Pickleball Tournament for The Victory Center supporting Victory Center Inc
Pickleball Tournament for The Victory Center supporting Victory Center Inc
About Pickleball Tournament for The Victory Center
Do you have a dream of being the all-time best Pickleball Champion? What if you could achieve that without ever leaving your sofa?
Here’s your chance! April is National Pickleball Month and Autism Awareness Month.
The Victory Center School is combining the two national month-long celebrations to give you the chance to virtually participate in a Pickleball Tournament to benefit students at The Victory Center! You won’t actually be playing to win, but by raising the most money you and your team will have the chance to get the honor and bragging rights of Pickleball Champion.
Why is the Victory Center having a Virtual Pickleball Tournament?
Because Pickleball is a fun way to get people involved. It is the fastest growing sport in America as reported by the 2023 Sports & Fitness Industry Association and participated in by over 36 million people.
And, since Autism affects over 1 in 44 children according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analysis. Many of the children who attend The Victory Center aren’t able to play Pickleball, this is a way to give them a chance to participate virtually. And with your help they can not only participate, but even have the chance of claiming the title of the winner of the entire tournament!
It’s all in fun while supporting a great cause for The Victory Center to raise money to educate and support children who are affected by autism.
How Does the Virtual Pickleball Tournament Support Autism?
We want to help others understand people who have autism. Recently, 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 are Some of the Challenges of People Who Have Autism?
It causes difficulty in communication and relationship-building, which can lead to poor academic outcomes, social struggles, family stress, and unemployment. Most children with autism and their families do not have access to tailored, research-based programs that address these issues.
The Victory Center for Autism and Related Disabilities is changing that with intensive education based upon the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). The student to teacher ratios are 1:1, 2:1 and 3:1 which is unique for educational institutions.
But it comes at a high price!
Over one-half of the families who attend The Victory Center receive financial assistance.
The cost of tuition will prohibit some families from getting the much-needed education that their child needs. The Victory Center provides 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.
That’s why we need you playing to win for The Victory Center to help these families get the assistance that they need.
Join us in raising awareness and funds for The Victory Center School for Autism.
How can you get involved?
- Support the Pickleball team of your choice: Click on your favorite team and follow the prompts.
- Fundraise for your favorite team: Select your favorite team then tell your friends. Encourage them to help your favorite team compete against other horses in the race to increase autism awareness!
- Make a donation: Click on any of the "Donate" buttons and follow the prompts. You will have the option to designate your donation to an individual or team to show your support. Be sure to share on your social media platforms by using
the hashtag #AutismTVC2023.
How Your Support Makes a Difference
Like our beloved children who have autism that are challenged to be their best every day, we have a competitive spirit too. That’s why we encourage you to help your favorite team get to the top of the leaderboard! Check
back often and help your favorite team win the race.
Your Pickleball Tournament 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.
Why is The Victory Center important for children and families with autism?
What makes our programs unique is that we have a very low student to teacher ratio 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.
How Did the Victory Center Get Started?
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.
Programs
EARLY INTENSIVE BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTION (EIBI)
The Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention (EIBI) program offers intensive ABA therapy to increase socially significant behavior while decreasing socially inappropriate behavior removing a child’s barriers to community involvement and an enriched life. The program offers individualized Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) based instruction to children ages 2 to 5 in an intensive 1:1 and 2:1 student-to-teacher ratio setting by professionals qualified in areas of behavior analysis, education, and other related services.
PRIMARY PROGRAM
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, language arts, and reading. The primary program also focuses on social skills, communication skills, independent living skills, and reduction of maladaptive behavior. Additionally, the program includes individualized fitness components including swimming, yoga, cardio, and strength training.
Teenage through Adult Programs
THE ACADEMY PROGRAM
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.
THE VOCATIONAL PROGRAM
The Vocational Program, unique in the South Florida area, focuses on 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.
THE ADULT PROGRAM
This program is offered to serve the needs of individuals with disabilities beyond age 22. The program’s objective is to create a level of independency by setting goals, teaching independent living skills, communication skills, and reducing maladaptive behavior. Goals for each student are established and designed during meeting between staff and parents and are monitored throughout the year. The program offers students a variety of experiences including community-based instruction (CBI), job-training, and job placement. Additionally, the program includes individualized fitness components including swimming, yoga, cardio, and strength training.
