JUPITER,
Fla., July 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Drowning is
the leading cause of death for children with autism spectrum
disorder (ASD), with Florida
reporting the highest number of deaths among these children. A
recent study conducted by the Children's Services Council of
Palm Beach County has found that
Palm Beach County leads the state
in drownings involving children with autism.
Water safety and drowning prevention for individuals with autism
are central to the efforts of the Els for Autism® team.
The staff has been actively working on expanding The Els Center of
Excellence® campus and its program offerings to address
these alarming statistics. "The time is now for us as a community
to come together and prevent another tragedy," said Els for Autism
Executive Director Marlene Sotelo,
EdD, BCBA-D, MT-BC. "Time is of the essence to provide accessible
life-saving programs to keep our children safe."
In 2023, Els for Autism announced the official launch of their
capital campaign to build a specialized autism-friendly recreation
complex, which will include a gymnasium, an aquatic center, and a
splash pad. Thanks to the support of Florida legislators, Els for Autism has been
awarded two $1 million state
appropriations for the construction of the complex. Additionally,
Stanley Black & Decker has
pledged $5 million to support the
capital campaign. We are halfway to our fundraising goal and
continue connecting with individual donors, sponsors, and grantors
to get us to the finish line.
While Els for Autism is actively fundraising for the recreation
complex, set to break ground in 2025, the program team is currently
expanding the Ernie Els #GameON Autism® Sports program
to include aquatics. The aquatic program will serve as the
curriculum for teaching specialized swim lessons and water safety
at the recreation complex's aquatic center pool.
Once completed, the Ernie Els #GameON Autism®
Aquatics program will be available globally, allowing individuals,
organizations, or businesses to become Official Program Providers
and offer this lifesaving program in their community.
To learn more about the Els for Autism autism-friendly
recreation complex and the Ernie Els #GameON Autism Aquatics
program's mission to prevent drownings, contact Sr. Marketing
Manager Rachel Soler at 812.550.4353
(cell) or Rachel.Soler@ElsforAutism.org.
About Els for Autism
Foundation®
Established in 2009 by World Golf
Hall of Famer and four-time Major Champion Ernie Els, his wife,
Liezl, and honorary chair Marvin R.
Shanken, the Els for Autism Foundation® is
dedicated to transforming the lives of individuals with autism
spectrum disorder (ASD) and their caregivers through comprehensive
lifespan services and collaborative partnerships. The Els' son,
Ben, is impacted by ASD, which affects 1 in 36 children in the U.S.
Els for Autism has provided services to autistic individuals,
families, and professionals in 31 countries around the globe. In
addition to its U.S. location, Els for Autism has foundations in
Canada, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/els-for-autism-foundation-expands-efforts-to-combat-drowning-the-leading-cause-of-death-for-autistic-children-302201835.html
SOURCE Els For Autism Foundation Inc.