Today, more than 300 school kids and adults saw an expansion of services aimed at helping them live full and complete lives.
OCA (Opportunity, Community, Ability) opened the doors to its second location, taking over a two-story building in downtown Longwood. The additional location will double the capacity of the non-profit, providing services that are currently difficult to find availability for throughout the region.
“OCA has committed to providing high-quality, low-cost programming over the past 17 years,” says Margaret Newman Thornton, COO and co-founder, OCA. “We are thrilled to grow our participant census and improve our ability to support Central Florida.”
The new location offers a wide range of programs that utilize unique spaces. For instance, the campus has:
- A working kitchen and laundry room to help teach participants meal prep, clothing care and more.
- A replica of an apartment to help participants learn about independent living.
- A recreation room complete with a dance floor for exercise
- A camp room, aimed at providing all the programs needed for school-aged summer camps.
OCA was founded in 2009 by Thornton and Silvia Haas. In 2008, as the recession forced non-profits to close and schools to cut services, they saw the need for additional services, mapping out OCA’s framework while sitting on a bench in Orlando’s Matthew’s Park.
Since then, the group has primarily worked out of their location off Lee Road in Orlando, offering services to neurodivergent individuals throughout their lives. Right after COVID, when non-profits and schools were forced to close again, the two started looking at expansion.
The idea was presented to Orlando Health, which provided a significant gift to bring the new campus to life.
“At Orlando Health, we put a major focus on expanding access to care and creating opportunities for every member of our community,” said Shawn Molsberger, senior vice president, Orlando Health North Region. “OCA’s expansion into Seminole County reflects their enduring commitment to meeting critical needs and reinforces our shared passion for strengthening access to essential services.”
Services start on June 8. Families looking to preregister for services at the new location should visit the OCA Seminole County page here.
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Media Contact: Alan Byrd, 407-415-8470, alan@byrdconnections.com
About OCA: OCA (Opportunity, Community, Ability) is a nonprofit serving youth and adults with autism and other special needs in Central Florida. OCA's mission is to empower individuals and their families to fully engage and thrive in the community. What started as a conversation on a park bench in 2008 has grown into a dynamic organization serving more than 300 children and adults each year across Central Florida with therapy, recreation, vocational training, and life skills programs. With every program, OCA aims to remove barriers and create opportunities, so every participant can live with purpose, connect with peers, and reach their potential.
OCA focuses on what each individual can do—because our community is full of joy, strength, and incredible ability. For more information, please visit GoOCA.org.
OCA Opportunity, Community, Ability Inc
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Silvia Haas Chief Executive Officer
- June 04, 2026
- (561) 319-4283
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