SPECIAL stands for Special Parents Establishing Connections in Autism Lives.
We are a 501(c)3 Nonprofit Organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of individuals and families who are navigating the challenging world of Autism.
SPECIAL was founded in 2014 by Stephanie Lay, single-mom to a wonderful 17-year-old boy with autism named Bryce, as a way to fulfill her dream of using her personal experiences to help other parents navigate through the challenging world of autism.
With the birth of the Maine-Tex Grilled Salsa company in late 2014, Stephanie set the direction and focus for SPECIAL, which is to establish a work program that will provide one-on-one training and support for individuals on the spectrum, who will be employed by Maine-Tex to assist in the production of salsa.
