A Capital Campaign for the RECREATION COMPLEX

Expanding recreation activities available at The Els Center of Excellence® campus.

Recreation Complex

Troon partners with Els for Autism® for World Autism Month

Scottsdale, Ariz. (April 3, 2023) – April is World Autism Month and Troon® has partnered with Els for Autism to raise funds and autism awareness worldwide. Golfers playing Troon-affiliated courses in April are encouraged to donate the dollar amount of their score to Els for Autism in support of this special initiative, which will help transform the lives of people with autism and those who care for them. For example, if a golfer shoots an 80 during their round, they are encouraged to donate $80 to Els for Autism.

For every score donated, the donor will be entered into a drawing to win a two-night stay at The Breakers Palm Beach in Florida and participate in the Els for Autism Grand Finale. The Grand Finale is a two-day extravaganza of golf and entertainment hosted by Ernie and Liezl Els set for October 30 – November 1, 2023 at The Breakers Palm Beach. Two winners, plus their choice of one guest each, will be awarded on May 1, 2023 and will receive:

  • Entry for one golfing guest and one non-golfing guest (airfare/transportation not included)
  • Attendance at the Welcome Party on October 30
  • Attendance at the Awards Ceremony and Gala Celebration on October 31
  • Entry to Grand Finale golf tournament for golfing guest only during your stay
  • 2 nights complimentary accommodation at The Breakers Palm Beach from October 30 – November 1, 2023
  • Gift Bag for each golfing guest

To donate and be entered into the drawing, please click here or copy and paste the following link: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E331264&id=212.

Approximately 1 in 36 children have been identified with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), which is reported to occur in all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups. ASD is about four times more common in boys than among girls.

Els for Autism Foundation® was established in 2009 by Liezl Els, Ernie Els, and Marvin R. Shanken. The Els’ son, Ben, is impacted by autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which affects 1 in 44 children in the U.S. The Foundation offers innovative, evidence-based programs for families and individuals across the lifespan in six focus areas: Education, Research, Global Support, Recreation Services, Adult Services and Therapy Services.  The Els for Autism Foundation serves families around the world and offers in-person programs and services at The Els Center of Excellence® in Jupiter, Florida. To learn more about Els for Autism®, please visit www.elsforautism.org.

For more information on the Els for Autism Grand Finale, contact Paige Thomas, Director of Events, Paige.Thomas@elsforautism.org.

About Troon
Headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., Troon is the world’s largest golf and golf-related hospitality management company providing services at 750-plus locations, including 740-plus 18-hole equivalent golf courses around the globe. In addition to golf, Troon specializes in homeowner association management, private residence clubs, estate management and associated hospitality venues. Troon’s award-winning food and beverage division operates and manages 600-plus food and beverage operations located at golf resorts, private clubs, daily fee golf courses and recreational facilities. With properties located in 45-plus states and 30-plus countries, Troon’s family of brands includes Troon Golf, Troon Privé, Troon International, Indigo Sports, CADDIEMASTER, ClubUp, Cliff Drysdale Tennis, Peter Burwash International, True Club Solutions, RealFood Hospitality, Strategy and Design, Casa Verde Golf and ICON Management. For additional news and information, visit www.Troon.com.

Media Contact:
Rob Myers
Troon
480.477.0506
rmyers@troon.com

Ernie Els recipient of the 2023 Francis Ouimet Award for Lifetime Contributions to Golf

On April 3rd, 2023, Ernie Els received the 2023 Francis Ouimet Award for Lifetime Contributions to Golf at Encore Boston Harbor. The Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund awards millions of dollars in need-based college scholarships each year to deserving young men and women who have worked at Massachusetts golf courses.

“We are thrilled to have Ernie Els as the 2023 Banquet Honoree,” said Ouimet Fund Executive Director Colin McGuire. “Not only is Ernie Els one of the most prolific winners of his generation, he and his wife Liezl have transcended the sport with groundbreaking charitable endeavors and fundraising by founding in 2009 “The Els for Autism Foundation.”

Francis Ouimet is one of the most honored players in history. He shook up the golfing world by winning the 1913 US Open, one of the greatest upsets in the history of the sport. He won the U.S. Amateur in 1914 and 1931. He also played on the first eight Walker Cup Teams and was Captain of the next four. Revered as a golfing goodwill ambassador, he became the first American elected Captain of the R&A in 1951. He has been named to every golf Hall of Fame, and has a room named after him in the USGA Museum. The U.S. Senior Open Trophy is also named after him, as are several others around the country. The Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund began a Francis Ouimet Award for Lifelong Contributions to Golf.

Congratulations Ernie Els!

Arts and Leisure: The Artist At Work, Lyrically Speaking

Music is one of the greatest things in life. While a book, movie, TV Show, or Video Game can take 30 minutes to hundreds of hours, a piece of music can usually have it all in 2 – 5 minutes. I would place any of the songs by The Beatles in comparison or superior to so many of those properties that exist to entertain or as art.

One corner stone that I would like to talk about as theming for the RE-creating RECREATION Conference hosted on March 23-24, 2023 is in Mental Health, and how recreational activities can improve on that aspect. I had encountered the first signs of clinical depression at the age of 15, which dovetailed with wanting to develop a hobby too, but I had no expressive outlets. I had to seek something that I was influenced by and could pick it up very simply. One of my first loves was the work of Bob Dylan because he was the first one where I listened to the lyrics with intent. Another love was The Beatles, because of the integration of great lyrics and great melodies. I wanted to be like them both, especially The Beatles, and during that year, I came up with my first written work that described what I was going through – ‘Jailhouse Blues’. It was a discovery that what I thought was the simplest form of expression – poetry and song lyrics – would be very powerful later.

My parents learned about my skillfulness early on when I shared with them two writings at a Mexican restaurant – a moment I will never forget. I am not exactly skilled that much at anything, but I was able to keep it a secret, and to share with them on my own terms that I was writing things also as a therapeutic outlet. While my father declared me to be a poet, I’ve always considered myself more of a lyricist. There is little money to be made in poetry, but if I can write a hit song, then royalties can accumulate.

Throughout the years, while I haven’t been able to connect with anyone in the music publishing business, I have been able to do short tours with my father and his friend, at three different original music festivals, including the big one at Key Largo. My father would play the guitar, his friend the bass, and I would play the tambourine, because I don’t have confidence in my actual voice although I would sometimes sing at these festivals. I have also self-published a great number of books with my lyrics and poetry. I also co-wrote a song that was played at the end of the Golf Challenge Series, our biggest fundraising event of the year, which was the Grand Finale in 2016, hosted by Els for Autism®.

Here are a few tips and tricks that have to do with my experience as a writer.

1. There are many avenues to express yourself. Certain ideas, or thoughts and opinions may fit more in a comic book, or maybe a novel, or a novella. For example, if you are able to draw better than being a writer, maybe express yourself in a comic book or comic strip.

  1. Brevity is the soul of wit, but verbosity is the soul of exposition. While there are moments where one should be brief, do not let details slide from crafting the perfect picture.
  2. From my perspective, one doesn’t have to play an instrument to come up with songs, one can come up with lyrics and try to sing it in a melody and voila, there’s a song!
  3. I am terrible at handwriting, but I am very proficient at typing on word processors. In this time and day, you don’t need to stick to pen or pencil and paper to get your ideas out.

    I hope that you can enjoy writing in the same way that I do. It is a very powerful tool. I cannot write novels, novellas, or screenplays, but I can write poetry and lyrics. Maybe you, the reader, can do it too.

For a look at my materials and books, please visit www.MerrickEgber.com

 

 

Els for Autism Foundation® appoints new Chairman of the Board: Michael Alessandri, Ph.D.

Jupiter, Florida – March 08, 2023 – Els for Autism Foundation today announced the appointment of visionary autism expert, Dr. Michael Alessandri, Ph.D. as Chairman of the Board. Alessandri, who joined the Els for Autism board in 2019, succeeds Marvin R. Shanken, Co-Founder, Els for Autism Foundation and Publisher and Founder of M.Shanken Communications.

“We are so proud to have available to us, a leading expert in autism with vast academic credentials and experience for our entire program.” Honorary Chair, Marvin Shanken Dr. Michael Alessandri is the Executive Director of the University of Miami-Nova Southeastern University Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (UM-NSU CARD). Dr. Alessandri has been a professor at UM since 1996 and has worked with individuals with autism and their families since 1981 in various capacities.

“I am honored to assume the role of Chairman of the Board of the Els for Autism Foundation, a one-of-a-kind autism center of excellence that is transforming lives through its innovation in research and educational and therapeutic programming for clients across the lifespan and the globe. I’m especially humbled that the baton has been passed to me by a man I deeply admire, Marvin Shanken, who has led the Foundation with passion and determination. Together, with our first-rate board, leadership team, and staff, the next phase for the Els for Autism Foundation will be one of breathtaking and impactful growth and expansion.” states Dr. Alessandri. Dr. Alessandri has presented, consulted and published internationally on developing appropriate and effective educational programs for students with autism. In addition, he has received numerous research and service grants and several notable awards within the field including being named Visionary Leader of the Year Award by the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, David Lawrence Jr. Champion for Children by The Children’s Trust, and Wendy F. Miller Autism Professional of the Year by the Autism Society of America.

“We are grateful to Marvin for all that he has done for the Foundation from inception and look forward to what’s to come under the direction of Dr. Michael Alessandri.” Ernie and Liezl Els, co-founders of Els for Autism.

Sports and Fitness: My Interview with Greg Connors, Recreation Coordinator and Ernie Els #GameON Autism® Sports and Fitness Expert.

One of the first building blocks in starting Els for Autism Foundation® programs was how we redefined sports as a therapy in addition to music therapy. The founder of our Foundation, Ernie Els, is a Hall of Fame Professional Golfer. He took his great namesake to give back through our largest annual fundraising event, the Els for Autism Golf Challenge Series, and the establishment of the Ernie Els #GameON Autism® Golf Program. Participants learn golf skills while practicing specific autism learning concepts, including communication, emotion regulation, motor and social skills. Before The Els Center of Excellence campus was open, we test these concepts out at the Golf Clinics at the various Golf Challenge Events across the U.S. and Canada.

As the Foundation grew, we were able to export the golf program on a national level and then in countries around the world including Scotland, Ireland, and Thailand. We began a virtual training program, with assistance from the Leadbetter Academy, for organizations to be able to get credentialed to run the golf program once the Els for Autism Recreation Coordinator approved the training organization. This program is called the Official Program Provider Program (OPP). We have had great success having the OPP ambassadors all over the world teach the game of golf to individuals with ASD.

Once the Foundation had success with the golf program, began a training curriculum for OPPs to be credentialed in teaching tennis to individuals with ASD. In 2022, we added a new element to the mix with fitness, and, with the Recreation Coordinator, Greg Connors, we piloted a very successful program and are writing a manual for the fitness program. You can attend the 2023 Re-CREATING RECREATION Conference as a Supplemental Intervention for Individuals with ASD on March 23 & 24, 2023 to experience active demonstrations on both golf and fitness.

Greg Connors is from Philadelphia where he taught seventh grade writing at a charter school, with his English degree, while earning his Master’s in Special Education from Chestnut Hill College. After receiving his Master’s, he served in the Special Education Department as a Case Manager and Small Group Intervention Teacher. His next step was working at an Ed-Tech Startup in the Disability Employment Space.

But he has always been passionate about sports, fitness and yoga and loves to stay active and spend time with his five-year-old Husky mix, Eddie. He is also giving his Keynote Speech, which will explain how the Ernie Els #GameON Autism Sports curricula are impacting the lives of individuals with autism and reshaping the perception of recreation as an effective and supplemental therapy for these individuals, on March 24th, and also running a panel on Sports and Fitness.

  • Elaborate on what your role within the Foundation is.

Answer: As Recreation Services Coordinator, I am responsible for the planning, execution, and growth of all Recreation Services offerings, which includes on-site programs, such as our daily after-school classes (Tennis, Chorus, Fitness, Golf, Yoga, Music, Kickball, Art, and Dance); our virtual clubs, including Spectrum Book Club and Connections Club; any Special Events for clients/families, such as Friday Movie Nights; all camps we offer, including Spring Break and Summer Camp; the Ernie Els #GameON Autism clinic offerings at local and national Golf Challenge events; and all Ernie Els #GameON Autism Sports programs and Official Program Provider training for Golf, Tennis, and Fitness.

  • What impact do you think our Recreation Programs are making with individuals with ASD? Why do you think that is?

Answer: Recreation activities, whether sports/fitness or leisure-based, offer opportunities for individuals with ASD to stay healthy physically, mentally, and emotionally. Beyond the obvious physiological benefits of fitness and exercise, participants receive benefits in the mental and emotional aspects of their lives by building relationships with others, reducing stress and anxiety, building confidence and self-esteem, and learning to problem solve both individually and w/ peers.

  • Can you explain the Ernie Els #GameON Autism® set of Programs?

Answer: The Ernie Els #GameON Autism Sports Programs – Golf, Tennis, and Fitness – offer outside organizations and individuals the opportunity to learn from experts in our field and to teach our research-backed, evidence-based curricula. To become an Official Program Provider (OPP) of the Ernie Els #GameON Autism Sports programs, other organizations and/or individuals complete an online training and assessment, complete a Post-Training Call and consult, and collaborate with me to determine a plan of action for their coaching/instruction.

Each sport has a specific manual with instructional lessons and an accompanying Resource Library that OPPs can utilize for teaching materials, visual aids, templates, and other resources. I am currently working on expanding the scope of our training process, and we will soon be incorporating tiered memberships into the OPP structure that provide individuals/organizations the opportunity to receive additional training via on-site visits with myself and/or clinicians in Speech, OT, etc., as well as premium webinars, newsletter content and access to other current OPPs via a community forum.

If anyone is interested in becoming an OPP in any of our sports, they can email sports@elsforautism.org for more information.

  • What makes exporting our best practices in Golf, Fitness and Tennis Program so important?

Answer: If we want individuals with autism to continue to have inclusive and integrated community-based experiences we must train and educate coaches in a variety of sports with the knowledge and skills they need to successfully teach individuals with autism. They need to understand autism and the accompanying behaviors they will likely encounter, and they must be prepared with the requisite knowledge to not only teach the sport-specific skills that individuals need to learn but also the autism learning concepts that are embedded in our lessons and curricula, such Taking Turns, Communicating Needs, Sharing Equipment, and other social-emotional skills that can be challenging for individuals with autism to master.

  • What advice would you give to coaches who may oversee any individuals with ASD?

Answer: I’m confident that any advice, tips, or knowledge that coaches would need to successfully administer programs can be found in the Resource Library specific to each sport. But, generally speaking, I think that coaches and volunteers working with individuals with autism would benefit from doing all of the following: understanding their participants’ specific medical information, as well as any sensory or communication needs (e.g. AAC devices); ensuring that they utilize simple language free of things like idioms or colloquial expressions when communicating directions or providing feedback; and utilizing visual aids/schedules and referencing them frequently to prepare participants for transitions during and between activities/stations.

  • You are giving a keynote speech and running a panel at the Re-Creating Recreation Conference, can you give us a preview of what you would be speaking on?

Answer: My Keynote Address on Day 2 of the conference will offer insight into the how and why of our Recreation Services offerings, specifically our Ernie Els #GameON Autism Sports Programs. I will share how our programs have filled a void for individuals in the autism community and their families. Our methodology for embedding evidence-based practices into our instruction will be explained in detail, and I will also highlight some of the success stories of our participants. Joining me during this keynote will be Mr. Cae Menai-Davis of the UK-based Golf Trust, who has been a strong international partner in helping to address this void in the autism community and in spreading best practices in England and elsewhere.

  • Can you preview the guests that we have on the panel?

Answer: We are excited to welcome the following professionals from all over the world:

  • Eric Chessen (Exercise/Fitness)
  • Joshua Deer (Golf)
  • Jason Miletsky (Exercise/Fitness)
  • Maricarmen Saleta (Aquatics)
  • Tiago Toledo (Exercise/Fitness/Aquatics)

These experienced educators and professionals will share their knowledge and best practices for instructing individuals with autism, and our panel will focus on distilling for attendees the successful development of goals-based plans, the best practices for achieving the results of those plans, not only in their specific sports/areas of expertise but across disciplines, as well as any other general advice or information that they have learned from working with individuals with autism.

  • Just recently the Board of Directors and the Leadership Team announced a new Capital Campaign for the Recreation Complex, that would include an air-conditioned gymnasium, Aquatic Center and a Splash Pad, how will this recreation complex enhance the recreation programming that the Foundation is able to offer?

Answer: The new Recreation Complex will provide immeasurable value to the Foundation and to the families/clients we serve. As we know, on any given day here on campus in Jupiter, there are nearly 300 individuals with autism all across the lifespan receiving education, instruction, and/or other therapies and services across many departments. The Recreation Complex, which will provide a sensory-friendly, air-conditioned environment, will allow Recreation Services and other departments in the organization the much-needed space to not only continue offering our current roster of activities but also increase the size/frequency of those classes and add even more offerings, such as pickleball, basketball, and swimming/aquatic therapy/water safety. As we know living in South Florida, we experience intense heat, high humidity, and frequent heavy rainfall that interrupt and, at times, prevent activities outdoors. This state-of-the-art facility will provide much needed space to continue offering the highest quality recreational and therapeutic services to individuals and their families no matter what outdoor conditions may be. Additionally, this state-of-the-art facility will serve as a hurricane shelter for the local community.

I hope that whoever reads the blog will learn about the ways we are giving back to the Autism Community. And I hope that whoever is interested will join us for the 2023 Re-CREATING RECREATION Conference. It will be a showcase as to why we are an authoritative source when it comes to the values of recreation for individuals with ASD and other developmental disorders.

Andrew Blitman

Andrew Blitman is the author of 15 books and a very talented artist. He has served on the Els for Autism Advisory Board since 2018. Prior to that, he served on the Constituency Board at the University of Miami-Nova Southeastern University’s Center for Autism and Related Disabilities from 2011-2017.

Andrew received his undergraduate degree from the University of Miami (UM) in 2012 and earned his Master of Professional Science at UM’s Rosenstiel School for Marine and Atmospheric Science in 2014.

Andrew also leads our Moovin’ & Groovin’ Summer Camp Art Program. To see more of his works, you can visit https://andrewblitman.com/.


My Health and Well-Being: A Journal Entry

We talk about health a lot, but what we should do is see the connection between physical health and mental health. One doesn’t work without the other. A low mental health may end up harming your physical health, which is unfortunate, because over time a stronger physical health may end up complementing a stronger mental health.

For me, what compliments both is being able to travel. Two years ago I recorded, mentally, that I had been to all 50 states. While it may sound like it’s not doing much, I had to hike through Utah’s National Parks, Sun Valley, Idaho, skied in Maine, and did some walking tours. At the end of the year, I took a cruise to 6 Caribbean Islands, but I exercised muscle for most of the trip, and lost weight too. You want to look at exercise and losing weight as self-discovery and as actual discovery.

I had a stroke in December which affected my communication and expressive voice, yet I felt like I rebounded quickly because I needed some fresh air and the ability to travel on the cruise I mentioned previously. Travel is my way of living and whenever I can take a trip I feel so much better, includingbeing able to take short drives to see friends and socialize.

People with ASD are not always disinclined to socialize. Maybe they need more breaks, like I do, from socializing so much. Due to crowded outings, loud music, and having to fend for oneself to come up with socialization, situations like this can be stressful, especially when we are misunderstood because you have ASD. A proper report helps make the case that the way we do things, like much of our lives, is different – https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/autistic-people-want-socialize-they-just-may-show-it-differently. When you have individuals who get it, and staffers who understand the way we are, you have a systemic compassion.

Like our charter schools, our recreation programs, which a student can enroll in too, are meant to bring individuals with ASD together without any judgment. Part of what we do is redefine sports therapy. To have an outlet for individuals with ASD to learn to love themselves and to learn how to socialize, interact, and make friends is valuable along with learning a new sport.

That is why Els for Autism® Staff is hosting the first Recreational Conference – THE RE-CREATING RECREATION CONFERENCE, this year on March 23rd and 24th. We will also have our 5K Roots and Ruts run for charity on March 25th. Our categories are Healthy Living and Well Being, Sports and Fitness, and Arts and Leisure – we have embraced the importance of work for individuals with ASD, and now we embrace the concept of play.

Even if one is not always physically active, leisure activities can be helpful, and stimulating to build up what we call our special interests. Our Conference is not always about physically demanding activities, it’s really about searching for a purpose, for a sense of responsibility and improving each step we take to fulfill a greater sense of Abraham Maslow’s Self-Actualization one day at a time. I always would say if one can transfer unhealthy eating to some form of a hobby and use that hobby to also exercise (In my case – video game fitness) while eating healthier than it is a job well done, and also don’t forget to sleep healthily too.

For any feedback, you can contact me at Merrick.Egber@elsforautism.org

Radio Interview – OH MY GOD I’M GETTING OLDER AND SO IS MY MOM

(November 28, 2022)  Scott Greenberg, Chief Executive Officer, ComForcare Home Care, interviews Dr. Marlene Sotelo, Executive Director, Els for Autism Foundation on what autism is, prevalence and red flags, advances in genetic research, evidence based interventions, and autism in adulthood.  Dr. Sotelo also discusses The Els Center of Excellence campus, the future recreation center, and the need for specialized swim and water safety instruction to prevent drowning.  Episode 458

To listen, click here

59:31 in length

THANK YOU, American Diagnostic Corporation (ADC) for being our longest time, “giveback” partner and reaching $20,000 in donations!

American Diagnostic Corporation’s Story
by Marc Blitstein, President and CEO

American Diagnostic Corporation (ADC) is one of the world’s premier manufacturers of diagnostic medical products, personal instruments, and accessories for the healthcare industry.

Thirty-five ago, we hired our first developmentally disabled employee. We were a tiny firm, employing fewer than 10, and had published an ad seeking help in our production department. The only candidate to show up was a young man named Glen who rode his bicycle seven miles to our offices. He gave me a note written by his mom asking that we give him a chance. We did, and we’ve never looked back. Today, we’re one of New York’s largest private employers of people with developmental disabilities, accounting for more than 10% of our workforce. This allows us to keep jobs in the U.S. while helping local adults find sustainable employment. These colleagues work in positions throughout production, maintenance, shipping, and quality control. Together, they represent more than 250 years of combined service to ADC.

In 2014, seeking a way to make an impact on a national level, we partnered with a young foundation, Els for Autism, co-founded by the legendary golfer Ernie and his wife Liezl. The foundation is committed to better understanding the aspirations of people with autism spectrum disorder and helping them to fulfill their potential to lead positive, productive, and rewarding lives. Through their high-quality programs and innovative interventions, they’ve become a game-changing resource for individuals and families. Through the collaboration, ADC developed a series of professional grade aneroid sphygmomanometers featuring puzzle pieces, directing a portion of the profits to Els. In 2022 we expanded the collaboration to include five of our Adscope stethoscopes. Today, we donate 10% from the sale of these instruments to Els for Autism, year-round.

To learn more about the product line, visit www.adctoday.com/elsforautism. For more information regarding our workforce initiatives, watch our video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRlzZZwxlls

Become an ongoing giveback partner with Els for Autism: info@elsforautism.org

Connor Cares Fundraising Event

Connor B. Sturgis has been mentioned many times by Els for Autism Chairman and Founder, Marvin R. Shanken, as a great person who inspires him. Due to Connor’s commitment to making it better for the autism community and his empowering presence at The Learning Academy (TLA), a Palm Beach County charter school on The Els Center of Excellence campus, he has been made the newest member of the Els for Autism Advisory Board.  Connor is currently employed as a Full-Time Customer Service Associate at Publix, one of the largest grocery chains in the country. This has led Connor to brainstorm on how to connect Els for Autism with Publix through fundraising initiatives.

On Saturday, July 2nd, the first Connor Cares event was hosted at the Publix store where he works. Connor, along with members of the Adult Day Training (ADT) program, were present.  The ADT team was able to showcase ‘Sea of Possibilities’ a microbusiness selling beach-inspired arts and crafts items with proceeds going to support the currently under-construction Adult Services building. The local West Palm Beach News Station, WPBF 25, was on the scene:

https://www.wpbf.com/article/els-autism-showcases-their-business-sea-of-possibilities/40490755You can purchase ‘Sea of Possibilities’ items here: www.elsforautism.org/sea-of-possibilties

Make sure to follow ‘Sea of Possibilities’ on Facebook for the latest updates, too!

https://www.facebook.com/SeaofPossibilitiesElsForAutism