Comprehensive Learning Center For Individuals with Autism

05/28/2026

We are so proud of Jack for the amazing job he did running the CLCafé during our Goodies with Guests event!

Jack took orders, collected money, poured coffee, and interacted responsibly and kindly with guests throughout the event. This was a wonderful opportunity for him to practice everyday social and customer service skills while building confidence through hands-on experience.

He worked hard and remained friendly, responsible, and independent the entire time, helping make the café a huge success. We are incredibly proud of all he accomplished and look forward to seeing him continue to shine at future events!

05/27/2026

Goodies with Guests was a sweet success! A special celebration of Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, where students welcomed their special guest for snacks and fun games. We loved seeing everyone spend special time together at CLC.

The CLCafé was buzzing all day—shoutout to Jack for doing an amazing job running it and making our guests feel welcomed and celebrated.

05/26/2026

We are filled with gratitude for the incredible support shown through this year’s Art for Autism fundraiser, hosted by St. Peters Nursery School.💙

Thanks to the compassion and dedication of St. Peter’s families, supporters, sponsors, and volunteers, this year’s event raised a record-breaking $36,000 in support of the autism community — including an extraordinary $17,000 donation to Comprehensive Learning Center.

This achievement was made possible by so many people coming together with kindness and purpose.

A special thank you to the Art for Autism Committee and St. Peter’s Lutheran Church for your continued commitment and support. Your generosity helps us continue providing meaningful programs and opportunities for the learners and families we serve each day.

Congratulations on a record-setting year, and thank you for believing in our mission!

05/22/2026

Grace brings positivity, patience, and encouragement to her role as an Instructor at CLC. She studied Psychology with a minor in Crime, Law, and Society at the College of Charleston, where she developed a strong interest in understanding and supporting others.

She joined CLC in September and became an Instructor in January. In her time here, Grace has especially loved watching learners grow and succeed. “Seeing the learners progress from the beginning to where they are now is so exciting to see,” she shares. For Grace, those moments of progress, confidence, and independence are what make the job so meaningful.

One of her favorite parts of working with learners is helping them relax, connect through play, and enjoy spending time together while also building communication skills. She loves seeing learners have fun while learning how to ask for what they want and express themselves. Grace also enjoys Fun Friday activities, where learners make crafts, bake sweet treats, and celebrate the end of the week together.

A recent milestone that felt especially rewarding for Grace was helping a learner practice requesting toys and food on their communication device. Through consistent support, the learner began independently requesting what they wanted—a moment Grace says was incredibly exciting. This reflects how ABA helps learners build communication skills to express needs, ask for help, and interact more confidently with others while reducing frustration. Over time, support is gradually faded so learners can use these skills independently and continue succeeding in everyday situations.

Outside of work, Grace enjoys spending time with her two dogs, Bailey, a mini goldendoodle, and Bernie, an Australian labradoodle puppy. She also loves playing piano and enjoys a good homemade plate of penne alla vodka. We’re so glad to have Grace on the CLC team!

05/19/2026

Joey continues to grow in so many exciting ways at CLC, building important life skills while bringing his fun-loving personality to everything he does.

This year, Joey has made strong progress with independent purchasing skills in the community. Each week, he visits stores to practice using his debit card, with instruction focusing on helping him make his own choices when selecting snacks and drinks for the week, supporting greater independence and decision-making skills.

Joey has also been working hard in the kitchen, learning new cooking skills. He has mastered preparing toasted breakfast items and is now learning to heat up his lunch in the air fryer. He is doing an excellent job following steps and listening for the timer to know when his food is ready.

One strategy that has helped Joey thrive is having clear information about his daily schedule, activities, and the people he may interact with. This consistency helps him feel more confident and successful both at school and in the community.

Recently, Joey began attending a social skills group with peers from Modules E and F. This has been a wonderful opportunity for him to practice socializing, following directions, and participating in group activities. He is especially motivated by the changing activities each week, which helps him stay engaged and eager to participate.

One of Joey’s greatest strengths is the joy he brings to those around him. He loves interacting with his instructors and peers and is always ready to joke around and make others laugh. Joey’s sense of humor, enthusiasm, and willingness to connect with others bring so much joy to CLC, and we are so proud of all he continues to accomplish.

05/19/2026

05/14/2026

We’re so proud to share an update on Brandon and all he’s been accomplishing! After spending several years in CLC’s Education Program, Brandon joined the Adult Life Skills Program in October—and he’s been doing an amazing job adjusting to his new routines, staff, volunteer opportunities, and social activities.

Brandon has been busy giving back to his community through several volunteer experiences. At the Northampton Library, he works alongside a peer to reshelve books and DVDs, showing off his strong organizational skills and quickly learning the layout of the space. His efforts truly help keep things running smoothly!

Another meaningful opportunity has been volunteers with Caring for Friends, where he helps assemble snack bags for people in need. Brandon works efficiently as part of a team, and his contributions make a real difference. We’re excited to share that CLC volunteers were recently recognized as “Snack Bag Volunteer Group of the Year”—what an incredible achievement!

At Andy’s Brick Shop, Brandon sorts and organizes LEGO pieces by color, shape, and size. This detailed work requires focus and patience, and Brandon consistently stays engaged and on task. His hard work doesn’t go unnoticed!

More recently, Brandon has recently started attending art classes at Art in the Pod with his friends. He enjoys expressing his creativity while working both independently and alongside others, completing each project with care from start to finish.

Across all of these experiences, Brandon continues to build his self-advocacy skills—asking for help when needed and confidently working on his own when he’s ready. These are such important steps toward greater independence.

We are so proud of Brandon for continuing to grow, try new things, and expand his skills. We can’t wait to see all he accomplishes next!

05/13/2026

05/13/2026

✨What an unforgettable evening we had at the “Out of This World” school dance! From space-inspired outfits to glowing décor and fun photo moments with friends, the energy in the room was stellar. It was so special to see everyone together enjoying the night and making memories with friends.

A huge shoutout to our amazing staff for transforming our space into something truly beautiful. Your creativity and effort brought the whole experience to life and made it a magical night for all. ✨

05/12/2026

Double Your Impact! All gifts matched up to $20,000. Your donation today helps provide intensive, evidence-based education and behavioral services for children and adults at CLC.

Behind every dollar matched is a life changed.

This gift matching campaign supports our Endowment Fund, which plays a critical role in sustaining and strengthening our programs. It ensures we can continue providing high-quality services for individuals with autism and their families.

Thank you for being part of our community and for investing in the future of CLC and the individuals we serve.

https://secure.qgiv.com/for/20000matchingcampaign/