Club 36

Honoring the 1 in 36
diagnosed with autism*

Join Club 36 by becoming a monthly donor.

Your monthly donation of $36 or more to Els for Autism provides consistent and reliable support, ensuring long-term sustainability for the organization and the clients we serve. Check out our top
5 reasons to join Club 36. 

After contributing at least $36/month for three consecutive months, you will receive a complimentary 40 oz. Els for Autism tumbler to thank you for your support.

*Based on data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2023
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Meet the faces of

All names have been changed to protect the identities of our clients.

• Michael

  Michael was the first child our team of clinicians assessed using EarliPoint after his parents contacted us with concerns. “Before he was a year old, I began suspecting autism. At seven months old, he was rocking and hand-flapping,” said Michael’s mom. “He was also late to crawl, walk, and talk.”

  EarliPoint is an autism evaluation tool that enhances our clinical team’s ability to diagnose children at risk for autism. Our team praises Michael for the progress he has made in just a few months. He now engages in pretend play, participates in circle time, and joins activities with children in our Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention (EIBI) program. Michael even has his first best friend!

• Matthew (The Mayor)  

  Matthew started speech and ABA services at Els for Autism in 2022 and has continued to make remarkable strides. When he began our services, Matthew had limited communication and exhibited challenging behaviors. At the end of 2022, Matthew was introduced to an AAC device, which sparked rapid language development. He now independently uses two-to-four-word sentences to communicate.

  Matthew is also known as the “Mayor” of Els for Autism for his welcoming and loving personality.

• Evan

  In less than a year of being diagnosed with autism and receiving ABA services from our team, Evan has become a completely different child. His mom says he’s now very happy, social, and following directions at home and at school.

  Over the summer, he had the “best summer of his life” attending camp. Now, in kindergarten, Evan is reading, having reciprocal conversations, and working independently.

• Sam

  Sam joined the Work Experience (WE) program at Els for Autism in February of 2024 after moving from Long Island. With prior food delivery experience, but with limited social interaction, he initially kept to himself but grew more confident as the program progressed. Through WE’s partnership with Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Beach Resort & Spa, Sam was matched to a position with the hotel, excelling in his tasks and building social skills that made him a strong candidate for hire. Graduating in April, he transitioned to supported employment, where he now works independently with minimal weekly check-ins, showcasing his growth and success in a new environment. (Watch a video sharing Sam’s story)

• Harryson

  Harryson has worked in our Big Easy Cafe on campus since September 2023. With the support of his cafe teammates and job coaches, he has learned time management skills to complete his daily workload and has become more resilient when things don’t go as expected, working through challenges more effectively. Additionally, he always shares with guests of the cafe how important his job is and how his role supports our mission of creating a world of limitless possibilities for individuals with autism.

• Macie

  Macie first attended the Els for Autism Moovin’ & Groovin’ Summer Camp in 2023. She is autistic, profoundly deaf, intellectually disabled, legally blind, unable to regulate her body temperature, and has a malformed bladder, rectum, and reproductive system. As a result, she was never given the opportunity to attend camp—until our team said “yes.” After her successful camp experience, Macie became a regular participant in our afterschool recreation programs and returned to summer camp in 2024. Our camp counselors, along with some of our campers, learned sign language to better communicate with her. Macie now wakes up every morning asking for tennis and has become a “yoga master.”

• Robert

  Since Robert started attending the Els for Autism Adult Day Training (ADT) program, our team and his family have noticed a significant transformation. Initially, he was hesitant to participate and often needed prompting to complete activities. Through the use of evidence-based practices, Robert has gained confidence and independence in engaging with activities. However, it is in the Sea of Possibilities workshop where Robert truly shines. He is always happy in the workshop, working with a smile on his face and clearly enjoying what he is creating.

• Alejandro

  Alejandro began receiving support from the Els for Autism team in 2017. Living in Brazil, his family participated in our Global Outreach Autism Learning Services (GOALS) program, which provides expert guidance and support to families and professionals caring for individuals with ASD and related disabilities. Today, Alejandro has come out of his shell, becoming more playful and communicative. Alejandro’s mom says our team has improved their entire family’s quality of life and provided greater freedom for her son.

• DJ

  During DJ’s time in our Work Experience (WE) Program with a respected restaurant partner, he encountered several initial challenges, including managing phone usage during shifts, following proper clock-in procedures, and adhering to break times. Despite these hurdles, he demonstrated remarkable adaptability and commitment. With support and guidance from his Els for Autism Job Coach and his manager, he successfully navigated these issues and completed the program with outstanding results. His dedication and hard work earned him a paid position at the restaurant, where he has continued to thrive. Known for his upbeat attitude and positivity, DJ has become a beloved team member, consistently bringing joy to both coworkers and customers and significantly enhancing the restaurant’s overall atmosphere.

  DJ is also a talented singer and has shared his talent at our 2024 ProAm Pairings Party and our 2024 Roots & Ruts Off-Road 5K race.

• Victor

  Through our supported employment programs, Victor demonstrated his incredible passion and knowledge of animals, which became the foundation for his role as a Guest Services Associate at the Palm Beach Zoo. During his interview, he impressed the team by naming every single animal in the facility, showcasing his special interest and expertise. His deep knowledge about animals not only helped him secure the position but also inspired his work. As part of his responsibilities, Victor conducts visibility checks with the animals, serving as both a key task and a positive reinforcement for his work.

  His dedication and ability to turn his passion into a professional opportunity exemplify the power of aligning interests with employment. In September of 2024, Victor celebrated his three-year work anniversary at the zoo.

• Anthony

  Anthony joined us at 3 years old, facing significant behavioral challenges that impacted his safety and ability to connect with others. Through nearly four years in our Early Intervention program, including EIBI, speech, and occupational therapy, his bright and thoughtful personality began to shine, and he made remarkable progress.

  Now 7 years old, Anthony attends a general education classroom and continues to grow with ongoing therapies. At camp, he thrives in both community and campus settings, overcoming challenges with peer interactions and transitions through evidence-based strategies and support. These experiences have helped him grow in independence, try new activities, and build meaningful friendships.

• Mike

  Mike is a student at Blairwood Academy in the Bahamas who attended our Movin’ & Groovin’ Summer Camp for the first time this past year. From the moment he arrived, his friendly, optimistic, and socially driven personality lit up the camp. He quickly became close friends with his camp group and left a lasting impression on every camp counselor.

• Ben

  Ben, the son of founders Ernie and Liezl Els, graduated from high school in May 2024 and transitioned into our Adult Day Training (ADT) program. Through ADT outings, Ben continues to become more engaged within the community. Since graduating and joining the ADT program, our team has witnessed remarkable growth in Ben’s confidence, self-assurance, and sense of belonging.

• John

  John is an 8-year-old bundle of positive energy who has thrived at Els for Autism over the past three years. Previously, John and his family lived in Orlando, spending hours each day traveling from school to therapy sessions. That’s when his family decided to move so John could attend the Palm Beach County Charter School on our campus and receive services from our team.

  When John began working with us, he was mostly non-verbal and faced challenges with tasks like haircuts. Today, he communicates in sentences, navigates daily routines with confidence, and continues to grow through therapies like speech and ABA. His family credits his progress to the nurturing environment received at The Els Center of Excellence, where he is supported like family and reaches new milestones every day.

• Hayden

  Hayden was diagnosed with autism at age 3. At the time, he lived in Virginia Beach; however, the services he was receiving did not support what he needed. Hayden’s dad was introduced to Ernie Els and they immediately developed a bond. Hayden’s dad moved his family to South Florida so he could receive services from our team. Hayden attends the Palm Beach County Charter School on our campus and enjoys participating in our on-campus recreation services. Grateful for the work of Els for Autism, his dad is co-founded the Princess Anne Country Club Pro-Am Invitational which has raised more than $2 million for Els for Autism and several additional charities.

• Julie

  Since her start in the Adult Day Training Program in the spring, Julie has thrived by participating in community-based instruction, specifically volunteer opportunities with local businesses and organizations. Through volunteer work and community-based instruction, Julie has become more independent in completing tasks related to assembling, disassembling, sorting, and measurement. Her willingness to try new things, both on and off campus, has allowed her to expand on her social skills, daily living skills, communication, and leisure skills. 

• Andy

  Andy began as a volunteer with Sea of Possibilities in October 2023 and now is currently an employee. As a volunteer he assisted in workshops and community events, demonstrating his commitment. After several months of volunteering, a paid position became available. Upon learning about the openings, Andy expressed immediate interest and applied for the job. With the help of his Job Coach, Andy updated his resume and improved his interview skills. Andy was officially hired in February 2024 and has been doing amazing since.

• Connor

  Connor Sturgis, an Els for Autism Advisory Board Member and graduate of The Learning Academy, the Palm Beach County charter school located on our campus, has achieved incredible milestones—especially in employment. He began his career at Publix as a front service clerk (bagger), was later promoted to cashier, and ultimately secured a full-time position in 2020 as part of the customer service team.

  Now, through his “Connor & Friends Cares” campaign, Connor is on a mission to raise $100,000 to support programs and services that help autistic adults achieve employment opportunities. “I’m trying to raise $100,000 to help young adults get jobs out in the community like they helped me get a job at Publix,” he shares.

  Connor’s remarkable journey was featured in our most recent World Autism Month campaign!

• Tommy

  Tommy’s family relocated from Massachusetts to South Florida so he could receive the programs and services offered by the Els for Autism team and attend The Learning Academy Charter School, located on our campus. “Tommy has accomplished many breakthroughs since our move; however, one of the biggest areas of growth this year is his ability to identify his emotions more clearly,” said his parents. “This not only shows his self-awareness but also his comfort in communicating his needs during challenging moments. This is huge for a child who is mostly non-speaking and represents breakthroughs we have been hoping for and that Tommy has been working toward since he was a toddler.”

• Scott

  Scott joined the Adult Day Training (ADT) program in August 2021 after relocating to South Florida with his mother. Since joining the program, Scott has thrived both socially and creatively. He particularly enjoys participating in the social enterprise Sea of Possibilities, where he creates sea-inspired art and engages in local events such as the Palm Beach Gardens Green Market. These opportunities have significantly enhanced his communication and interpersonal skills.

  Additionally, Scott has begun his employment journey with support from Vocational Rehabilitation services, completing on-the-job training at West Side Cleaners.

  He is now actively seeking paid employment, eager to apply the skills he has developed through ADT, Sea of Possibilities, and his training experiences.

• Brian

  As a toddler, Brian struggled to meet developmental milestones. At age 2, he began receiving occupational and speech-language therapy, which had a positive impact on his social and fine motor skills, vocabulary, and ability to engage in conversations.

  Now in his 20s, Brian participates in our ADT program and continues to receive speech-language therapy. The ADT program has enhanced his social skills and provided valuable community training. Speech-language therapy has further improved his ability to use words and engage in situationally appropriate conversations.

  Brian also takes part in many of our recreation programs. Our team has observed his greatest strides in independent skill development through his participation in golf and tennis on our campus.

• Jason

  Jason is part of our ADT program, where he loves talking to everyone who visits about sports (Go Dolphins!) and their birthdays. With the support of our Employment Programs, he has maintained long-term employment at a resort on Singer Island.

  He has also turned his passion for making bracelets into his own business, creating custom-made friendship bracelets. Recently, he used some of his profits to host an ice cream party for all his friends in our ADT program.

• Amanda

  Each year, Amanda travels from out of state to participate in our Movin’ and Groovin’ Summer Camp. Over the years, she has expanded her strengths in communication and self-expression, continuing to light up every room she enters while overcoming many challenges.

  Despite battling anxiety, Amanda has learned to advocate for herself and find independence within the camp setting. Our camp staff have also supported her in navigating Palm Tran, the public transit system for Palm Beach County, to further develop her independence skills.

• CK

  CK has demonstrated remarkable growth in his independence within our ADT program. He now takes the initiative to pack his own snacks and effectively uses a planner and calendar to organize his weekly activities. Recently, CK also secured employment as a merchandiser at Puzzled Paws, further showcasing his growing self-sufficiency. Through consistent practice with adapted movements in recreation and exercise routines,

  CK has gained the ability to independently initiate these movements, significantly enhancing his participation. His progress in speech and communication is also evident, as he actively uses his skills to assist peers during leisure activities and group games. CK’s continued development in these areas, along with his new job, highlights his increasing independence and strong contribution to the program.

• Christy

  Christy began practicing a new health related life skill, and through the use of evidence-based practices (task analysis), she has now mastered the skill and can complete it independently. Christy has also improved in the area of communication, by asking questions that are related to material being presented, expanding her language throughout multiple learning domains and environments.

• Anthony

  Anthony has enhanced his communication skills with his AAC device, now using complete sentences to answer questions. This progress has enabled him to actively engage and participate more fully in daily living, leisure, and recreational skills. He has also increased his independence in completing task bins and is now successfully tackling multi-step tasks, including creating complex patterns and assembling and disassembling materials.

• Annabel

  Since Annabel started attending Els for Autism in 2020, she has made incredible strides through her Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Speech-Language Therapy, and Occupational Therapy (OT) sessions. Thanks to the dedicated staff, Annabel’s language and social skills with peers have improved tremendously. Over the past few years, she’s started school, is opened to more food options, celebrated with friends at birthday parties, and grown into a loving big sister who enjoys playing with her baby sister.

• Mary

  Mary has grown tremendously within both a recreation and camp setting. Using her strengths of following a routine, desire to help instructors and counselors, and overall positive demeanor, Mary is now successfully and independently participating in recreation programming 5 days a week. Through collaboration with clinicians and evidence-based practices (i.e. visual schedules, token economy, and modeling) Mary demonstrates a level of independence we only see continue to grow.

• Cam

  Before coming to ADT, Cam did not like doing art projects of any kind. After a few times working in the SOP workshop, Cam has not only wanted to complete art projects with the Sea of Possibilities Manager, Julie, but he does so with a big smile. Cam has also become more independent when completing activities and tasks within ADT.

• Bobby

  Bobby always has a big smile on his face and loves visiting our Big Easy Cafe, located inside the Stoops Family Adult Services Building. Our team has observed Bobby becoming more willing to participate in and enjoy community-based outings, such as trips to the Loggerhead Marinelife Center, the CMX movie theater, and community cleanups at DuBois Park.

  Bobby has embraced going out into the community more, trying new activities, and gaining valuable experiences with his peers and friends in ADT.

• Mitchell

  Mitchell’s family made the decision to move a thousand miles so he could join our ADT program in the summer of 2024. His parents are overjoyed to see how quickly Mitchell has adjusted and begun thriving since starting the program.

  One of the most significant changes is his ability to verbally express his thoughts and emotions. Additionally, through his participation in our Sea of Possibilities social enterprise, the team has discovered Mitchell’s fine motor skills and his ability to stay focused on tasks.

• Maggie

  Maggie began her employment journey through our Work Experience Program, where her hard work and attention to detail stood out. Recognizing her passion for color mixing, her Job Coach found opportunities that matched her strengths. Her path led to the Lighthouse Candle and Scent Bar; a local business committed to inclusive employment. They created a customized role for Maggie, allowing her to excel in tasks like wicking and mixing candles, packaging, stocking, and caring for shop plants. In her role over the past 18 months, Maggie has flourished, gaining confidence, interacting with customers, and achieving personal growth at both work and home.

• Jasmine

  Jasmine has been a cherished part of our camp for years, and it’s always a joy to have her return year after year. Her infectious smile and laughter bring positivity and kindness to everyone around her. Early on, it became clear that Jasmine thrives in group settings and excels at connecting with others. Staff consistently leverage her strengths in communication and her desire to connect as motivators to encourage her participation in recreation activities.

  Over time, her independence and initiative within camp settings have grown tremendously. She has embraced opportunities for leadership in the classroom and in both creative and athletic activities across camp. We’re thrilled to watch her continue to grow as she attends the Movin’ & Groovin’ Summer and Spring Break Camps.

• Kyla

  Kyla brings an overwhelming sense of kindness and joy each day, always approaching her golf classes with a positive attitude and enthusiasm. Highly social, she remembers everyone’s name and has even befriended several volunteers, showcasing significant growth in her social skills. While she is very independent during golf activities, she actively seeks social interactions and seems to especially enjoy group and teamwork-related activities. Her confidence and independence continue to grow with each session.

• Jaxon

  Jaxon is a positive and funny boy who always arrives at the Els for Autism Foundation with a smile on his face. He participates in activities at Els for Autism, such as golf and kickball, as well as other therapeutic services.

  Jaxon has recently begun Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapeutic services, where he has worked on skill acquisition goals, such as social skills (including communication and structured play with peers), flexibility in routines, and motor skills. He has been able to practice navigating daily routines through role-playing and practicing with peers. Both on the golf course and in the classroom, Jaxon’s confidence has increased, and he is participating in activities that may have previously been non-preferred due to difficulty.

• Amy

  We are proud to serve families and clients in various ways through our Recreation Services, offering afterschool activities, camps, special event days, virtual groups, and other events. Amy, one of our recreation clients, takes advantage of all these opportunities!

  She has participated in our afterschool activities for many years, including the Ernie Els #GameON Autism Golf, Tennis, and Fitness programs, as well as music and art therapy and theater through our Reach and Teach through the Arts program. She has also been an active and engaged member of our virtual Spectrum Book Club and Connections Club.

  One of the most unique programs she has participated in is our annual Ernie Els #GameON Autism International Golf Tournament. Amy has taken part each of the three years we have held the tournament, and we are proud and honored to have her as a valued member of our community in all the ways she chooses to engage.

5 Reasons to Become a Monthly Donor