About
Connections is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit school in Palm Beach County, Florida, that empowers students with autism and related disabilities to learn academic, social, vocational and independent-living skills using evidence-based strategies and a family-centered approach. Since opening in 2015 with just 22 students, we've grown to 140+ individuals with autism including students ages 3-22 and adults who have aged out of the school system and still need support in a safe, nurturing environment.
We serve individuals with autism through:
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Connections Education Center of the Palm Beaches, a Title 1 charter school for students in preschool-8th grade.
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Connections High School & Vocational Center, a private high school that serves students ages 14-22.
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Connections Adult Program (CAP), a day program for adults with autism where they can continue learning and working toward self-sufficiency.
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We serve some of the most marginalized children in our community, with more than 85% of our students living below the poverty line.
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We believe all students and adults with autism deserve access to quality instruction, therapies and care so they can achieve their full potential. ​​
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Memberships & Certifications
We Teach the Way Students With Autism Learn
Our school days include adaptive academic instruction following evidence-based strategies in classrooms with a low student-to-staff ratio for effective learning.
Students also benefit from targeted therapies such as speech therapy, occupational therapy and/or behavioral therapy delivered by certified, experienced therapists.
Coached Community Integration
We extend the learning through community experiences where students develop skills they can use to better connect with their families, peers and community.
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Community experiences help our teens and young adults learn important skills for everyday life — safely crossing the street, riding a bus, waiting in line at the supermarket. We have developed partnerships with several organizations to enable this instruction.
Leveraging Technology to Enable Learning
We leverage state-of-the-art technology to empower our visual learners to gain and express knowledge.
Our nonverbal students are equipped with technology that can help them communicate with peers, family members and the community.
Health, Wellness & Aquatics Program Teaches Important Life Skills
A hallmark of Connections is our Health, Wellness & Aquatics Program featuring a water safety and swimming program that combats the No. 1 cause of death for kids with autism -- drowning.
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Our students take a 1:1 lesson each week with a trained swim instructor who's experienced in teaching children with autism.
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This program also gives students the opportunity to learn about kitchen safety, healthy eating, fitness, functional leisure and more.
Family-Centered Approach
Experience has shown that families are an integral part of our students' learning process. We collaborate with parents to design the best plan for their child and to enable families to reinforce learnings at home and in the community.
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We're also a resource to parents and families in times of need. We know that when families are strong, children learn better.
