My Autism Connection, Inc.

08/31/2026

To conclude the month of August, defining smart goals is a great way to start saving. By defining a saving goal and going through the steps up above it can give a good start to reaching your goal. Without having a tangible plan it can feel impossible to save but by using SMART goals it can feel easier and less scary.

08/28/2026

⭐️Recap of the week⭐️
On Wednesday we had Charmaine Dockett from Rivers of Hope help members use coping skills and calming techniques to help with financial stressors and burdens. This helped members with identifying those stressors but also having a safe space to work through it and in the future apply these skills when dealing with the stressors head on!

On Thursday we had two interns and one parent advocate spread MACS word at the service learning and engagement fair at Florida Gulf Coast University. We had a lot of potential interns and volunteers wanting to sign up and be apart of MACS mission!

08/27/2026

This month MAC had a bowling and bingo night! Members were able to unwind and have fun!

In the month of September our culinary classes have returned and are sticking around! We also have a pool day and soccer match coming shortly.

08/24/2026

⭐️MAC Member Monday⭐️
Many MAC members have expressed their struggles with impulse spending and money management. When asking them about how they manage impulse spending and budgeting for fun purchases they gave insightful answers. Many of them talked about how it’s about balance and knowing when to prioritize needs versus wants.

08/22/2026

This Friday meeting focused on creating content through YouTube. We went over how to people peoples attention, explain the topic and tell them how to take action!

Members were given a worksheet to create a script that related to money. One member provided tips on deciding what purchases were wants and needs. They related to the audience by saying how they struggle with it and gave tips on how to differentiate between the two. He ended off with telling viewers to think about the purchases they make next week and if they are wants or needs!

08/20/2026

⭐️Intern Facilitation⭐️
Members played the game of life with a twist. Kristen incorporated ideas from the board game and created her own that involved real life financial decisions and setbacks. Members had to make choices about different financial situations while also having fun doing it!

08/18/2026

A huge thank you to The Rebel Riders Charities Inc. for hosting such a fun and generous Bingo Night in support of My Autism Connection! Your event helped raise both funds and awareness for our mission to help autistic adults thrive independently. We're so grateful for community partners like you! 💛

What a night at Bingo! A huge thank you to everyone who came out to support Rebel Riders Charities and My Autism Connection Event, your continued support means so much to us!

We had an amazing night of bingo and raffles, with prizes ranging from candy and a variety of liquor shooters to high end skincare products, paintings from local artists, champagne, multiple garage door tune-ups, and even an incredible three-night stay at Margaritaville Beach Resort! 🎁🥂🌴

A special thank you to all of our amazing volunteers from FGCU and FSW for helping make the night possible. 🙌

Because of the wonderful support we receive from our community, we were able to put another successful event on the books! 🏍️❤️

Thank you for being part of the Rebel Riders family!

08/17/2026

Impulse spending is something everyone struggles with. Most times it happens when we are stressed and hoping that purchasing something will make us feel better. Usually the feeling of happiness is short lived and we may start to regret the purchase. Ways to prevent spending money on useless items is stopping and thinking before we buy. Simply asking ourselves if the item will be of any use in our daily basis is enough to stop the purchase. Other times we may need to ask follow-up questions. It’s ok to slip up sometimes, maybe a coffee is all we need to make our day better. But turning impulse spending into a habit is when we need to start thinking about our spending decision and putting steps in place to help stop unnecessary purchases.

08/12/2026

On Friday we had an employee from Chase Bank come teach members about establishing and managing good credit. Building credit can be confusing and overwhelming but with the right resources and support, managing credit be less scary and build confidence. Thank you to Nilza Ortega for coming and talking to the members, it was a pleasure getting to hear your tips and tricks!

08/10/2026

Tracking your spending doesn’t have to be complicated. Small habits like weekly check‑ins, writing purchases down right away, and setting a daily limit can help relieve money stress and make managing your spending easier!