April is Autism Acceptance Month.

A nonprofit in Owensboro will provide services and support for those with intellectual disabilities, including clients on the autism spectrum.

They've recently expanded, opening a new satellite location focused on early childhood education.

Our Laura Rogers shows us how they strive to be just one piece of the puzzle to create a healthy, happy, independent life.

11 year old Skylar comes here every day after school.

This is our home away from home.

His mother says he was diagnosed with autism when he was three and a half years old.

He could understand what you were saying, but he couldn't tell you what he needed.

What do you drive?

Learning Closer.

Skylar received early intervention at school, but his mother would notice some regression after summer break.

That changed after enrolling in the summer session at puzzle pieces.

When we transition back to school after that summer, it was almost like seamless.

He almost went back ahead of other peers.

My brother does have 4xy chromosome disability.

He was the 11th person to ever be born with his type of disability.

Inspired by her brother, Amanda, Owen spent six years as a special education teacher before receiving a grant to realize her other dream of opening the doors here at Puzzle Pieces.

And I was the janitor.

I was the builder.

I was the executive director.

I was the indirect support professional.

I was all of the things, H.R.

everything.

And I was just trying to live out a dream for the purpose of those individuals with disabilities of creating and a door that can be open for them and creating opportunities like I wanted for my brother.

Puzzle pieces began with 32 clients and seven staff members, and over a decade later, they've grown to serve 400 people with more than 100 employees.

Yes.

Good job.

Nothing looks very cookie cutter.

We have a framework of what we want to target as far as life skills, social skills, executive functioning, job skills.

It's a place for them to be comfortable and find other people that they have things in common with.

BLAIR Nabors is director of autism Services.

Cold Puzzle Pieces serves people with a variety of intellectual disabilities.

It is estimated that 60% of them are on the autism spectrum.

But we do things like executive functioning skills, life skills, social skills, money, skills.

I try to pick things that are super important to them that are actually going to help them function out in society and in life.

With a 200 person waiting list, puzzle piece has recently expanded to a new satellite location right across the street from the main campus, focusing on early childhood education for those 18 and under with an autism diagnosis.

They go on outings where they practice their social skills and then their daily life skills.

They do hygiene.

He loves the friendships they.

Have on that.

Friends are a big part.

I wanted him to be able to feel like he belonged.

Being part of a community and building relationships are also important for young adults like Carter.

I cried after we got done the tour and I knew it was.

Where we had to be.

Donna and her son Carter, now in his twenties, relocated from Michigan to Owensboro after finding puzzle pieces.

I was looking all over the United States.

Donna has noticed improved communication skills in her son and a willingness to try new things.

It is families like hers that originally encouraged Amanda's vision.

And I realized not everybody was like my brother.

The families were like my family.

And they were looking for what was life after high school.

And now that life is enriched for the hundreds of people coming through their doors.

And once they graduate, we have other programs here that they can filter into.

So we have a great supportive employment program that helps our clients find careers.

They're also developing young adult programing for those with autism at the collegiate level.

Offering a future with opportunity and possibility for kids like Schuyler.

Puzzle pieces will always be a part of our village.

That was Laura Rogers reporting.

Founder and executive director Amanda Olwyn has also written a couple of children's books and will release a memoir This summer.