Shanice Clayton and Maria De La Luz Hernandez
Autism Spectrum Disorder Therapeutic Care
No parent, especially one who has a child with special needs, wants to spend their time off taking a child to multiple locations for physical therapy, occupational therapy and other appointments.
Now, a one-stop shop for therapy for children ages 2 to 21 has come to South Florida. The new, 4,500-square-foot Yeshua’s Sanctuary in Coral Springs offers a safe space where your child is seen, supported and celebrated for exactly who they are.
The team includes Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs), Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs), Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs), Occupational Therapists (OTs), a Florida licensed attorney and family support specialists working together under one roof. They offer services in English and Spanish.
Staff shares one mission — to provide thoughtful, evidence-based and family-centered care in a safe and supportive environment.
“We’re in a league of our own,” says Shanice Clayton, operations manager. “We’re doing everything to cater to this population. We want it all here so you can take a breather and have a weight off your shoulders.” The state-of-the-art space incorporates everything a therapy center should have. “Visitors have said it feels peaceful as soon as they walk in,” says Clayton.
A waiting room has toys on the wall to help pass the time. Inside, a large sensory gym boasts mats, a rock-climbing wall, a customized slide, swings and a crash pad.
“I’ve been in many clinics and schools, and this sensory gym is the best one I’ve ever seen,” says Kellyn Martinez, clinical director (not shown in photo). They also have a dark, star-filled room where clients can reset if needed.
Maria De La Luz Hernandez, an attorney who practices in Coral Springs, provides clients with legal advocacy support. She helps with IEP meetings to ensure students aren’t being discriminated against at their schools.
Her 12-year-old son has autism and he worked with Clayton and Martinez at his previous school. “We created this center to serve children like my son, Yeshua, who was once left without essential services and support. That experience, along with recognizing gaps in care at other providers, led us to build Yeshua’s Sanctuary with intention. Our goal is to ensure no child goes without access to ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) and other vital services while delivering a more comprehensive, family-centered standard of care.”
Offices are being built in Stuart, San Francisco and Portland, Oregon. They’re working on establishing an international presence starting with an office in the Dominican Republic. Hernandez says, “We have big goals.”
Yeshua’s Sanctuary, 1700 N. University Drive, Stes. 220 and 200, Coral Springs, 217-240-7834, yeshuassanctuary.com
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