BABCOCK RANCH, Fla. (March 11, 2026) – Children and families impacted by autism at Babcock Ranch will soon have on-site access to clinical and support services with the announcement of Family Initiative coming to Curry Commerce Center. The nonprofit organization will occupy a 3,000-square-foot space and provide a full range of programs, including free screenings, applied behavior analysis and occupational therapies as well as autism play groups, teen meetups, parent education and community conversations.
“We’ve hosted free autism screenings at Babcock Ranch and quickly felt such a strong response from families seeking both answers and support,” said David Brown, president and cofounder of Family Initiative. “This partnership allows us to establish a permanent presence in a rapidly growing part of the region and serve families closer to home.”
The expansion reflects Babcock Ranch’s long-standing commitment to education and inclusive programming for children of all abilities. Brown credited Syd Kitson, Babcock Ranch’s visionary founder, as a “champion and advocate” of Family Initiative, which offers individualized assistance based on the needs of the child and family. The Curry Commerce Center facility represents the organization’s first dedicated space in Babcock Ranch, with plans to expand its presence in the town as demand grows.
“Education has always been a cornerstone of Babcock Ranch,” said Syd Kitson, CEO of Kitson & Partners, the developer of America’s first solar-powered town. “Supporting children of all abilities and ensuring families have access to meaningful resources close to home is essential to building a town where everyone can thrive. Family Initiative strengthens that commitment.”
Family Initiative will be among the first tenants of Curry Commerce Center, Babcock Ranch’s Class A flex/light industrial development. Designed to accommodate businesses that require a combination of office, service and operational space, the commerce park marks an important milestone in the town’s continued commercial growth.
“Curry Commerce Center represents an important step in fulfilling our vision for a town designed not just for growth, but for the everyday needs of our families,” said Kitson. “As our residential population grows, it is critical that commercial development keeps pace, bringing jobs, services and opportunities closer to home.”
Family Initiative was established in 2015 by Brown and Anjali Van Drie with the mission of redefining autism by fostering change, supporting children with autism and strengthening their families. Headquartered in Cape Coral, the organization offers clinical services, including art, music, yoga and dance classes, and support programs led by an 80-member team.
“We were founded with the intention of providing no-cost community-based programs for families and children on the autism spectrum,” said Brown. “We’ve grown from offering a continuum community-based program to offering a wide array of clinical and diagnostic services.”
Family Initiative provides high-quality services, cutting-edge interventions, guided play to teach lasting life skills, and engages caregivers, lawmakers, schools, communities and peer institutions as partners. Its team of clinicians serves children through compassionate, personalized solutions for sustainable outcomes. For more information, visit fi-florida.org.
