Els for Autism

03/17/2026

Congratulations to our lucky winner of the Roots & Ruts Off-Road 5K giveaway, ! 🍀

Didn’t find your pot of gold this St. Patrick’s Day? Don’t worry, the real reward is crossing the finish line with us!

Register to run or walk in our upcoming race on April 18th, starting at The Els Center of Excellence.

Sign up today through https://runsignup.com/Race/FL/JUPITER/RootsRutsOffRoad5K!

03/10/2026

We’re celebrating the countdown to the Roots & Ruts Off-Road 5K on April 18 with a chance to win TWO race entries! 🌿👟

Grab your favorite running buddy because one lucky winner will receive 2 free entries to join us on the scenic trails at Jupiter Flatwoods Natural Area. This trail-style race is all about community, movement, and supporting autism awareness, acceptance, and inclusion during World Autism Month.

How to enter:

💙Like this post
👟Tag your running buddy in the comments (each tag = another entry!)
🔄Share this post to your story and tag us to double your entries
Must be following Els for Autism

🍀 The lucky winner will be announced on St. Patrick’s Day (March 17)!

Don’t want to leave it up to luck? You can still secure your spot today:
🔗 https://www.elsforautism.org/rootsandruts5k/

03/09/2026

🌱 Early Intervention Matters 🌱

Early detection and intervention can transform the lives of individuals with autism.

Pro Tip: Signs of autism often appear before age two but may continue to be observed in children, adolescents, and adults.

Our team offers diagnostic services for individuals as young as 1 year old, all the way through adulthood. However, our support doesn’t stop there.

We also offer Spring Into Action Programs, which use a transdisciplinary team model and incorporate evidence-based practices, including family involvement, to support skill development and reduce the likelihood of challenging behaviors.

💙 Autism doesn’t mean isolation. Our team is here to support you and your family every step of the way. Lean more at https://www.elsforautism.org/programs-services/early-intervention-education/

03/05/2026

Sam’s Sibs Stick Together, Sibling Workshop Series is designed to address the unique needs of siblings of individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities. This series provides a safe, welcoming space for teens to connect, gain support, access mentorship, share their thoughts and feelings, and explore the critical issues that come with being a sibling to someone with special needs.

📍 Hosted by Els for Autism at The Els Center of Excellence Campus
👥 Ages 13–17 years
🗓 Tuesday, March 10 | 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM
🗓 Tuesday, March 24 | 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM
🗓 Tuesday, April 7 | 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM

Registration is first come, first served. Sign up at https://www.elsforautism.org/programs-services/therapy-services/mental-health-counseling-services/

03/03/2026

Club 31 Champion of the Month: Michael

Meet this month’s Club 31 Champion of the Month, Michael. He was the first child our team of clinicians assessed using EarliPoint after his parents reached out with early concerns. “Before he was a year old, I began suspecting autism. At seven months old, he was rocking and hand-flapping,” shared Michael’s mom. “He was also late to crawl, walk, and talk.”

Using EarliPoint, an innovative autism evaluation tool that enhances our clinical team’s ability to diagnose children at risk for autism, Michael was able to begin receiving the support he needed early on.

In just a few short months, Michael has made incredible progress. He now engages in pretend play, participates in circle time, and joins activities with other children in our Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention (EIBI) program. Most exciting of all, Michael has his very first best friend.

Help us continue providing life-changing programs and services to children like Michael by becoming a monthly donor with Club 31. Your monthly donation of $31 provides consistent and reliable support, ensuring long-term sustainability for the organization and the clients we serve.

Visit https://www.elsforautism.org/club31/ to learn more!

03/02/2026

We are proud to announce that Els for Autism was selected as a Zero Project Art Awardee 2026 for our Ernie Els Autism Sports Programs!

Selected out of 586 nominations from 93 countries, we are honored to be recognized as one of 75 innovative solutions and 7 inclusive arts initiatives from 51 countries in this year’s Zero Project Awards.

“Everyone deserves to play and belong. Autism is never a barrier in our programs,” said Els for Autism Co-Founder and World Golf Hall of Famer Ernie Els.

The Ernie Els Autism Sports Programs use a train-the-trainer model and structured curricula to build motor, communication, and social skills. To date, the program has reached thousands of participants and includes more than 100 Official Program Providers across 12 countries.

Program Director Erin Brooker Lozott, EdD, BCBA-D, CCC-SLP, recently presented our program at the United Nations Office at Vienna to more than 1,000 individuals from 100 countries.

Learn how you can join the global movement and bring an Ernie Els Autism Sports Program to your community by becoming an Official Program Provider at ElsforAutism.org/GameON.

For more information about the Zero Project, visit zeroproject.org/awards-2026.

02/28/2026

Our Specialized Autism Friendly Recreation Complex will be the first of its kind in the United States!

Not only will our Recreation Complex provide a dedicated indoor space for our recreation programs and services, but our team will also be teaching water safety and drowning prevention for individuals with autism on our campus. Drowning is the leading cause of death in children with autism, and we are committed to preventing another tragedy.

Learn how you can support at https://www.elsforautism.org/ways-to-give/recreation-complex-capital-campaign/

02/27/2026

We were proud to bring our Adult Day Training Program to the Cognizant Classic! Our participants stepped onto the course with confidence, building social skills, strengthening independence, and experiencing the power of community connection. Once again, golf proved it can be so much more than a game.

Participation in recreational activities is critically important for individuals with autism. Experiences like this foster achievement, inclusion, self-confidence, and joy, all while enhancing overall quality of life.

A heartfelt thank you to ESPN West Palm for capturing and sharing our amazing day at the Cognizant Classic.

02/26/2026

Sip, stir, and savor your way back to basics with the Big Easy Cafe!👩‍🍳

Join us on Wednesday, March 11th from 5:30–7:30 PM for an interactive cooking class where you’ll learn to create Classic Caesar Salad, Gourmet Meatloaf, and Apple Berry Crisp alongside our talented chefs, then sit down to enjoy your delicious gourmet dinner, dessert, and wine.

The Big Easy Cafe advances our vision of creating limitless possibilities for individuals with autism. Located on The Els Center of Excellence campus, the cafe serves as a vocational training lab where adults build food industry skills and gain meaningful paid employment.

Your ticket doesn’t just reserve your seat at the table; it supports opportunity, inclusion, and independence. 💙

📍 Big Easy Cafe | 18370 Limestone Creek Road Jupiter, FL 33458
💲 $95 per person

Reserve your spot today! https://www.toasttab.com/local/order/the-els-center-of-excellence-18370-limestone-creek-road/item-mar-11-2026-sip-stir-celebrate_2a27fb28-663e-408e-88d5-466604a147c1

02/26/2026

We were proud to bring our Adult Day Training Program to the Cognizant Classic! Participants got out on the golf course, built confidence, practiced social skills, and enjoyed community connection, showing once again that golf can be so much more than a game.

Participating in recreational activities is critically important for individuals with autism. Experiences like this foster achievement, inclusion, self-confidence, and joy, all while enhancing overall quality of life.

Click below to read about our amazing day at the Cognizant Classic thanks to WPBF 25 news!

Participants from the Els for Autism Foundation’s adult day training program stepped onto the course this week during the Cognizant Classic, trading the sidelines for hands-on instruction in golf fundamentals and social connection.

02/25/2026

We’re counting down to the Roots & Ruts Off-Road 5K on April 18! 🌿👟

This trail-style race is more than just a run. It’s a celebration of how far our community continues to go for autism awareness, acceptance, and inclusion during World Autism Month. 💙

Experience our FREE sensory-friendly obstacle course, take in the scenic trails at Jupiter Flatwoods Natural Area, and stay after the race to enjoy our Post-Race Expo. Whether you choose to run, walk, volunteer, or sponsor, there’s truly something for everyone!

Every step taken and every registration and sponsorship supports individuals with autism and their families. Sign up today and make your impact count.

🔗 https://runsignup.com/Race/FL/JUPITER/RootsRutsOffRoad5K

02/24/2026

The Cognizant Classic tees off tomorrow, and it's your final chance to win $10,000! Here’s how to get your hands on the cash:

Visit https://p2p.onecause.com/2026ccbfc/home and donate $20 or more to Els for Autism. Then guess the total number of birdies made by the entire field across all four rounds of the 2026 Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches.

Pro Tip: PGA pros are expected to make between 1,000 and 1,500 birdies during the Classic.

Els for Autism is grateful to once again be selected as a benefiting charity of Birdies for Children.