Strategic planning is essential to set priorities, focus energy and resources, strengthen operations, ensure that employees and other stakeholders are working towards common goals, and establish an alignment on the organization’s impact and results.
Els for Autism® leadership team embarked on the Five-year Strategic Plan journey in the first quarter of 2022. In advance of developing the Five-year Strategic Plan, an internal and external environmental scan was conducted to enable the plan to reflect pressing organizational needs and give a voice to key constituents vital to the Els for Autism organization. Included in this environmental scan were autism experts, board members, community officials, major donors, program participants, Foundation staff, The Learning Center staff, The Learning Academy staff, Els for Autism Golf Challenge participants, and sponsors. These key constituents provided the impetus for developing the Five-year Strategic Plan through their knowledge, observations, and insights shared.
Why develop a new Five-year Strategic Plan? The reason is simple – we serve the broad global autism community, and it is our organization’s responsibility to focus on transforming their lives, not just individuals impacted by autism but their families and caregivers as well.
This new, resolute strategic plan builds on an infrastructure thirteen years in the making. It is a plan defining new goals, and ensuring a positive, forward-thinking transformation, and it is our roadmap to becoming the global leader for a world that envisions limitless possibilities for individuals with autism and their families.
The Els for Autism global mission is to transform the lives of people with autism and those who care for them through lifetime services and collaborative partnerships. We will do this in partnership with our Els for Autism organizations in Canada, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States. This ensures the Foundation’s impact on the global autism community will be significant.
WE RENEWED OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES TO BETTER ALIGN WITH THE KNOWLEDGE, OBSERVATIONS, AND INSIGHTS PROVIDED BY OUR KEY CONSTITUENCIES.
Mission
THE GLOBAL MISSION OF ELS FOR AUTISM IS TO TRANSFORM THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WITH AUTISM AND THOSE WHO CARE FOR THEM THROUGH LIFETIME SERVICES AND COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS.
Vision
WE ENVISION A WORLD OF LIMITLESS POSSIBILITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM AND THEIR FAMILIES.
Values
TRUST / COLLABORATION / INTEGRITY / RESPECT EXCELLENCE / INNOVATION
A NEW SUPPORT MODEL AND VISION FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS
ELS FOR AUTISM PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
EARLY INTERVENTION & EDUCATION SERVICES
RECREATION SERVICES
ADULT SERVICES
Research Family Support Global Outreach
Research, Family Support, & Global Outreach services are threaded across our three impact areas and throughout the lifespan.
EARLY INTERVENTION & EDUCATION SERVICES
• Diagnostic Services
• Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention Program
• Rehabilitative Therapeutic Services Including Speech-Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling
• Caregiver-Implemented Intervention Program
• Therapy Services
• Parent Training Services
RECREATION SERVICES
• Ernie Els #GameON Autism® Sports programs, with Ernie Els #GameON Autism Aquatics coming soon
• Music Therapy, Dance & Movement Therapy, and Art Programs
• After School Respite Program
• Spring and Summer Camp Programs
ADULT SERVICES
• Employment Programs
• Independent Living Programs
• Social and Recreation Programs
• Therapy Services
Validating the effectiveness of Els for Autism programs & services. Replicating branded programs worldwide.
FAMILY SUPPORT
Helping parents, siblings, and caregivers access a multitude of programs and services that promote well-being.
Providing access to services globally. Developing and disseminating information through webinars and conferences. Providing educational opportunities through practica, internships, and professional observerships.
EFFECTIVE STRATEGIC PLANNING ARTICULATES WHERE AN ORGANIZATION IS GOING, THE ACTIONS NEEDED TO MAKE PROGRESS, AND HOW IT WILL KNOW IF IT IS SUCCESSFUL.
DR. MICHAEL ALESSANDRI (CHAIRMAN)
Executive Director, University of Miami
Center for Autism and Related Disabilities
ERNIE ELS
Founder, Els for Autism Foundation
GIUSEPPE CIUCCI
Chief Executive, Chairman of the Board, Stonehage Limited
STUART MAKIN (TREASURER)
Partner, Stonehage Limited (non-voting member)
PATRICK MCMAHON
Founder, Chief Executive Officer, Co-
Chief Investment Officer, MKP Capital Management, LLC
PAMELA MINELLI
Co-Founder, Autism Project of Palm Beach County
LIEZL ELS (SECRETARY AND MANAGING DIRECTOR)
Founder, Els for Autism Foundation
STEVE PECK
SAP Global Alliance Relationship Leader, EY
MARVIN R. SHANKEN (HONORARY CHAIRMAN)
Founder, Els for Autism Foundation, Publisher & Founder, M.Shanken Communications EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP
DR. MARLENE SOTELO
Executive Director, Els for Autism Foundation
YVONNE D’AMELIO Chief Financial Officer, Els for Autism Foundation
THE ADVISORY BOARD IS MADE UP OF AUTISTIC SELF-ADVOCATES WHO SERVE TO PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS THROUGH THEIR LIFE EXPERIENCES TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF THE FOUNDATION’S INTERACTIONS WITH CLIENTS, THEIR FAMILIES, AND CAREGIVERS.
SUE ABRAMOWSK
ANDREW BLITMAN
GYASI BURKS-ABBOTT
MIKE DIMAURO
MERRICK EGBER (CHAIRMAN)
ADAM JONES
DR. KERRY MAGRO
PAUL MORRIS
RON SANDISON
KATIE SANTORO
DR. STEPHEN SHORE
CONNOR B. STURGIS
18370 Limestone Creek Road
Jupiter, Florida 33458
561-598-6200
elsforautism.org
@elsforautism
@elsforautism
@els_for_autism
@els-for-autism
