Eden Autism Services Celebrates 15 Years of Service to Southwest Florida

Fort Myers, FL, October 29, 2011 --(PR.com)-- It began with one mom looking for some help for her daughter. Fifteen years later, Eden Autism Services is one of the largest autism service organizations in Southwest Florida, providing a wide range of community-based services to improve the lives of children and adults with autism and their families.

Eden Florida was founded in 1996 shortly after MerryLee Kandel met a speech therapist, Leslie Sinclair, who worked for the Eden Institute of New Jersey and had relocated to Fort Myers. They saw the state’s growing need for specialized services for children and adults with autism and began fundraising efforts to form a division of the Eden Institute in Southwest Florida.

Today, Eden Autism Services provides program consultations, early intervention and other clinical services, education for school age students and residential and employment services for adults. They operate day schools in Fort Myers and in Naples, fully accredited by the National Private Schools Accreditation Alliance to serve children and adults with autism from Pre-K to grade 12 (ages 5 to 22).

"Within the past fifteen years, Eden has dramatically expanded both its scope of services and the geographic areas being served.” said Susan Suarez, Executive Director of Eden’s Florida operations. "We are particularly proud of our early intervention efforts which are vital for a child’s long term success. We are working with parents and healthcare professionals to get appropriate diagnosis at an early age. Beginning training as early at 1 1/2 years of age can greatly impact their developmental progress."

Eden offers both in-person and online support and training programs for families and professionals. The Eden Curriculum has been upgraded and reformatted to be available through electronic download in such formats as IPAD, Nook and Kindle.

"Autism spectrum disorders are diagnosed in one in 110 children in the United States. The number diagnosed in Florida has tripled over the last ten years. Our ability to grow and service the growing need in SW Florida is solely due to the generosity of our donors, volunteers and staff," Suarez said.

To learn more about Eden Autism Services, contact Susan Suarez at 239-992-4680 extension 5010 or Eden.florida@edenautism.org.

About the Schools
The Eden Schools teach students who are within the full range of Autism Spectrum Disorder. They are staffed by experienced professionals trained in the techniques of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA).The Eden Autism Curriculum is a comprehensive series of teaching programs covering essential skill areas that include academic instruction as well as self-care skills, and domestic and vocational skills. All students receive instruction in a low student to teacher ratio to provide an environment that maximizes each student’s potential for learning.

The Eden School Naples is located at the Eimerman Education Center where swimming and safety instruction is taught in the school's heated pool. Other physical education activities include tennis and basketball. The Eden School Fort Myers is located downtown in the Education Wing of the First Presbyterian Church.

About Autism
Autism is a complex neurobiological disorder that inhibits a person's ability to communicate and develop social relationships, and is often accompanied by behavioral challenges. Autism spectrum disorders are diagnosed in one in 110 children in the United States, and one in 70 boys. The prevalence of autism has increased 600 percent in the past two decades. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have called autism a national public health crisis whose cause and cure remain unknown.

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