Autism Project of Palm Beach County

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Update: 11:44 PM, Ethan Boyd has been safely located. Thank you for sharing.

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The Martin County Sheriff's Office is seeking assistance in locating missing autistic juvenile, 14 year old Ethan Boyd. Ethan was last seen at 5:20 p.m. this evening running towards the south side of Grand Oaks Living Facility in Palm City near Coquina Cove.

Ethan is 5'7 approximately 130 pounds with brown hair. He was last seen wearing a dark blue shirt with seafoam green shorts with no shoes.

If you see or have seen Ethan, please call the Martin County Sheriff's Office immediately at 772-220-7170 or 911.

Nominate someone today!

Do you know someone with autism who is an inspiration to others and is accomplished in any area of endeavor?

Celebrate their accomplishments by nominating them for the 2026 Els for Autism Spectrum Award.

The Spectrum Award recognizes an individual with autism who leads by example through their character, achievements, and positive contributions to their community.

Nominations are now open to U.S. and Canadian residents ages 18 and older through August 31, 2026.

Nominate someone today through the link in our bio and help us celebrate their incredible achievements. 💙 Visit https://www.elsforautism.org/about-us/spectrum-award/

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Congratulations to Spain! 🇪🇸

A special shoutout to Spanish footballer Marc Cucurella, who has used his platform to speak openly about his autistic son, Mateo, sharing the journey of learning to understand him, navigating uncertainty, and advocating with deep love for what his child needs.

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When Mateo was a baby, his parents would play music and watch him flap his hands. They thought he was dancing.

His dad is Marc Cucurella, one of the best defenders in the world, a Euro 2024 winner with Spain, playing in this World Cup right now. But when doctors confirmed what those early signs meant, none of that helped. “The hardest part is that you don’t know how you can help,” he said.

Mateo is autistic and non-speaking. At his first school, he cried for hours and couldn’t settle. His parents would drop him off together and drive home heartbroken. “Nobody teaches you how to be a parent,” Cucurella has said. “An autistic child doesn’t understand things like his siblings. You have to learn to understand him.”

Then they found a specialist school in London, and everything started to change. Mateo got support. The family got guidance. And Cucurella learned something that now shapes his entire career.

Before he agrees to play for a new team, in any city, in any country, he checks one thing first: does this city have the schools and therapy Mateo needs? The soccer comes second. This summer, when he moved from Chelsea to Real Madrid, that box had been checked first.

“Having your family happy helps you be happy too,” he says. “Once you have that, you can focus on your work.”

He’s stood on the biggest stages his sport has. And he says the deepest satisfaction is something else entirely: watching Mateo achieve something new. Even a simple step forward.

Millions know his name. Now you know who he’s playing for.

Source: El País, Sky Sports

Calling all SLP’s 💙💙💙

TLA is looking for a great SLP to join our team!

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The World Cup is the loudest event on Earth. Eighty thousand voices, drums, horns, fireworks, floodlights. For millions of fans, that’s the magic. For autistic fans, it can be the wall that keeps them outside.

Not this time.

For the first time in the tournament’s history, the 2026 World Cup earned Sensory Inclusive certification, and every single one of the 16 stadiums across the US, Canada and Mexico has a sensory room. A quiet, dimmed space with soft seating and calming tools, where anyone overwhelmed by the noise can regulate and then go back to the match. All 104 games, no exceptions.

It goes further than the rooms. Fans can pick up free sensory bags with noise-reducing headphones and fidget tools. Social-story guides help people know exactly what to expect before they even arrive. And stadium staff were trained by KultureCity to recognize sensory overload and respond with patience instead of panic.

This isn’t just for autistic fans, either. It’s there for anyone with sensory needs, including veterans with PTSD, people with dementia, and anxious first-time fans.

The biggest sporting event on the planet just told millions of people: you don’t have to choose between who you are and being in the room where it happens.

Every stadium, everywhere, should take notes.

Source: FIFA

Happy Fourth 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸

Happy Father's Day weekend to all the Super Dads out there!!

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Navigating services and support can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone.

Join at The Els Center of Excellence on June 30 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. for our Care Coordination Workshop, where individuals and families will learn about programs, community resources, funding opportunities, and support services designed to help them thrive.

Topics will include:
• Els for Autism programs and services
• APD Medicaid Waiver and funding options
• FAU CARD and community resources
• Public benefits, crisis services, and family supports

Whether you're exploring services for the first time or looking to better understand the resources available to you, this workshop is designed to connect you with valuable information and support.

🔗 Register today to reserve your spot! https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=KNMjs_ORg0uoit60aqwGRDDyiV-IHCBNgVUWTw4pBFpUMTZSUzBCRVA2NzNPUTZHUTQ1MzRDUDZTMS4u