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Student Spotlight: How CAP Changed Uncertainty to Optimism for this High School Graduate

At this time last year, Mikayla was preparing to graduate from Connections High School & Vocational Center. Her family was proud of her growth but felt uncertain about what would come next. She had done well at Connections but still needed support and structure.

"We were very nervous. We wondered what we were going to do and where she would go next," says Mikayla's mom, Jen. See more.

Connections Celebrates 8 Years of Growth!

Eight years ago, we officially opened by holding our first open house, paving the way for us to welcome our first students the following fall. We recently marked the milestone with an anniversary celebration and a look back on Facebook. Check out the photos and see if you recognize some of the students who have grown with us!

We can't wait to see what the next 8 years hold!

Congratulations to Our 28 Graduates!

You read that right! Some 28 Connections students are graduating from Pre-K, 5th, 8th or 12th this year! We're so proud of our students and excited to celebrate their achievements with their families on Friday, May 19!

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to see photos of our graduates and highlights from the ceremony.

Will You Help High School Graduates Who Don't Have a Clear "Next"?

As we enjoy the excitement that graduation brings, we can't help but remember that families of children with autism face a harsh reality after high school. Students "age out" of public school at age 21, but many young adults with autism still need structure and support to stay safe and engaged. Young adults who are significantly impacted by autism do not have a "next" once public education comes to an end.

Three years ago, we launched the nonprofit Connections Adult Program (CAP) to meet this growing need in Palm Beach County. CAP is a year-round program where young adults with autism spend their days in a structured, supportive environment where they can continue developing social skills, communication abilities, safety awareness, independent-living

skills, vocational abilities and even leisure skills. Our results have been incredible!

Programs like ours are regulated and funded by government sources, at a rate of $6.15 per hour per adult. However, the actual cost to provide quality care is $18.65 per hour per adult, and the law prohibits tuition, leaving us with a 60% gap to cover.

As high school comes to a close, we are asking for support to keep the doors to CAP open this summer and beyond. Will you join us in giving a Graduation Gift by May 26, 2023, to help young adults with autism have access to a caring, productive "next"? You can help here.

Prom 2023 ~ An Event to Remember!

This month, our high school students and young adult clients enjoyed a sensory-friendly prom complete with special attire, lunch, a photo booth and dancing!

You won't want to miss the heart-warming pictures on Facebook and fun videos from the event on YouTube.

This event would not have been possible without our amazing volunteers and supportive businesses. Thank you!

Thank You for Helping Us Draw the Line on Drowning!

During Autism Acceptance Month in April 2023, we highlighted the fact that drowning is the No. 1 cause of death for children with autism and that they are 160 times more likely to drown than their neurotypical peers.

We aim to Draw the Line on Drowning through autism-friendly swim lessons that are included in the curriculum for all our students. Because these lessons are not funded by the public school, our parents and classes led a digital fundraising campaign during April. Classes competed to see which could raise the most and then they demonstrated their swim skills by completing an aquatic obstacle course.

With your help and that of an incredibly generous donor who gave a 2x match for individual donations, we raised $32,743 for our adaptive swim lessons! These funds will directly impact lives by giving more students access to essential swim lessons. See related press coverage by WPTV here.

Congratulations to our classroom winners!

• Most Amount Raised -- Connections Adult Program (CAP)
• Highest # of Donors -- CAP & Ms. Maria's Class Tied
• Most Laps Completed -- Ms. Janine's & Ms. Treena's Classes Tied

To learn more, please see the campaign here.

Students Go On a Nature Scavenger Hunt at La Posada Community

Students in Mr. Tyler's class joined volunteers at La Posada for a special nature scavenger hunt. Together, they searched for and photographed beautiful plants, birds and even a water fountain.

Thank you to our friends at La Posada for hosting this engaging scavenger hunt, and thank you to Mr. and Mrs. Fred Gladstone for providing the cameras!

See How Our Garden Grows & Grows!

Two months ago, volunteers from the PGA Community Outreach Committee helped our students and clients plant a variety of fruits, vegetables and herbs. Our CAP clients have been tending the garden with much success! See more photos!

Our friends at PGA also donated a new, commercial refrigerator, which is helping keep our fruits, vegetables, and other foods fresh and ready for our students and clients to try.

Thank you, PGA Community Outreach Committee, for your incredible generosity!