Society tends to overvalue college as a necessity. We constantly hear about student debts, tuition costs, and about getting a great degree, but in a job market that turns that degree holder into a McDonald’s employee.  Yet, for many people, college has an unique cultural identity unmatched by the outside world, with guarantees of some […]

2020 marks the 10th year of the Foundation’s largest fundraising activity, the Els for Autism Golf Challenge. The first nine years of the Golf Challenge brought the Foundation $24.6 million! Looking back to the beginning, Liezl Els, Co-Founder and Managing Director, was asked whose idea was the Golf Challenge?  She responded, “It was a combination […]

Why fundraise for autism? Courtney: I’ve worked in mental health, in a variety of capacities, over the last 15 years.  Prior to owning my own therapy center, I worked extensively in homes and schools as a behavior specialist and consultant. For as long as I can remember, I always had a caseload full of children […]

In October, the Els for Autism Foundation ™ hosted the 2019 Autism at Work Summit East/Fall at The Els Center of Excellence ™ campus in Jupiter, FL. The summit was sponsored by SAP, EY, DXC Technology, JPMorgan Chase, and the Olitsky Family Foundation. Launched in 2016, the Autism at Work Summit supports SAP’s vision to […]

Els for Autism Foundation has six focus areas; Adult Services, Education, Global Outreach, Recreation, Therapy Services and Research.  Research tends to be the focus area discussed the least, but since the Foundation has significant research studies in progress, we want to provide an update. In 2018 on the World Autism Awareness Day, April 2, the […]

by Kathleen Barney Els for Autism would like to congratulate David Asterino for his achievement of earning the award of Employee of the Year at Seawind Elementary in Hobe Sound, Florida. David has been a huge supporter of Els for Autism ever since Patricia Valentine, a graduate of the Work Experience Program, started working at […]

The Spring 2020 Recreation Schedule has been released! The Foundation is now offering chorus, art, and the Canine Connection recreation programs–in addition to the mainstay recreations programs of golf, tennis, yoga, music, dance and theater. Recreation for Autism and Special Needs Each group class is specifically designed for individuals with autism and special needs and […]

We are pleased to introduce the 2019 Autism Spectrum Award winner, Haley Moss! The Els for Autism Spectrum Award honors an individual with autism spectrum disorder who has shined a positive light on autism through his/her character, positive attitude, and contribution. “Haley has not only defied the odds by accomplishing her creative and educational goals […]

By Mariann Coleman, Marketing and Development Manager When we give tours of The Els Center of Excellence™ campus we often face puzzlement from tour participants when explaining the different entities on the campus. To provide some clarity between the physical location, the Foundation, and the two schools here is a reference. The Els Center of […]

“If you want to touch the past, touch a rock.  If you want to touch the present, touch a flower.  If you want to touch the future, touch a life.” – Author Unknown We are extremely grateful to our many volunteers who help provide added opportunities for local individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities.  […]