Ed Asner Family Center

Lucky us 🍀💚 Today at The Academy we celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with festive fun, creativity, and a little bit of sweetness! Participants made their own shamrock shakes and enjoyed a lively round of themed bingo filled with laughter, connection, and lots of green spirit 🌈✨ Days like this are what make our community so special 💫

A wonderful Q and A session from our 2021 performance of It's A Wonderful Life, performed live on Zoom in December 2021. The cast included Host Tom Bergeron, Jason Sudeikis, Rosario Dawson, Mark Hamill, Martin Sheen, Mandy Patinkin, George Wendt, Lou Diamond Phillips, Phil Lamarr, Ben Mankiewicz, Ron Funches, Ed Harris, Kathy Bates, Naomi Rubin, Spencer Harte, Chelsea Darnell, Ryan Booth, and Domonique Brown. youtu.be/HOOCNzJkpsw?si…

In Interview Readiness, our Academy students participate in full mock interviews through in-person rotations 🪑💬 Students help create the interview questions themselves and take turns interviewing while their peers watch via live stream and take notes on performance. This realistic yet supportive experience allows students to practice communication, build confidence through repetition, and learn that interviews are manageable—and something they can succeed in 🌱⭐️

✨Looking to boost your social skills and connect with others in a supportive space? Join us for our one of a kind social skills course The Dating Spectrum, a 6-week, in-person course designed and taught by neurodivergent adults for neurodivergent adults to strengthen communication and social connections. Classes begin April 6 2026. For more info, email Navah@teafc.org

Yesterday marked a very exciting milestone for our Academy program, our first visit to the Wildlife Learning Center, one of our new job training sites for the Spring semester. Participants had the chance to meet some of the animals, explore the grounds, and hear about the opportunities they’ll be stepping into next semester. It was an inspiring day full of curiosity, learning, and excitement for what’s to come. We can’t wait to see our students grow in this new environment! 🐾

Today we celebrated Purim, a holiday that reminds us of courage, identity, and joy. Our participants showed up in full costume, full personality, and full spirit. We baked and enjoyed homemade hamantaschen together and even hosted our own costume runway, where everyone had a chance to shine and be celebrated. Watching our community express themselves so freely and confidently is always the greatest celebration of all. At The Ed Asner Family Center Academy, we believe in creating spaces where everyone feels seen, safe, and celebrated. Holidays like this are just one more way we bring that to life. 🎭💙

spectrumdesigns.chipply.com/teafcstore/ We’re thrilled to announce the opening of The Ed Asner Family Center Online Store! 🎉 We’re especially proud to partner with Spectrum Designs, an incredible organization that creates meaningful jobs for autistic adults. Every item in our store is produced and fulfilled in partnership with their team, meaning your purchase directly supports autistic professionals and inclusive employment. When you shop, you’re not just supporting The Ed Asner Family Center, you’re helping create real opportunity. Wear your support. 💙

The Ed Asner Family Center is deeply saddened by the heartbreaking loss of Katherine Hartley Short, beloved daughter of Martin Short. Our hearts are with Martin and his family during this unimaginable time. We hold them in compassion, love, and respect as they navigate such profound grief. May her memory forever be a blessing.

☀️⚽ Today our participants headed to the park to enjoy the beautiful spring weather while practicing teamwork, coordination, communication, and goal-setting through soccer. From passing drills to friendly scrimmages, every kick was an opportunity to build confidence, strengthen friendships, and stay active together. We love learning life skills in the sunshine! 🌿💛

In Music Production, our Academy students focus on finishing and sharing their work 🎧🎶 Through learning when a track is truly complete, how to export, and the basics of mastering, students gain confidence in presenting their creative voice. During lab time, students complete their projects and participate in a group listening session with structured feedback, building critical listening skills, collaboration, and pride in their finished music 🎵🤝

Today’s Spanish class focuses on describing items using colors and classroom objects 🎨🧩 Students participate in a color-the-object activity and a picture-based classroom scavenger hunt 🖍️🔍, creating an engaging and accessible way to practice sentence structure and language comprehension.

Cooking Class today is all about garlic bread 🧄🍞 and building independence. After shopping for ingredients at Trader Joe’s during our Life Skills: Grocery Shopping class, students bring their choices into the kitchen to practice following a recipe, working as a team, and understanding how everyday skills connect from store to table.

Starts Monday!! Don’t miss out on this very unique program co-created and taught by autistic individuals for autistic individuals!! For more information please reach out to Navah@teafc.org

youtu.be/ZIdlqf4-Tbw?si… 💙 Monday Memories 💙 Starting the week with a special flashback: Ed Asner reading Goodnight Moon during Storytime. A timeless moment filled with warmth, wisdom, and heart, just the kind of energy we love to carry into a new week. 🌙

A wonderful Q and A session from our 2024 performance of It's A Wonderful Life, performed live at The Garry Marshall Theatre on 12/14/2024. The cast included Host Tom Bergeron, Tom Kenny, Joey King, Bill Fagerbakke, Mr. Lawrence, Clancy Brown, Mark Hamill, Rodger Bumpass, Jill Talley, Lori Alan, Phil Lamar, Spencer Harte, Chelsea Darnell, and Atticus Baldwin. Foley artist Ele Matelan. youtu.be/aeSFAYJ6itU?si…

youtu.be/Xf1r0SKDu90?si… Go behind the scenes of It's a Wonderful Life - Live Virtual Table Read with this special Q&A segment featuring members of the cast and creative team. In this conversation, participants reflect on the legacy of It's a Wonderful Life, share personal insights from the performance, and discuss the importance of storytelling, community, and giving back. This event benefited The Ed Asner Family Center, supporting programs for individuals with special needs and their families. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more special events, behind-the-scenes moments, and updates from The Ed Asner Family Center. Learn more about our mission and upcoming events: teafc.org Support The Ed Asner Family Center: pledge.to/the-ed-asner-f…

A toast to George Bailey 🥂 To community, kindness, and showing up for one another. Missed the magic? Relive our It’s a Wonderful Life table read on demand - available until January 1, 2026. 🎟️ teafc.org/events

A huge thank you to our amazing sponsors for making the 5th Annual It’s a Wonderful Life Live Virtual Table Read possible 💛 Your support helps TEAFC continue building a more inclusive world. We’re deeply grateful! ✨

Every time a bell rings… an angel gets their wings 🔔✨ Revisit the magic of It’s a Wonderful Life with our live radio play—now on-demand through Jan 1, 2026 on @BwyUnlocked 🎄 teafc.org/events

Big laughs, big heart 💛 Triumph the Insult Comic Dog + Connor Tomlinson had everyone smiling during It’s a Wonderful Life. Missed it live? Watch the full performance on-demand through Jan 1, 2026 on @BwyUnlocked 🎟️ teafc.org/events