Winters Center for Autism, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit affiliated with the Winters Family Foundation, was established in 2020 after years of thoughtful planning and development. Joe and Michele Winters, native Long Islanders, have been strong advocates for high-quality services for people with autism since their son Sean's diagnosis in 1996. They have long believed that employment provides people with a sense of fulfillment and purpose. Today, autism affects 1 in 36 children in the United States.
The Center is a dynamic partnership of dedicated people working together to enhance the lives of adults with autism through job creation, training and placement to address the excessive unemployment rate among people with autism. Although there are many programs that provide excellent services for children and teens, there is a huge gap in the number of services and opportunities for adults with autism.
The Winters Center for Autism addresses that need by identifying skills and talents of our participants and matching them with businesses and organizations open to creating jobs for capable and trained employees; creating a kinder and more inclusive Long Island community. The Center also provides fitness, recreation and social programs to assist participants in achieving their goals.