Your Shining Light donation goes directly to The Victory Center for Autism and Related Disabilities, a school for children and adults with autism.​ All donations are tax deductible. A tax receipt will be provided by The Victory Center.

How does the money that The Victory Center raises create a Shining Light on Autism Awareness?

We want to help others understand people who have autism. In recent months, there have been television shows created about and with people who have autism, mainstream newscasts and articles in the media depicting people with autism. There is a wide spectrum that people who have autism experience. By creating a fun way for people to understand how important The Victory Center School is for children and their families, we hope that we can raise the awareness to help even more families who are looking for answers to understand and manage autism—regardless of the severity of it.

What makes our programs unique is that we have a very high
student to teacher ratio (many students have one dedicated teacher) to ensure each child gets individualized attention which is critical to their learning, growth and well-being.

The Victory Center provides intensive education based upon the principles
of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). ABA is a scientifically proven,
systematic approach to the assessment, treatment, and evaluation of
behavior.

Three decades of research demonstrate that ABA plays a direct role in
improving social and academic behavior, developing functional life
skills, nurturing a greater command of language, and decreasing
maladaptive behavior such as self-injury and aggression.

Recently, The Victory Center has added an Adult Program for individuals aging out of the education system who need services such as employment training and community support.

Over 20 years ago, Barry and Judi Nelson, the parents of a child with
autism found themselves frustrated by the lack of appropriate
educational opportunities for their son. After trying public schools and
private schools, they found the only effective program was a program
based on the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). With the
encouragement of their friend, Dr. Michael Alessandri, The Executive
Director of the University of Miami Center for Autism and Related
Disabilities, the Nelsons formed a Board of Directors, established a
501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization, located space, and opened
 with four students.

The Victory Center is raising money to educate and support children who are affected by autism.

    <h3><b>Programs<br/></b></h3><p><b>EARLY INTENSIVE BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTION (EIBI)</b></p><p>The Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention (EIBI) program offers intensive<br/>ABA therapy to increase socially significant behavior while decreasing socially inappropriate behavior removing a child’s barriers to community<br/>involvement and an enriched life. The program offers individualized <br/>Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) based instruction to children ages 2 <br/>to 5 in an intensive 1:1 and 2:1 student-to-teacher ratio setting by <br/>professionals qualified in areas of behavior analysis, education, and other related services. <br/> <br/><b>PRIMARY PROGRAM</b><br/>The program focuses on implementing individualized grade level instruction that adheres to academic state standards such as Common Core for students ages 6 to 12. Students received individualized teaching and small group instruction on various subjects such as math, science, <br/>language arts, and reading. The primary program also focuses on social skills, communication skills, independent living skills, and reduction <br/>of maladaptive behavior. Additionally, the program includes individualized fitness components including swimming, yoga, cardio, and strength training. </p>

    <p>        <b><b>THE ACADEMY PROGRAM</b><br/></b>The program focuses on implementing individualized grade level instructions that adheres to academic state standards such as Common Core for students ages 13-22. Students receive individualized teaching through small group instruction on various subjects such as math, science, language arts, and reading. Additionally, the program includes individualized fitness components including swimming, yoga, cardio, and strength training. <b><br/></b></p><p><b>THE VOCATIONAL PROGRAM </b><br/>The Vocational Program, unique in the South Florida area, focuses on <br/>teaching functional skills that allow an individual to be more independent when he or she transitions to adulthood. This is a center-based program for students ages 13 to 22, which is geared toward students who are unable to obtain a high school diploma and focuses on vocational training and daily living skills. The work is underscored by four primary principles: functional academics, domestic living, vocational training, and community skills. <br/></p><p><b>THE ADULT PROGRAM </b><br/>This program is offered to serve the needs of individuals with disabilities <br/>beyond age 22. The program’s objective is to create a level of independency by setting goals, teaching independent living skills, <br/>communication skills, and reducing maladaptive behavior. Goals for each <br/>student are established and designed during meeting between staff and <br/>parents and are monitored throughout the year. The program offers students a variety of experiences including community-based instruction <br/>(CBI), job-training, and job placement. Additionally, the program includes individualized fitness components including swimming, yoga, cardio, and strength training.</p>