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A $500,000 grant from the Harry T. Mangurian Jr. Foundation was awarded to co-principal investigators Jennifer Percival, Ph.D., CRC, director of Florida Atlantic University’s Center for Autism and Related Disabilities, and Jack Scott, Ph.D., BCBA-D, associate professor and executive director, to support the expansion of evidence-based services and community resources for individuals with autism spectrum disorder and related disabilities across South Florida.

The two-year award is designed to enhance the center’s capacity to address increasing service demands as autism prevalence rises. Current estimates indicate that approximately 1 in 31 individuals is diagnosed with autism, and Florida Atlantic’s Center for Autism and Related Disabilities presently serves more than 8,300 registered constituents across five counties, up from approximately 3,300 individuals a decade ago.

The Mangurian Foundation’s investment will support the expansion and refinement of core programming, enabling the center to extend its reach while maintaining a strong emphasis on service quality and accessibility across the lifespan. Under the leadership of Percival and Scott, the grant provides strategic direction for the implementation and evaluation of funded initiatives.

Grant-supported activities include the continued development of the ASD and Mental Health Task Force, expansion of safety-focused programming, and enhanced outreach targeting school-age students. The funding also will strengthen campus and community engagement through mentoring opportunities, public education events and interdisciplinary collaborations that connect families with clinicians, educators and community partners.

Collectively, these initiatives align with the center’s mission to provide comprehensive support to individuals with autism and related disabilities through responsive education, innovative programming and community collaboration. With support from the Mangurian Foundation, the center is positioned to expand its impact, deepen community partnerships and increase access to resources that support positive outcomes for individuals with autism and their families.