New Autism Center Opens in Port Washington

Stella Spanakos knows the odds.

She knows that one in every 110 children is diagnosed with autism, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And she knows that the diagnosis is more common than childhood cancer, juvenile diabetes and pediatric AIDS combined, according to the advocacy organization, Autism Speaks.

Aware of these alarming statistics — and as the parent of an autistic child — Spanakos launched the Nicholas Center for Autism and Spectrum Designs Foundationon Main Street in Port Washington. She named the center after her 19-year-old son, Nicholas.

The center held its official grand opening on Oct. 27, and already, Spanakos said, the phones have been ringing off the hook.

“It has been excellent," Spanakos said.

As to the constant inquiries on the phone, she said, "When it comes to adult services, the aging population of adults with autism that are transitioning from their secondary setting to an adult setting" is growing at "epidemic” proportions.

The Nicholas Center for Autism and Spectrum Designs Foundation are two non-profit organizations that offer a variety of services that teach social and communications skills and that employs autistic adults.

“We came up with the idea of a non-profit business, which runs and supports and helps maintain a non-profit program that offers a lot of vocational and life-skill programs,” Spanakos said.

Founded after the sudden loss of her husband last year, Spanakos, a Manhasset resident, established the Center with co-founder and partner Nicole Sugrue.

“I had dreamed about the Nicholas Center," Spanakos said. "I just didn’t think about the work part of it. That came after my friend and colleague and co-founder [Sugrue] and I started discussing what our kids could do because she also has an autistic son on the spectrum. I said, ‘That’s it, it’s time to live our dream and do what we’re going to do.’”

A division of the Nicholas Center for Autism, Spectrum Designs Foundation is an apparel decorating organization that offers its own clothing line and accessories featuring art work and designs by individuals with special needs.

“We have one 14-year-old here who you can’t even make eye-contact with, but yet all he has to do is look at a map, be driven around in a car, sit him down and he can duplicate it by memory,” Spanakos said. “He made a map of the Upper East Side and we made a T-shirt out of it and it’s selling like hot cakes off of our Website.”

Spanakos knows what it’s like to take care of someone with autism, and said it can be very tiring. Her son, Nicholas, has no expressive speech and uses a communication device. She hopes to help those in similar situations.

“My son, I love him to death, but it’s like living with a ferret,” Spanakos explained. “The kid sleeps four to six hours and that’s not a good night; otherwise we’re up from 4:00 a.m. on. It’s exhausting, you really do need a break and rest is a very important part of caring.”

Because autism is a neurological disorder, it affects a person from engaging socially and communicating correctly, but Spanakos said no two kids are similar. 

Nicholas, she said, "is a genius on the computer. He frightens me to death what he can find on YouTube and how he is brilliant in navigating his iPad." Those with autism, she noted, "are very unique in that they are life-long learners.”

While there is no cure for autism, she said, there are treatments like early intervention therapy that can help.

“We’re all parents, we all want the same things,” Spanakos said. “We want our children to be happy and successful and that’s all we’re striving for here — ours is just a little more complicated.”

For more information on the Nicholas Center for Autism and Spectrum Designs Foundation, visit their website.