WHAT IS PALS

PALS is an acronym for Providing Autism Links & Support. It is a 501c3 organization that serves Central Florida; therefore donations are tax deductible according to Florida law.

PALS was founded in 2002, by a group of parents who had children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and were seeking additional opportunities for their children. The parents elected to collaborate with the newly opened Center for Autism & Related Disabilities (CARD) at the University of Central Florida to enhance services they were providing in Orange, Seminole, Volusia, Brevard, Lake, Osceola and Sumter counties.

DONATIONS EMPOWER PALS

to create more opportunities for autism in our communities

EVENT PHOTOS

PHILOSPHY & VALUES

All people, regardless of their abilities or disabilities, have the right to live as full participants in society.
All people have the right to be treated with dignity and understanding.
People with disabilities are members of families. All families have strengths and capacities. They have the right to be treated with sensitivity and respect and as integral members of a person’s support system.
People with autism and related disabilities have the right to be regarded as individuals who need services and supports that are based on their unique characteristics.

CALENDAR

You must register to participate in any program/event. Most programs are password protected. Feel free to inquire with your UCF CARD Autism Disorder Specialist or contact PALS 407.823.6020.

PALS VISION

The vision of PALS is become the leading non-profit grassroots organization in Central Florida by providing evidence-based supports, services and programs for individuals with ASD to become included members of the community as they learn, play and work in Central Florida, and by piloting innovative programs and empowering their parents, family members. professionals, and siblings through educational interventions.

PALS MISSION

The mission of PALS is to create opportunities for individuals, of all ages, with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), registered with the UCF-CARD by providing state-of-the-art social inclusive community programs in Orange, Osceola, Brevard, Sumter, Lake, Volusia, and Seminole counties to optimize positive outcomes as they learn, play, work and live.

ABOUT US

Providing Autism Links & Supports (PALS) is the 501c3 non-profit supporting organization for the University of Central Florida Center for Autism & Related Disabilities (UCF-CARD) and it’s constituents. Due to UCF CARD’s limited funding from the state to provide supports and services to over 15,000 individuals, PALS fills gaps by creating opportunities for autism in our local communities through social, family, collaborative, therapeutic, awareness and educational programs and events.

Donations to PALS are tax deductible according to Florida state law. All funds raised remain within Central Florida.

The core values that PALS promotes are dignity, respect, accountability, collaboration, compassion and trust. PALS will strive for a collaborative effort by staff, family members, outside individuals and agencies. The abilities, interests, and preferences of all people served by PALS will be the prime focus of consideration while providing education, services and programs.

EDUCATION/TRAINING

Training for Early Diagnosis of Autism

In collaboration with the CARD conference, PALS provided training in the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS), the “gold-standard” diagnostic tool for assessing children and adults with autism spectrum disorders. Over the past nine years, 900 Florida professionals attended this training, enhancing the number of trained evaluators across the PALS region as well as the rest of the state.