Category: Resource

Partnership Highlight: Learning Self-Defense Skills with Legends Karate

There is something deeply empowering about coming together as a community to learn how to feel safer, stronger, and more confident in our daily lives. This fall, eleven participants spanning a diverse range of ages and backgrounds did just that during a self-defense workshop hosted in partnership with Legends Karate.

Dressed in comfortable clothes and tennis shoes, our group stepped onto the mat ready to move. Legends Karate created an engaging, hands-on session focused on practical safety techniques and physical confidence.

Hands-On Skills for Everyday Safety

Under the guidance of the Legends Karate team, participants stepped out of their comfort zones to practice fundamental self-defense skills:

  • Striking and Blocking: Learning proper body positioning and mechanics behind effective punches, kicks, and defensive blocks.
  • Asserting Boundaries: Practicing how to project a strong, protective presence and use body language to deter potential threats.
  • Community Safety: Building situational awareness and learning how to look out for one another in public spaces.

Trust, Movement, and Connection

While learning the physical moves provided a great active workout, the highlight of the event was the supportive atmosphere in the room. Trying new physical skills in front of others can feel intimidating, but our group cheered each other on through every drill. By encouraging one another, participants built a deeper trust in their own bodies and abilities. Over the course of the class, this group of individuals grew much closer through shared movement and mutual support.

Celebrating Together

After an active workshop on the mat, the group gathered at Cold Stone Creamery on Olive Blvd in Creve Coeur to cool off, relax, and celebrate their hard work with ice cream.

A huge thank you to Legends Karate for opening their doors, sharing their expertise, and creating such a welcoming environment for our community!

Partner With Us: Host a Community Workshop

Are you a local business owner or organization looking to make a positive impact in Creve Coeur and our surrounding community? We love collaborating with passionate partners like Legends Karate to offer unique, engaging experiences for our participants. Whether you host a movement class, creative workshop, or interactive educational session, partnering with us is a meaningful way to share your expertise and support community growth.

Interested in hosting or sponsoring a future event at your place of business? Contact our team today to explore how we can work together!

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Check Out Our New Little Free Library!

You asked, and we listened! After receiving a request from our participant, Samantha, to start a Little Free Library, we couldn’t resist. We are thrilled to announce that our very own neighborhood book exchange is up and ready for readers.

A Labor of Love

This project came together thanks to the heart and creativity of our community.

Our incredible Young Adult Program Manager, Mary Beth, generously donated her own hand-painted bookshelf with cheerful flowery designs to kick things off. Now we have a cozy, bright spot that you can’t miss!

In just a few short days, the shelf has already started filling up with a fantastic variety of reads, including:

  • Page-turning fiction
  • Helpful resource workbooks
  • Delicious cookbooks

What is a Little Free Library & How Does It Work?

If you’ve never used one before, the concept is simple and built on trust in your community. A Little Free Library is a “take a book, leave a book” free book exchange with no fees and no time limit.

How to use it:

  1. Take a Book: See something that catches your eye? Take it home and enjoy it! You can return it when you’re done, or pass it along to a friend.
  2. Leave a Book: Have a great read sitting on your nightstand that you’ve already finished? Leave it on the shelf for the next person to discover.

Help Us Keep the Pages Turning!

While our sunflower shelf already has a great starting selection, a Little Free Library thrives on variety and fresh stories.

We’d love a few book donations!

We aren’t looking for huge boxes or entire attic clear-outs, just 1 to 3 gently-used books that you personally loved and think someone else in our community would enjoy.

Whether it’s a favorite novel, a great young adult story, an inspiring workbook, or a kid-friendly picture book, feel free to drop it off directly on the shelf next time you visit us!

Stop by today, browse the sunflower shelf and pick out your next great read!

Join Our Culture of Giving

Projects like this sunflower library, and the dozens of programs we host every month, are built on a simple truth: inclusive communities are nurtured by people who give back.

While community gifts like book donations stock our shelves, it’s financial support from neighbors like you that keeps our doors open and our programs accessible. When you give to our organization, you become an active partner in creating a St. Louis where people of all abilities can connect, learn, and belong.

Your Philanthropy Directly Funds:

  • Dedicated Program Staff: Investing in the compassionate mentors who guide and empower our participants in every activity.
  • Accessible Resources: Covering the behind-the-scenes costs, sensory supplies, and transport that make community events stress-free.

Belonging is something we build together. If you believe in fostering a generous, welcoming St. Louis where everyone has a place at the table (and at the bookshelf!), please consider making a gift to support our work today.

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Small Groups, Big Connections: How Young Adults are Leading Their Own Social Adventures

For many young adults, finding your niche and scheduling hangouts can sometimes feel overwhelming. Traditional social structures built around high school classrooms and organized sports often shift or fade as we enter adulthood, leading to what many families call the social “cliff of service”.

At Pathways to Independence, we believe that neurodiverse young adults shouldn’t just look at a pre-made calendar to find connection. They should have the power to design it themselves and learn essential skills along the way.

That is exactly why our Social Focus program is taking off! This participant-led initiative puts the steering wheel directly in the hands of young adults, empowering them to coordinate, plan, and host small group events tailored to exactly what they love doing while building stronger bonds with their peers.

What is a Social Focus Small Group?

A small group event is created and planned entirely by a participant, involving an activity or location of their own choosing. The host decides when and where they would like to go. They then invite 3 to 5 fellow participants they would like to get to know better in a close-knit, low-pressure setting.

The best part? While it is entirely participant-driven, a Pathways staff member is present in the planning and hosting of the event to provide light support behind the scenes and ensure everything runs smoothly.

Life Skills Disguised as Fun: Real Stories of Success

On the surface, a small group hangout looks like a simple evening of friends having fun. Underneath, it is a masterclass in vital life skills. When a young adult hosts a small group, they naturally practice vital social goals: initiating conversations, budgeting spending money, planning transportation, respecting peer autonomy, and managing a backup plan if logistics change.

We are already seeing our community bring incredible, customized ideas to life:

  • Drew’s Lego Night: Drew wanted a relaxed environment centered around a shared hobby. He planned a dedicated Lego-building night, bringing young adults together over bricks and blueprints. The evening was a massive hit, providing the perfect, low-stimulation canvas for natural, comfortable conversations.
  • Ava’s Fright Fest Excursion: Looking for high-energy excitement, Ava stepped out of her comfort zone to plan a thrilling trip to Fright Fest at Six Flags. By managing the logistics of a busy theme park with a small group of friends, Ava got to take ownership of an unforgettable adventure while surrounded by a safe, supportive network.

Whether it’s a quiet evening of building blocks or a roller-coaster-filled weekend, these customized events prove that when young adults are given the freedom to lead, their self-esteem and independence soar.

Are You a Current Pathways Participant?

Taking the leap from attendee to host is made simple with the support of our dedicated team. If you are a young adult participant with a great location in mind, a specific activity you want to try, or a few friends you are eager to invite, your next steps are just a message away:

  1. Connect with Jen: Reach out to Jen Messmer, our small group coordinator.
  2. Map Out the Details: Jen will talk you through the entire checklist, including helping you navigate when your event could occur, how to write invitation scripts for other participants, and details to keep in mind (like managing budgets or planning transportation).
  3. Party with a Purpose: Lock in your date, welcome your guests, and enjoy an event where you make the rules.

Don’t wait to start building your own community on your own terms. For more information, resources, or to kickstart your planning process, email or text Jen Messmer today.

Not a Participant Yet? Join Our Waitlist Community!

Because these small groups are designed exclusively for registered participants to practice independence within an existing, supportive peer network, you must be enrolled in Pathways to Independence programs to host or attend.

If you or a neurodiverse young adult in your life (ages 16+) are looking for your people and want to build the skills needed to design your own social life, we would love to meet you!

To learn more about our three core programs (Social Growth, Social College, and Social Focus) and to inquire about our current intake process or waitlist status, please fill out our contact form or reach out to our main admissions desk at info@ptistl.org / 314-836-0202. Let’s bridge the gap together so more people can find their people.

Donor Tax Law Changes Coming in 2026: What to Know

As 2025 draws to a close, many individuals and families begin thinking about their charitable goals for the coming year. Along with those plans come a few important updates to federal tax law that could affect how charitable contributions are deducted starting in 2026.

While everyone’s situation is unique, being aware of these upcoming changes can help you make more informed decisions when you speak with your tax or financial advisor.

New Rules for Itemizers

Taxpayers who itemize deductions will see a few adjustments beginning in 2026:

  • Deduction Floor: Starting in 2026, itemizers will need to give more than 0.5% of their Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) to receive a tax benefit for charitable donations.
  • Top Bracket Benefit: The top tax rate will decrease from 37% to 35%, which means the deduction value for high-income earners will be slightly lower.

General takeaway: Individuals who typically itemize their deductions may want to review their charitable giving strategy with a financial professional to understand how these shifts could affect their overall tax picture.

New Rules for Non-Itemizers

For taxpayers who don’t itemize deductions, there’s some good news on the horizon:

Beginning in 2026, individuals will be able to deduct cash gifts up to $1,000, or $2,000 for couples filing jointly, even if they take the standard deduction.

This change creates a new opportunity for more taxpayers to receive a small tax benefit for charitable giving, though the details may vary depending on each person’s circumstances.

What This Means for Donors

These changes may influence when or how some people choose to give, but it’s important to remember that every financial situation is different. Consulting a qualified tax advisor can help determine the best approach for your individual needs.

As always, the most meaningful part of charitable giving is the impact it creates in your community, no matter the tax landscape.

Disclaimer:
This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, tax, or legal advice. Individuals should consult a licensed tax professional or financial advisor before making any giving or investment decisions.

Interested in understanding our donation system? Click below.

Learn more about donating

Social Goals Worksheet

Use this worksheet to learn more about your social goals. This worksheet shows you a reference for the social skills you want to work on with room for your own personal goals, affirmations, and notes.

Adult Participant Handbook

This handbook contains all programming information, policies, procedures, and participant rights and responsibilities for our adult program.

Young Adult Participant Handbook

This handbook contains all programming information, policies, procedures, and participant rights and responsibilities for our young adult program.

Setting Boundaries with Friends

Use this worksheet to learn more about boundary setting. This worksheet shows you how you can use this skill to set boundaries with friends when they are doing something that bothers or upsets you.

Small Group Planning Sheet

Use this sheet to plan your own social activity or small group with friends. This sheet will help you stay organized and on top of the details! Remember, if you want a Pathways staff to be at your small group, please call Jamie or another PTI staff to arrange this before you invite your friends.