Building a community of understanding and support.
January 2015 – The Parker Foundation for Autism and Child Development officially formed as a 501c3 nonprofit organization in Brevard County, Florida serving families through three fully funded programs: Speak Through Sports, Speak Through Arts, Speak Through Education.
October 2015 – Beneficiary of the 3rd Annual Jailbreak Adventure Race hosted by Brevard County Sheriff's Office. Julia Barney joins The Parker Foundation as Program Director.
October 2016 – Be a Buddy Initiative is born; first annual Unity Day event to celebrate Bullying Prevention Month in collaboration with SOAK at the Melbourne Auditorium. Beneficiary of the 6th Annual Suntree Country Club SLAM Tennis and Golf Tournament.
January 2017 - First Super Skate for Super Kids free roller-skating event and social at Galaxy Skateway in collaboration with Space Cadets roller derby team.
March 2017 - Beneficiary of the 12th Annual Revolution Technologies Pro Tennis Classic at Kiwi Tennis Club and first Kids Adaptive Tennis event. Recipient of USTA Florida Foundation Adaptive Tennis Grant.
June 2017 - Beneficiary of Dancing for the Space Coast hosted by the Brevard County Sheriff's Office, and the Flavor Run at Wickham Park. Swimming on the Spectrum program is born; recipient of an Autism Speaks Grant for an autism safety swim program for children at high risk for drowning,
community
Programs
Mission + Vision
our history
Building a kinder, more inclusive and understanding world.
A NOTE FROM OUR FOUNDERS
I am honored to be a part of The Parker Foundation for Autism and Child Development. It is my hope that we can expand community awareness, while offering services that can help children and their families. I, like many parents and caregivers, felt lost when my wife and I first discovered our son was on the spectrum. You ask yourself…What are the options available for our child? What do we need to do as parents to increase his skills and communication? Will he get the opportunity to experience things such as playing sports and being part of a team? It is our mission to encourage and make sure that all children have these simple but crucial experiences, while providing encouragement and answers to many of the questions we all have raising a child with challenges.
Ted Parker
Learn more about current and planned programs.
I understand the complex emotions that go along with having a child with unique abilities and the need to integrate them into our world despite the difficulties that arrive while doing so. Ultimately though, this is the best gift that we can give our children so that they can learn the skills necessary to function outside of their typical environment while having fun and making friends for a lifetime! This not only impacts our children, but the entire family unit as well. By building that community of understanding throughout our towns and cities, we are strengthening families and leaving a lasting positive footprint that will resonate for generations to come.
Melissa Parker, RN
The Parker Foundation for Autism and Child Development ©