and scary, especially for children with sensory sensitivities. One way to help is by using a short social story before the alarm ever goes off!

Practice the story regularly and, when appropriate, let your child hear a recording of the alarm at a comfortable volume. Repetition can help make the real experience feel more familiar.

10/08/2026

A BIG shout-out to Beaumont Fire & Police!

Our Instruction Junction Preschool friends and others at the clinic had an extra special visit this week! Our kids have been learning all about fire safety, staying safe, and what to do in an emergency, so it was the perfect time for some hands-on learning with our amazing community helpers.

Thank you to Beaumont Fire & Police for coming by, showing off your vehicles, and giving our kids the chance to see the awesome people behind the uniforms! We are so thankful for the men and women who help keep our community safe!

10/07/2026

Thank you so much to the Southeast Texas Nonprofit Development Center for spending a morning with us! Your continued support means the world to us, and we loved having the opportunity to share more about what we do every day. We’re so grateful for your partnership and the work you do to support nonprofits in our community! 💙

🧩 Member Connection: Shorkey Center

The Member Connection for September brought the Southeast Texas Nonprofit Development Center team to Shorkey Center, just off College Street in Beaumont, TX. We met with Executive Director Julie O’Malley, who shared Shorkey Center’s comprehensive Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Therapy program for children diagnosed with autism and other developmental disabilities, along with additional services such as Speech and Aquatic Therapy and the on-site Instruction Junction Inclusive Preschool.

The Shorkey Center is an extensive facility that includes an indoor pool for children, a physical therapy room with a dedicated staircase, and two outdoor playgrounds! We visited one of their learning spaces during lunchtime, where we witnessed a team of Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) working one-on-one with every child present.

With a fully revamped curriculum, Shorkey’s Inclusive Preschool is a Texas Rising Star-certified program that serves children ages 2 to 5 and uses elements of the Learning Without Tears curriculum to meet each student's needs. Julie detailed how they maintain the quality of their preschool through the incredibly low student-to-teacher ratio of 4:1, which allows a more individualized learning experience. In addition to their preschool education, any student who also requires on-site services, such as speech or occupational therapy, can receive that as well!

We're proud to connect with nonprofits like Shorkey Center that are making a meaningful difference right here in Southeast Texas. ❤️

🍎 Looking to support the Shorkey Center’s mission in providing exceptional developmental and growth services to children with special needs? Find Shorkey Center’s requested Amazon wishlist items here:

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2F5K6V8QSYWIQ/ref=hz_ls_biz_ex

10/07/2026

Thank you so much for your continued support. The Shorkey Center is able to fulfill its mission and provide vital support to families because of generous supporters like you. Your commitment makes a meaningful difference in the lives of the children and families we serve.

Sabine FCU is proud to kick off our 2026 United Way of Orange County Corporate Campaign season!
This morning, we had the honor of hearing from Julie, Executive Director of Shorkey Center. She shared powerful insights into the vital work her organization does and the importance of their partnership with United Way.
We’re grateful for the opportunity to support United Way and its partner agencies, and we appreciate the knowledge and inspiration Julie brought to our team today.
Hearing firsthand how these funds help provide services and opportunities for those they serve was a great reminder of the impact we can make together. We're proud to support United Way and the difference it makes in building a stronger community. 💙

10/06/2026

Practice Makes Prepared! Our Instruction Junction team practices our fire drills regularly so our little ones and staff know what to do and where to go in an emergency. Safety, confidence, and preparedness are always a priority!