When it was time for her daughter, who is on the autism spectrum, to start thinking about middle and high school, Carolyn Dentz wanted to find an alternative to a large public school. She knew her daughter would do better with one-on-one support at a place where she fit in.
Dentz expressed her frustration to her daughter’s longtime occupational therapist, Jana Sanford-Heller, owner of Ride The Wave Therapy Services in St. Augustine. Sanford-Heller had also been noticing a huge gap in services for the teen population in the area, for those both on and off the spectrum.
Together, in just a few short months, the women founded Independence Youth Center on Philips Highway in Jacksonville, which is slated to open August 2022.
“I want a place for my daughter to go to where she fits in and is accepted,” said Dentz. “I want to know that her challenges are supported so that her strengths can shine. Sending her to a huge school and expecting her to fit into a neurotypical box just isn’t an option that I am willing to choose. I wanted to lend my skill set to assist in building a place where children like my daughter can find acceptance and, of course, independence.”
Started as a nonprofit organization so that the facility can accept state funding and other assistance to help the programs be affordable for parents, Independence Youth Center will offer therapy services, a day program with guided virtual school, life skills training, mentoring and support groups for families and teens both on and off the spectrum.
“Everyone fits in here,” said Sanford-Heller. “Neurodiverse, LGBTQIA, on the spectrum, off the spectrum, or even those who just don’t fit the mold for traditional middle and high school, everyone is welcome and encouraged to reach out.”
Independence Youth Center will host an ‘80s Prom Fundraiser from 5 to 10 p.m. July 30 at Parlor Room Events, 300 San Marco Ave., St. Augustine. The event will be celebrated in two parts. From 5 to 7 p.m., it will be a free family-friendly pre-prom party that is open to the public with food truck vendors, therapy dogs on-site, a tie-dye T-shirt station, dance party and live music by DJ Mista Chris. From 7 to 10 p.m., the event turns into an ‘80s prom for the 21+ crowd with open bar, prom photo booth, silent auction, and more.
Tickets are $75 per person and can be purchased at bit.ly/3AZwB2e.
For more information, go to independenceyouthcenter.com and follow along on social media Facebook @independenceyouthcenter and Instagram @independence_youth_center.
