02/12/2026
WOW! So much love and support from our loving community. Thank you to everyone who participated. Below is the description of our winning door. Enjoy!
The Islands of the Heart
Inside this classroom, there is a very special world.
A world you may not see right away, but one you can feel with your heart.
Just like in Inside Out, this story isn’t only about emotions it’s about minds, preferences, and the many different ways children experience the world. This world is made of islands. Each island is different. Each one works in its own way, at its own pace, with its own strengths and passions.That is how autism works:
there is no single way to learn, feel, or dream.
There is the Engineer Island, where a child builds without fear of mistakes. Noise, time, or order don’t stop him creating is what matters most.Here, we learn that focus and determination are beautiful forms of love.
There is the DJ Island, where music becomes a bridge to the world. He knows songs, sings with joy, and lights up the room with his rhythm. This island teaches us that happiness can sound different and still reach every heart.
The Reader Island is calm yet powerful. Among books and computers, stories are born. Ideas grow, imaginations expand. Here we learn that quiet voices are still strong voices and that creativity has no limits.
On the Chef Island, learning is sensory. Tasting, exploring, discovering flavors each experience helps connect to the moment. This island reminds us that growth can be felt, one small bite at a time.
And then there is the Nature Island, where a child sits on the grass, observes, breathes, and feels.This island teaches us that calm is a strength and that connection doesn’t always need words.
Each island has its own preferences. Each one functions differently and that is okay. That is autism: diversity, not deficiency.
But no island stands alone.
All of them are connected by threads of love, patience, and dedication leading to a blue heart at the center.
That heart is us. The RBTs, the BCBAs, the teachers, the therapists, and every staff member who believes, supports, and shows up every day.
The ones who celebrate small steps as big victories and help each child’s interests grow into dreams.
That heart represents our work.
It is why we are here.
What we fight for.
What we love.
This Valentine’s Day, we celebrate that love means understanding, support means connection, and when all the islands come together, dreams grow stronger.
Because with love, with teamwork, and with dedicated hearts…anything is possible.
