Our Founder's Story

A Caring Education for Students with Autism

According to the Center for Disease Control, autism spectrum disorder has been identified in one out of 36 children. To many people that is just a statistic, but not when that one out of 36 is your child.

Shortly before our son, Boaz, turned two, my husband, Bryn, and I started noticing some differences in his development. Then at his two-year-old checkup, our pediatrician recommended we visit a developmental specialist. After a survey about our son’s development and a quick visit with the developmental pediatrician, we were told our son had autism.

Our world changed in an instant. We didn’t know where to begin. After loads of research, applied behavior analysis clinic tours, and long waitlists, we finally found a great team of therapists. We also sought support from other families on similar journeys.

In a desire to create more community for these families, we started Tri-County Autism Community, which hosts an annual awareness walk and event with fun activities for kids. As our son transitioned into school age, it became even more of a challenge to find the right educational environment for our son. Throughout our journey, we have met several other families with similar stories.

The need for more autism-related services in our community became apparent and that need has inspired us to work with The Villages Charter School to create a center that can continue to serve our employees’ families and is dedicated to the education and development of children with autism.

—Lindsey Blaise

Mom, fourth generation member of the Morse family and former Citizens First Bank CEO

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Offering a ratio of three students to one teacher in our Autism Center.

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Serving elementary-age children, with plans to expand as the community grows.

2020

Targeting an opening in January 2025 for this new center in our Buffalo Ridge campus.

Leaving The Autism Center Website

The Villages® Charter School Autism Center is operated by The Villages® Charter School Autism Center, LLC (“TVCS AC”), a Florida not-for-profit company and registered 501(c)3. TVCS AC is operated independently from The Villages® Charter School, Inc. (VCS). VCS provides certain administrative services under contract with TVCS AC in an effort to provide continuity and seamless integration for families who also have children attending The Villages® Charter School.
"Education's purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one."
– MALCOM FORBES