A MONTH OF DISCOVERY DECEMBER 2025
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Dear Friends, As we begin a new year, we’re grateful to share a few recent moments that reflect the heart of The Center for Discovery – innovation, joy, and the community that makes it all possible. From celebrating leadership that inspires lasting impact, to residents reaching new milestones through movement, this month’s update highlights how your support continues to open doors and create meaningful opportunities every day. |
Save the Date: Evening of Discovery Gala 2026
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We are proud to announce that the 2026 Evening of Discovery Gala – held on Tuesday, April 28th at Cipriani 42nd ST – will honor Brian Harper, TCFD Board Member and parent, for his extraordinary leadership, generosity, and lifelong commitment to individuals with autism and their families.
Proceeds from the Evening of Discovery Gala support The Center for Discovery’s transformative programs, critical campus needs, and the dedicated workforce that makes it all possible.
We look forward to gathering with our community to celebrate Brian Harper and the shared mission that brings us together – creating opportunity and possibility for individuals and families at every stage of life.
To learn more about the event, please click here.
Hitting the Slopes at Windham
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Taking advantage of beautiful winter conditions, nine TCFD residents recently enjoyed an unforgettable downhill ski outing at Windham Mountain. From first-time skiers to those who are no strangers to the slopes, each participant embraced the day with excitement and determination. |
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This trip marks more than 20 years of collaboration between The Center for Discovery and Windham’s adaptive skiing program, made possible through the incredible partnership with adaptive sports staff and our own dedicated recreation, residential, and Day Hab teams. Together, they ensured a safe, supportive, and truly exhilarating experience for everyone involved. |
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With the breeze on their faces and encouragement from instructors every step of the way, our skiers impressed the crowd with their enthusiasm and effort! |
Innovation that Matters: Linda’s Story
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Several months have passed since TCFD won the TOM Global Innovation Challenge, an international design initiative that pairs real-world needs with collaborative problem-solving. Through the challenge, the team developed TCFD resident, Linda’s Adapted Finger Loom, making weaving accessible in a new way. Linda shared how meaningful the design and making process was, and how special it felt to create a hand-made blanket for her brother using the finished loom. Watch the video to hear Linda describe the experience in her own words. |
Creating Joy Through Innovation: Holiday Adapt-A-Thon Highlights
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The Innovation Team at The Center for Discovery hosted another successful Holiday Adapt-A-Thon, an ongoing initiative dedicated to creating accessible, custom-adapted toys for children in our day school program. This collaborative event brings together staff and volunteers around a shared mission: expanding access to meaningful, joyful play for students who benefit from adapted toys.
This year’s Adapt-A-Thon featured a variety of adapted toys designed to meet different sensory and motor needs. Projects included switch-adapted toys such as a walking and talking dinosaur, spin art, busy board, a vibrating sensory neck massager, and a remote-control toy car. Each item was carefully modified to allow students to independently activate movement, sound, or vibration using accessible switches or buttons.
Several Day Hab participants joined the workshop team, contributing their time, skills, and creativity to the wiring, building, and packaging of the adapted toys. Working side by side with the Innovation Team, they helped produce a collection of engaging, accessible toys that were distributed to 18 community students enrolled in our school program. Their involvement reflects the spirit of inclusion, collaboration, and innovation that defines the Adapt-A-Thon and strengthens The Center for Discovery as a whole.
Watch the magic here!
Scenes from Around The Center
