The Els for Autism team provides only evidence-based programs and services. To develop these programs, however, research must be an essential part of our work. Our highly trained clinicians continually conduct studies and submit articles for publication to share best practices with families and professionals in the field.

Here is a recap of the articles published by our team in 2025.  

The Importance of Fitness Training for Autistic Individuals
By: Nate Shanok, PhD, Research Coordinator 

Research has shown that recreation, specifically sports, can be an effective supplemental therapy for individuals with autism. However, autistic individuals tend to live more sedentary lifestyles. To reverse this trend, Els for Autism offers a variety of recreation programs and services.  

“Beyond getting a quality workout, students experience tremendous joy as they improve their skills and rally with peers or coaches,” observed Shanok. “It’s clear that fitness and sport-based programs cultivate valuable social bonding experiences.” 

Exploring Recreation Therapy for Individuals with Autism: Exercise to Improve Socialization, Self-confidence, and Independence
By Elizabeth Reisinger, CTRS, Recreation Services Manager 

Exercise is a proven, evidence-based intervention for individuals with autism, promoting development in social, emotional, and independent skills. Through our recreation programs, participants engage in conversations, help review class objectives, and cheer for others – activities that boost self-confidence, with many individuals reporting they feel “stronger” and “happier.”  

Managing Anxiety: Tools and Strategies for Emotional Balance
By: Amanda Trovato, PsyD, Senior Manager of Therapeutic Services 

Up to 40 percent of individuals with autism also experience clinically significant anxiety, often due to sensory sensitivities and difficulty with unpredictability. The most successful way to help support anxiety in individuals with autism includes a multifaceted approach considering all sensory, emotional, and cognitive needs. 

Psychoeducation, exposure, cognitive restructuring, and relaxation techniques can all be utilized to help manage anxiety with the support of caregivers. 

Modernizing your cultural infrastructure through autism inclusion
By Erin Brooker Lozott, Ed.D., BCBA-D, CCC-SLP, Program Director; and Marlene Sotelo, Ed.D., BCBA-D, MT-BC, Executive Director 

With more than 5.4 million autistic adults in the U.S., and over 70,000 entering adulthood each year, creating an autism inclusive workplace isn’t just a social responsibility; it’s a strategic investment that strengthens culture, widens the talent pool, and drives long-term organizational growth. 

Companies should build an inclusion plan with measurable goals, defined focus areas, and clear action steps. Technology, including assistive tools and AI-supported communication, can also play a pivotal role in helping autistic employees thrive. 

Beyond Words: Overcoming Barriers to Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) for Autistic Individuals
By: Amanda Lopez, MS, CCC-SLP, Lead Speech-Language Pathologist Programs and Projects Specialist; and Victoria Giannone, MA, CCC-SLP, ASDCS, Lead Speech-Language Pathologist-Clinical Operations Specialist 

Speech-language pathologists work to enhance communication and independence in autistic individuals through the use of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) AAC tools. 

However, AAC use is often limited by barriers such as lack of knowledge, negative attitudes, and financial constraints. Training communication partners and advocating for better resources, funding, and customized communication systems are essential for improving access and supporting AAC users’ communication competence. 

Autism Language and Symbols Preferences: Insights from a Cross-Cultural Survey
By Jose Martinez, PhD, BCBA-D, Behavior Analyst; Erin Brooker Lozott, Ed.D., BCBA-D, CCC-SLP; Marlene Sotelo, Ed.D., BCBA-D, MT-BC 

This study examined preferences for person-first language (PFL), identity-first language (IFL), symbols, and terminology. 

Autistic individuals largely preferred IFL, the infinity loop, and Autism Acceptance Month, reflecting neurodiversity-aligned, identity-affirming views. Parents and professionals favored PFL, the puzzle ribbon, and Autism Awareness Month, aligning with more traditional medicalized perspectives. 

The findings highlight the need for inclusive, flexible language use. Honoring individual preferences and using both PFL and IFL when appropriate supports respect and clarity across research, policy, and practice. 

This year’s theme, “Honor Our Legacy, Fuel Our Future,” celebrates the lasting legacy we have built since we opened The Els Center of Excellence^® campus 10 years ago while looking ahead to the future with the groundbreaking of our Specialized Autism Friendly Recreation Complex.

Throughout the year, we witnessed incredible breakthroughs and celebrated meaningful milestones with the individuals and families we serve. While there were countless memorable moments, we’ve narrowed it down to Our Top 5 of 2025!

Inaugural Neon Nights Held to Celebrate a Decade of Excellence

On August 18, our campus officially turned 10 years old. Year after year, the vision of our founders has come to life as The Els Center of Excellence evolved from a plot of land into a one-of-a-kind campus that families around the world relocate to be part of so their child can receive education, therapy, and support, all in one place.

To celebrate our milestone anniversary and remarkable growth, we opened the campus to the community on August 23 for our inaugural Neon Nights. Our Events Team transformed the campus into a glowing, 80s-themed celebration complete with a lively dance floor, glow golf competitions, and South Florida’s top food trucks serving delicious delights.

This year’s Neon Nights benefited the construction of our Specialized Autism Friendly Recreation Complex – which brings us to our second highlight!

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Groundbreaking of the Specialized Autism Friendly Recreation Complex

Fulfilling a long-term vision of our founders, on August 28 we broke ground on a Specialized Autism Friendly Recreation Complex, a transformative addition to our campus.

This state-of-the-art facility will be the first ASPECTSS®-compliant sports and recreation complex in the U.S., using a research-based architectural design framework tailored for individuals with autism.

The complex will include:

• A purpose-built gymnasium designed to reduce sensory overload, offering year-round access to basketball, yoga, and fitness programs
• An aquatics center providing life-saving swim instruction and water safety education – especially crucial in Florida, where drowning is the leading cause of death for children with autism
• A teaching kitchen and multipurpose dining area to support life skills development and community programs
• Sensory escape spaces, a splash pad, and therapeutic fitness rooms for safe, inclusive play for healthy living

Another major milestone this year was receiving a $2.5 million appropriation from the State of Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities, bringing total state funding for the complex to $4.4 million over the past three years.

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Ernie Els #GameON Autism® Aquatics Program Developed

This year, the Ernie Els #GameON Autism® Sports program expanded to include aquatics. While all of our sports programs promote physical health, social skills, and emotional well-being, the new aquatics program was designed to also save lives.

With drowning being the leading cause of death for children with autism, this program provides specialized swim instruction tailored to the unique learning styles of individuals on the spectrum.

The curriculum focuses on:

• Building essential water safety awareness and swim skills
• Increasing confidence and independence in aquatic environments
• Supporting social engagement and communication through structured group lessons
• Using evidence-based strategies to track progress and outcomes

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CADI Through the Lifespan

Our Collaborative Autism Diagnosis and Intervention (CADI) program expanded to provide diagnostic services across the entire lifespan, from early childhood through adulthood.

This expansion was needed, especially for teens and adults, as there is now greater awareness, improved screening and diagnostic tools, and expanded definitions of autism.

By offering CADI services across the lifespan, we can ensure individuals receive timely evaluations and customized care plans that support their strengths, goals, and long-term potential, no matter their age.

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Career Exploration & Training (CET)

Finally, in 2025, we launched the Career Exploration & Training (CET) program, empowering adults with autism to explore their strengths, gain hands-on experience, and prepare for meaningful careers.

This innovative initiative offers training and career discovery across multiple industries, including basic carpentry, hotel and hospitality, office and clerical essentials, retail, and food service.

Participants receive personalized coaching, résumé and interview preparation, and real-world practice inside our state-of-the-art vocational labs. Our labs were built to provide safe, realistic environments designed to build workplace-ready skills.

All training is focused on fostering independence, confidence, and long-term success in the workforce. This program was made possible through a generous grant from NEXT for AUTISM.

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As we close out this eventful and memorable year, we extend our gratitude to the families who entrust us to support their children through our programs and services. We are also thankful for every donor, volunteer, and community partner who supported our mission in 2025.

From small moments to major milestones, your generosity this year pushed us closer to a world of endless opportunities for individuals with autism.

No parent ever wants to hear that their child has autism. When Ernie and Liezl Els’ son, Ben, received an autism diagnosis, their lives, like those of all families directly impacted by autism, changed forever. However, their journey to support Ben inspired the creation of a world-class autism campus, a place where individuals of all ages can access programs, services, therapies, and education all in one location.

A Family’s Leap of Faith

At the time of Ben’s diagnosis, World Golf Hall of Famer Ernie Els and his family were living in England. “We took a chance and put him into the same school as our older daughter, Samantha. He absolutely despised it,” Ernie Els recalls.

Determined to find a better solution, Liezl Els began researching and discovered a charter school for children with autism in Palm Beach County, Florida. The family took a leap of faith and moved across the pond. The decision changed everything. “Ben started smiling and making friends. Although the school gave him the support he needed, the building wasn’t up to ‘par.’ Liezl said to me, ‘We must build something proper for individuals with autism.’”

The Beginning of Els for Autism

Ernie Els then decided to go public with Ben’s diagnosis, making the announcement at the 2008 Honda Classic – an emotional moment that inspired family friend and entrepreneur Marvin Shanken. Shanken pulled Els aside and suggested they collaborate to raise money for autism research through a Pro-Am. “You get the pros, I’ll get the amateurs,” Shanken told Els.

That initial idea grew into something even greater. Together, Ernie & Liezl Els and Marvin Shanken established the Els for Autism Foundation®, a global nonprofit organization dedicated to helping individuals on the autism spectrum reach their full potential. Through fundraising efforts, including the Els for Autism Pro-Am, they purchased a 26-acre plot of land in Jupiter, Florida, to build The Els Center of Excellence® – a world-class hub for autism services and education.

Building The Els Center of Excellence

Ground broke in 2014, and just 18 months later, the campus opened with the Rupert Education Wing – the new home of Ben and his friends’ charter school – and an administration building. During that time, the founders recruited Marlene Sotelo, EdD, BCBA-D, MT-BC, from the University of Miami- Nova Southeastern University Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (UM-NSU CARD) to help create comprehensive wraparound programs so individuals could receive all their therapies and services in one central location.

This innovative approach changed everything for families. “We were spending nearly two hours every day in the car taking our child from school to therapy. Now he just walks down the hallway on The Els Center of Excellence campus,” said one parent whose child attends the charter school and receives services from the Els for Autism team.

A Decade of Impact

This past August, The Els Center of Excellence celebrated its 10-year anniversary. The campus now includes the Shanken Education Wing, the Stoops Family Adult Services Building, the O’Donnell Family Pavilion, sensory arts gardens, tennis and basketball courts, two playgrounds, and a three-hole pitch-and-putt golf course.

Under the direction of Dr. Sotelo, who is now the Executive Director, Els for Autism provides autism programs and services for individuals starting at 12 months old through adulthood, focusing on three primary impact areas:

• Early Intervention & Education
• Recreation
• Adult Services

Expanding Recreation and Research-Based Design

To mark the campus’s 10-year anniversary, Els for Autism broke ground on a Specialized Autism Friendly Recreation Complex. The complex will include the Stanley Black & Decker Gymnasium, an Aquatics Center, and the Thomas R. & Deborah K. Whitesell Splash Pad. It will also be the first sports and recreation facility in the U.S. to be ASPECTSS® compliant – a research-based architectural design framework for autism.

Including the aquatics center was especially important. Drowning is the leading cause of death for children with autism, and through the evidence-based Ernie Els #GameON Autism® Aquatics program, children will learn essential swim and water safety skills in a safe, supportive environment.

A Global Vision for Autism Support

Els for Autism also has organizations in the United Kingdom, Canada, and South Africa. Its evidence-based programs and services have reached families and professionals in 38 countries, creating a true global autism community.

Despite this global reach, Els emphasizes that Els for Autism remains a family-driven organization, and on any given day, you will see him and his wife greeting staff, clients, and their families. “I don’t know if one day I’ll be remembered as a golfer or as a dad who brought autism to the public,” he reflects. “I like the latter.”

A Legacy of Hope and Excellence

No matter where you call home, Els for Autism provides autism support services, programs, education, and resources for individuals of all ages, their caregivers, and professionals.

Explore our full list of evidence-based programs and services.As a nonprofit organization, Els for Autism relies on charitable financial contributions to continue providing programs and services to our clients and their families. Remarkably, 87¢ of every $1 directly benefits our programs and services, ensuring your donation has a profound impact. We invite you to explore our diverse range of giving options, tailored to match your philanthropic goals and preferences. Your generosity fuels our global mission to transform the lives of people with autism and their families through lifetime services and collaborative partnerships. Thank you for being a vital part of our community and helping us create a world of limitless possibilities.

It is a tragic and heartbreaking statistic that drowning is the leading cause of death in autistic children, with Florida being the state with the highest number of these deaths. From 2012 to August 2024, 130 children with autism drowned in Florida alone*. Many autistic children are naturally attracted to water, and they may leave a safe environment without realizing the potential dangers that water can present. Sadly, children with autism are 160 times more likely to drown than their neurotypical counterparts. 

This devastating reality is one of many reasons the Els for Autism team is proactively spreading awareness of water safety by creating the Ernie Els #GameON Autism® Aquatics program. This multi-level curriculum is an innovative, evidence-based program developed to teach individuals with autism and related needs how to swim in a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment. This program is designed by certified aquatics professionals, licensed therapists, and adaptive swim instructors within community pool facilities, private swim academies, and clinical or therapeutic settings. 

To aid us in our endeavor, we are actively fundraising for our Specialized Autism Friendly Recreation Complex, which will include an Aquatic Center, a multipurpose amenity that will include a regulation size swimming pool which will facilitate swimming and water safety lessons.  

Additionally, for individuals who cannot swim or prefer not to, the Aquatic Center will also house a Splash Pad which is generously named by Thomas R. and Deborah K Whitesell and will allow children to enjoy inclusive, social fun while being in a safe and protective environment. As early intervention is crucial, this will allow young individuals to build a positive association with water and is a step towards building trust and awareness for the individual.  

Autism Parenting Magazine wrote an article highlighting four benefits of swimming for autistic individuals: calming the mind, reducing sensory deprivation, following instructions, and developing motor skills.   

Once the Aquatic Center is completed, the Ernie Els #GameON Autism Aquatics program will be available globally, allowing individuals, organizations, or businesses to become Official Program Providers and offer this lifesaving program in their community. If you are interested in becoming an Official Program Provider, please join our interest list here.  

We believe providing water safety education is a pivotal key to individuals with autism, but we cannot do it alone. You can be a part of the mission to save autistic lives by donating to our cause. Big or small – your contribution will help us create a future where families do not have to suffer the tragedy of an accidental drowning.   

Donate Now to help save lives!  

*Based on data published by the Children’s Services Council