The Big Easy™ Cafe by Ernie Els is another way the Els for Autism Foundation® is transforming the lives of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Located inside the Stoops Family Adult Services Building at The Els Center of Excellence®, our cafe offers homemade breakfast and lunch options for employees, students, clients, and guests on our campus under the direction of Jen and Brian Wilson.

The dynamic duo is well-known in the community for their succulent cuisine. They have developed the cafe’s menu to focus on a brain and gut-friendly diet by serving gluten-free, dairy-free, and low-sugar-style foods with other delicious selections.

However, the Big Easy Cafe is more than just a cafe; it is a vocational lab where adults with autism and related disabilities acquire essential skills for excelling in the food industry! Our cafe also provides specialized culinary workshops designed to cater to individuals with ASD and their families within our community, both live and online.

We are a closed campus; however, if you are on campus to drop off or pick up your child, we hope you will stop in to our cafe inside the Stoops Family Adult Services Building to enjoy some homemade happiness. Pre-order your items on Toast.

For individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) or require sensory-friendly accommodations, here are some tips and tricks to ensure this festive occasion is a safe and enjoyable spooktacular Halloween experience for everyone involved.

Communicating with AAC or Visual Aids

1. Preparation is Key

Before heading out for trick or treating, ensure the AAC device is fully charged and properly working. Have backup batteries on hand, just in case. If using visual aids, ensure they are printed and ready to go.

2. Customize Vocabulary

Tailor the AAC device’s vocabulary for Halloween-specific phrases and expressions. Include phrases like “Trick or Treat,” “Thank you,” and “Happy Halloween!”

3. Practice with Play

Engage in role-playing scenarios at home to help your child become comfortable saying or using their AAC device to communicate trick-or-treating phrases. Encourage them to initiate interactions with neighbors and practice beforehand.

5. Be Patient and Supportive

Allow extra time for communication, be patient, and offer encouragement when your child uses their AAC device or visual aid. Praise their efforts to build confidence.

Sensory-Friendly Costumes

1. Comfortable Fabrics

Opt for costumes made from soft, breathable fabrics to minimize discomfort. Avoid itchy materials that may irritate.

2. Seamless Seams

Choose costumes with minimal seams or rough edges to reduce sensory sensitivities. Consider inside-out costumes for a smoother feel against the skin.

3. Adjustable Fasteners

Opt for costumes with adjustable closures like Velcro or snaps rather than tight-fitting elastic or buttons. This allows for a custom fit and can help prevent discomfort.

4. Sensory-Friendly Accessories

Incorporate sensory-friendly accessories like fidget toys or chewable necklaces into the costume. These can provide comfort and serve as a soothing distraction.

5. Open-Faced Masks

Consider face paint or masks that leave the eyes and mouth area open. This allows for better airflow and reduces feelings of confinement.

Remember, Halloween is a time for fun and inclusivity. By implementing these tips, you can create a memorable experience for children of all abilities. Happy Halloween!

Reference
For additional resources and ideas on AAC communication and sensory-friendly costumes, check out organizations like PrAACtically AAC and The Marcus Autism Center.

We are jumping on the pumpkin spice train to celebrate the Big Easy™ Cafe by Ernie Els (Toast Link) opening inside the Stoops Family Adult Services Building. Cafe Manager Jen Wilson has four pumpkin-spice treats to make with your family and friends.

Ginger Snap Parfaits

At our house, we love the fall and mixing our favorite pumpkin pecan butter (often a bit too sweet) with non-dairy plain yogurt or plain Greek yogurt. Layering this pumpkin yogurt mixture with plain yogurt and homemade gingersnaps is often the perfect combination of creamy, crunchy, and delicious!

Ingredients
¾ Cup Butter
1 Cup Sugar
1 Egg
2 Cups Flour
½ Tsp Salt
1 Tsp Cinnamon
½ Tsp Ground Ginger
1/3 Cup Molasses
2 Tsp Baking Soda

Directions

1. Cream Butter and sugar
2. Add Egg and mix
3. Add dry ingredients and stir
4. Heat molasses, add soda, and stir
5. Add to Flour mixture and stir
6. Roll dough into small balls and space out evenly on a buttered cookie sheet
7. Bake at 350 degrees for about 12 minutes
8. Remove from pan carefully and cool on a rack or paper towels

Pumpkin Cheese Roll

We make this every year on Thanksgiving, and there’s never a single bite left. It packs just as much pumpkin love as a pumpkin pie, but the cream cheese icing swirled into the middle with the spongy-style cake makes it absolutely irresistible.

Ingredients For the Cake
¾ Cup Flour
1 Tsp Baking Powder
2 Tsp Cinnamon
1 Tsp Ginger
½ Tsp Nutmeg
½ Tsp Salt
3 Eggs
1 Cup Sugar
2/3 Cup Canned Pumpkin

Ingredients For the Filling
1 Cup Confectioners’ Sugar
8 Oz Cream Cheese
1/2 Cup Softened Butter
1 Tsp Vanilla

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 15x10x1 pan. Line the pan with waxed paper and butter and flour the paper, as well.
2. Combine the dry ingredients (flour to salt)
3. Beat eggs and sugar in a large bowl until thick and fluffy, and add pumpkin.
4. Stir in dry ingredient mixture
5. Pour into prepared pan and spread evenly with a rubber spatula
6. Bake for about 15 minutes or until springy and cooked
7. Loosen the cake around the edges when you remove it from the oven. Invert it onto a clean paper towel, dusted with confectioners’ sugar. (This will help the cake not to stick.)
8. Peel off the wax paper and trim the edges about ¼”
9. Roll up the cake from the short side and cool with the seam side down. This helps so that when you fill it, it holds its shape
10. Whip up the cream cheese, butter, vanilla, and sugar in an electric mixer
11. Unroll the cake, spread it with the cream cheese filling, re-roll it, and refrigerate

Pumpkin Bread

Someone in our family is always making this recipe and giving the other loaf to a friend or family member who’s had a tough week or needs extra holiday love. These loaves freeze beautifully and also make excellent pumpkin bread pudding, which we frequently enjoy with vanilla ice cream or, if you’re a non-dairy person, our new favorite, Oatly Vanilla.

Ingredients
1 Cup Sugar
1 Cup Brown Sugar
¾ Cup Vegetable Oil
¼ Cup Butter
3 Large Eggs, Slightly Beaten
16oz Canned Pumpkin
3 Cups Flour
½ Tsp Ground Cloves
1 ½ Tsp Cinnamon
1 ½ Tsp Nutmeg
¾ Tsp Ginger
1 Tsp Baking Soda
½ Tsp salt
1 ½ Tsp Baking Powder
1 Cup Raisins
1 Cup Chopped Walnuts (Optional)

Directions

1. Beat Sugars, oil, and softened butter to blend
2. Mix in eggs and pumpkin.
3. In a large bowl, mix flour, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, baking soda, salt, and baking powder
4. Stir in pumpkin mixture in two additions.
5. Mix in nuts and/or raisins if desired.
6. Pour batter into two greased loaf pans and bake at 350 degrees for about 1 hour and 10 minutes.

Pumpkin Pie Hummus

Pumpkin hummus is a healthy and slightly sweet way to get a little bit of protein into your day, but it can be a bit sinful at the same time. It’s delicious spread on a gingersnap or a carrot chip, and its creamy consistency is a winner with everyone in our house!

Ingredients
16 oz Chickpeas
8 oz Organic Pumpkin Puree
2 oz Vegetable Oil
1 Tbsp Pumpkin Pie Spice
1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
1 ½ Tblsp Agave
1/3 Cup Brown Sugar
Pinch of Salt

Directions

1. Rinse and drain the chickpeas
2. In the bowl of a food processor, combine the chickpeas, pumpkin puree, vegetable oil, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla, agave, brown sugar, and a pinch of salt.
3. Process the ingredients until smooth and creamy in consistency. Adjust with some oil or water if necessary, and season to taste.

Thank you, Jen, for your fabulous fall recipes. We are a closed campus; however, if you are on our campus, stop in for our cafe for some homemade happiness (menu)!

On Tuesday, August 29 at a ceremony on the campus of The Els Center of Excellence®, leaders and supporters of the Els for Autism Foundation recognized Senator Gayle Harrell and Representative John Snyder for their efforts in successfully advocating for a $1 million appropriation to support the construction of a specialized autism recreation complex on the 26-acre campus located in Jupiter, Florida.

“The Els for Autism Foundation staff and board of directors would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Senator Harrell and Representative Snyder for their support in securing this appropriation in the state budget for the 2023-2024 fiscal year,’ said Dr. Michael Alessandri, Chairman of the Board of the Els for Autism Foundation. “We are also grateful to the entire Florida Legislature and Governor Ron DeSantis for approving this item in the state budget.”

“These funds will allow us to build on our mission of transforming the lives of people with autism by providing a full range of recreation choices,” said Dr. Marlene Sotelo, Executive Director of the Els for Autism Foundation. “This complex will include a purpose-built, sensory-friendly gymnasium and an aquatics center that will include a swimming pool and splash pad.”

“South Florida is surrounded by water, and the frequency of elopement and wandering behaviors of people with autism is heightened by the multitude of water access. Unfortunately, drowning is the number one cause of death for kids with autism, and programs designed to prevent these tragic events are essential to this community. Water safety and swim lessons will be a core feature of our program offerings at the Aquatics Center,” said Dr. Sotelo.

“Since starting the Els for Autism Foundation programs and services in 2015, it has always been our vision to provide the autism community with a robust offering of sports, fitness, arts, leisure, and healthy living programs,” said Liezl Els, Founder and Managing Director of the Els for Autism Foundation. “We are very grateful to our legislators for helping us get one step closer to making this dream a reality.”

Els for Autism Foundation® takes great pride in announcing yet another milestone in its ongoing mission to offer limitless possibilities to individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families with the grand opening of the Stoops Family Adult Services Building at The Els Center of Excellence® campus. The 21,000-square-foot building is a place for adults with ASD to access the essential support and services needed during the transition to adulthood years and throughout life as an adult.

One of the most pressing concerns for parents of autistic children is their transition after high school. While some individuals can and will pursue further education, others require alternative paths. Els for Autism® is now abundantly equipped to provide an alternative with the opening of the Stoops Family Adult Services Building.

The Els for Autism team’s commitment to research and evidence-based practices underscores the importance of addressing the needs of autistic adults to ensure continued learning, community engagement, and a productive and healthy lifestyle.

The purpose-built Stoops Family Adults Services Building incorporates innovative architectural features designed to cater to the unique needs of adults with ASD. The incorporation of full-length windows, acoustic block liners, LED lighting, and state-of-the-art technology fosters a supportive and sensory-friendly environment.

“As we expand our full-time Adult Day Training (ADT) program, we continue to provide comprehensive support to adults with autism, empowering them with vocational, independent living, and social skills. This prepares them to achieve their utmost potential in leading independent lives,” stated Dr. Marlene Sotelo, BCBA-D, MT-BC, Executive Director of the Els for Autism.

To equip ADT clients with the needed tools and experiences, the Stoops Family Adults Services Building offers a range of specialized vocational labs and rooms, including the Stanley Black & Decker vocational training lab, the Sea of Possibilities Microbusiness, the Big Easy™ Cafe by Ernie Els, a sensory lounge, a hospitality & life skills suite, a grocery vocational lab, and dedicated therapy rooms.

“The Stoops Family Adults Services Building is a place where adults can explore different careers, make friends, and engage with the community,” said Liezl Els, Co-Founder of Els for Autism.

You’re invited to join our “Supporting Parents through Transition” group.

Parents will meet with an Els for Autism® support group counselor and counselor intern for 75 minutes twice a month for three months to receive support and share ideas and resources. The co-facilitators will focus on strategies to assist the families in coping with their current challenges and transitions.

It is essential and highly recommended that the group participants commit to the entire series. Additionally, a mandatory initial 15-minute parent intake will be scheduled prior to beginning the group.

The group will meet on Zoom from 9 – 10:15 AM EST on the following dates:
September 14
September 28
October 11
October 25
November 8
November 25

Register by September 5; Cost $50 per parent

For more information, email Doreen Cammarata at doreen.cammarata@elsforautism.org

Individuals, as young as 5-years-old, with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) worldwide will compete in the Second Annual Ernie Els #GameON Autism® International Golf Tournament on Monday, July 17, and Tuesday, July 18.

Official Program Providers (OPPs) of the Ernie Els #GameON Autism® Golf Program participating this year are Autism Okanagan (Canada), The Golf Trust (United Kingdom), Fafali Organization (Ghana), Els for Autism® South Africa (South Africa), and Els for Autism (United States). Players are competing for a team and an individual title and a golf prize pack.

Research has found that individuals with ASD benefit from physical activity in various ways. The team at Els for Autism, along with our network of international official program providers, are changing the culture of sports and recreation. People with autism are beginning to feel included and welcomed to participate in recreational activities, go to public places, and even take lessons or group classes with their local sports professionals. In fact, recreation, particularly sports, is now believed to be an effective supplemental therapy for people with autism. Els for Autism is proud to offer training programs for professionals worldwide who want to deliver one of the Ernie Els #GameOn Autism® Sports Programs (i.e., Golf, Tennis, or Fitness) at their site.

Led by highly qualified licensed mental health counselors, Sibshops provide young brothers and sisters who have a sibling with autism spectrum disorder peer support and information in an active, fun, and safe atmosphere.

If you want to meet new friends who have an autistic sibling to talk about experiences and explore how to handle challenging situations, Sibshops is for you! But it’s not all talk and no play. There will be plenty of time to participate in some fun games and recreation!

Els for Autism^® staff is very excited to bring Sibshops to The Els Center of Excellence^® in Jupiter, Florida, as this curriculum is used throughout the United States, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Argentina, Ecuador, Iceland, Ireland, England, Italy, Malta, Singapore, and Turkey.

Participation in these Sibshops demonstrates a long-standing commitment to supporting and caring for their autistic sibling.

In addition to offering Sibshops in July, we also offer the Sam’s Sibs Stick Together Room. This support group meets virtually every month to address the needs of siblings of individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities and is led by a Licensed Mental Health Counselor.

Register below for the Sibshops now!

* Minimum of 4 Siblings Must Register to hold the Sibshop with a maximum of 10 in a group.

The Els for Autism Foundation team has been awarded a multi-year million-dollar grant from Make Waves Foundation to develop and launch the U Can Employ initiative.

The Make Waves Foundation empowers and supports youth and adults with neurological, intellectual, and physical challenges that defy expectations. “In the next ten years, a half million individuals with autism will transition into adulthood. We are proud to support the U Can Employ initiative that will set companies up for success to employ individuals with autism,” says Donna Roth, Founder and Director, Make Waves Family Foundation. “Our goal is to support people with autism and other developmental disabilities so they can live meaningful, happy lives and be productive, valued community members.”

“We are incredibly grateful for the support of Make Waves Foundation and their leadership in paving the way to further establishing an inclusive workplace for people with ASD,” said Dr. Marlene Sotelo, Executive Director, Els for Autism. “Through the U Can Employ initiative, we aim to increase employment opportunities for individuals with ASD by providing the necessary training, consultation, and support to companies looking to create a more diverse and inclusive workforce.”

The U Can Employ initiative is a significant step in creating a more inclusive workplace, as investors and shareholders increasingly recognize the importance of diversity and inclusion in environmental, social, and governance investing. In addition, research has found that companies already employing individuals with disabilities report an 89% higher retention rate, a 72% increase in employee productivity, and a 28% increase in profitability.

This groundbreaking program will provide direct training, support, and consultation to large and small companies interested in recruiting, hiring, onboarding, and retaining employees with ASD. Furthermore, this program will be accessible to companies of all sizes through varying tiered membership services, including free access to downloadable tools and webinars.

The first U Can Employ pilot site launched with Next Level Distribution, a distributor of consumer electronics and 12V products this month. A second pilot with SBA Communications Corporation, a leading independent owner and operator of wireless communications infrastructure, including towers, buildings, rooftops, distributed antenna systems (DAS), and small cells, is set to launch this fall. The specialized group of consultants, powered by the Els for Autism team, will work closely with both companies to provide consultation to their HR team to recruit, hire, onboard, and retain employees with autism and related disabilities.

For more information about the U Can Employ initiative, please contact the Els for Autism team at info@elsforautism.org.