Contributed
More than 300 school kids and adults recently saw an expansion of services aimed at helping them live full and complete lives.
OCA (Opportunity, Community, Ability) opened the doors to its second location, taking over a two-story building in downtown Longwood. The additional location will double the size of the non-profit, providing services that are currently overwhelmed throughout the region.
“We have tried to help as many people as possible over the years, but the demand keeps growing and we knew the only way to serve was to bring another campus to life,” Margaret Newman Thornton, COO and co-founder, OCA. “This new campus will quickly become central in the lives of so many people who need it.”
The new location offers a wide range of programs that utilize unique spaces. For instance, the campus has:
- A working kitchen and laundry room to help teach participants meal prep, clothing care and more.
- A replica of an apartment to help participants learn about independent living.
- A recreation room complete with a dance floor for exercise
- A camp room, aimed at providing all the programs needed for school-aged summer camps.
In addition, there are quiet rooms, office space for OCA leadership and more.
“Most of us learn skills for life subtly throughout our lives, but our participants need a different and structured environment to thrive,” Thorton says. “That is our role, providing the experiences they need to have a life that is well-lived.”
OCA was founded in 2009 by Thorton and Silvia Haas. In 2008, as the recession forced non-profits to close and schools to cut services, they saw the need for additional services, mapping out OCA’s framework while sitting on a bench in Orlando’s Matthew’s Park.
Since then, the group has primarily worked out of their location off Lee Road in Orlando, offering services to neurodivergent individuals throughout their lives. Right after COVID, when non-profits and schools were forced to close again, the two started looking at expansion.
The idea was presented to Orlando Health, which provided a significant gift to bring the new campus to life.
“At Orlando Health, expanding access to care, improving health outcomes and providing opportunities for all is a key part of our mission,” said Shawn Molsberger, senior vice president, Orlando Health North Region, in an earlier release. “OCA’s expansion into Seminole County reinforces their long-standing leadership and dedication to serving the community and closing critical gaps in services. We're proud to partner with them to help create a stronger, more supported Central Florida.”
Orlando Health’s gift spurred Sharon Ginsberg, daughter of well-known philanthropist Allen Ginsberg, to provide a large gift in honor of her sister, a participant at OCA, who spoke at the ribbon cutting.
“Neurodivergent people are found throughout our society with little regard for any type of demographic, and our family found out firsthand how difficult the path was to find the right type of jobs, schools, and more for neurodivergent people,” Ginsberg says. “OCA has been a tremendous help for our family over the years, and it was important for me to give back to this organization that has meant so much to my sister and me.”
Services started on June 8. Families looking to preregister for services at the new location should visit https://gooca.org/oca-expands-into-seminole-county/
