It all begins with an idea.
In September 2007, a small group of parents met informally to share their personal experiences and concerns about the future of their children with special needs.
The group began to meet about every two months to discuss their challenges, successes, helpful resources, and in general lend support to each other. Through their efforts the founders incorporated the Organization for the Advancement of and Services to Individuals with Special Needs, OASIS.
Their vision and mission began to take shape in 2015 with the acquisition of a 14 acre produce farm in eastern Gaithersburg, The project hosts a variety of opportunities for groups, agencies and individuals supporting those with special needs. Shared garden farming, shredding and pottery are featured at OASIS Farm. The wide scope of tasks inherent to farm maintainence provide a rich variety of opportunities for vocational training.
OASIS, Inc. continues to evolve as we embrace our mission and strive toward a fuller realization of our vision. Read more about our vision, mission and farm project below.
Our Vision
OASIS recognizes that adults with developmental disabilities are among the most under employed populations in today’s struggling economy. Parents and guardians of transitioning youth with developmental disabilities endeavor to ensure a meaningful and sustainable future for their children only to find available options limited and subject to fiscal cutbacks, legislative changes and a shifting political landscape impacting the programs serving this population. Knowing these challenges first hand, OASIS founders investigated options for a long term, sustainable solution. With a personal stake as their impetus, they looked toward each other to incorporate and fund a 504 (c) 3 nonprofit and to develop an affordable and sustainable working model that would allow individuals with special needs to live productive, active and meaningful lives. The result of their efforts is realized in the OASIS Farm Project.
Our Mission
Organization for the Advancement and Services to Individuals with Special needs (OASIS) is an IRS approved 501c(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching the quality of life of individuals with special needs and their families through job training, employment opportunities and social interactions in an agricultural setting.
OASIS Farm
The farm is located at 24800 Dunnavant Drive, Gaithersburg, MD, 20882 . The 14 acre farm project, OASIS Farm, offers its fields for collaborative organic farming by individuals, groups and agencies serving transitioning youth and adults with special needs. Solar panels, rain irrigation and plans for winter growing are helping the farm to become more sustainable. Through grants and a growing shredding contract, paper shred provides the base for the farm’s compost and is impetus for the most recent endeavor; that of producing papercrete garden pottery, fire starter bricks, seedling cups, seed paper and seed bombs from the surplus shred.
Doraiswamy Raj Rajagopal, President of OASIS, Inc. info@specialneedsoasis.org
Diana Jusino, Program Director for OASIS, Inc. djusino@specialneedsoasis.org
Derek Mondelli, Grants Writer and Technical Director for OASIS, Inc. dm@specialneedsoasis.org
Debra Leary, Grants & Outreach Coordinator for OASIS, Inc. info@specialneedsoasis.org