Autism Society of the Keys (ASK) founder Jill Campbell gazed at her new, spacious office located at the new Carrie Brazer Center for Autism in Tavernier. The journey began some 12 years ago at Campbell’s home as she began to meet with parents in search of answers and assistance regarding autism.
The guidance Campbell offers to local families has grown so much that it drew her to find a larger spot to carry out critical work in getting the necessary resources into families’ hands.
“It’s fitting to be in a school like this,” Campbell said. “It just made sense to have us under the same roof.”
A nonprofit, ASK aims to help families affected by autism — one of the great health epidemics in the world today with roughly 136 new diagnoses each day. With parents knowing little about autism, Campbell said ASK’s goals are providing answers and educating parents on what steps they need to take.
Campbell said her new office opens opportunities for meetings to educate parents and bring families together for some fun events. She hopes to emulate what she’s done in the Lower Keys out of the Basilica School of St. Mary Star of the Sea.
“The school was supportive and allowed us to use their library to accommodate a craft event or a speaker. With this partnership in the Upper Keys, we’ll be able to do more,” she said.
Campbell said 1 in 10,000 children was diagnosed with autism in the 1980s. Today, 1 in 44 children has autism. If the rate continues, she said, 80% of boys could have autism by 2032. And boys are five times more likely to have autism compared to girls.
At 2 1/2 years old, Campbell’s son, Craig, was diagnosed with autism. She knew very little about autism at that time. She also didn’t know how much it’d consume her everyday life.
The support that Campbell and her family found among those with shared experiences, however, prompted them to form ASK as a local resource, sounding board and community education program.
Craig received the therapy needed to help grow his daily life skills. Today, he drives a car, is in typical high school classes and speaks as much as anyone. Campbell said a small classroom atmosphere, such as the one Craig was in during his days at Island Christian School, aided his progress. At the Carrie Brazer Center for Autism in Tavernier, located in the former Ocean Studies Charter School, students are receiving one-on-one attention and support. Opening a year ago, the school currently has 10 students.
Carrie Brazer is a Florida-certified special education teacher who founded the Carrie Brazer Center for Autism in 1999. With a master’s degree in varying exceptionalities, Brazer’s school in Miami has served students for 22 years. With a new location in Tavernier, she said, parents can send their children to obtain the help they need locally.
Brazer said the school’s individualized curriculum allows students to engage with what they’re learning through touch.
“Everything that’s going on in the curriculum, they can move around on the iPad,” she said. “It follows Sunshine State Standards in Florida and modifies at their pace.”
Brazer said the school accepts the Gardiner Scholarship, which provides thousands of dollars in assistance based on where children are on the spectrum. She said the school also accepts all insurance so children can receive behavior therapy, which allows students to work closely with behavioral assistants during or after school in order to reduce behavior problems and increase daily life skills.
In addition, Brazer said they’re looking to open a classroom in the fall for neurotypical children. Brazer said the Gardiner scholarship gives a sibling a free scholarship to attend the school.
“If there’s a neurotypical child and an autistic child, they can both come to school under the same scholarship so parents don’t have to travel to two schools,” she said.
Families are invited to an open house on Saturday, June 11 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to tour the school and partake in various activities. Parents will be able to walk through classrooms and meet staff while kids can enjoy hot dogs and some face painting.
Visit autismsocietyofthekeys.com for more on ASK and cbc4autism.org for more on the Carrie Brazer School for Autism.
