Pathways to Independence

We are so proud of Aaron and Jay! What a great opportunity to master the same types of social skills we learn at Pathways in an inclusive professional environment. We love bringing Social Growth groups to try all your delicious treats and see the Pioneer team's great work 💛

At the heart of The Pioneer Café is a commitment to inclusion, breaking down barriers, and creating lifelong opportunities for people of all abilities. And you, our customers, are a key part of making that possible.

Today, we’re proud to congratulate our five 2026 StepUP graduates! 🎓👏

StepUP, our award-winning collaboration with Lafayette Industries, has now celebrated six graduating classes and 60 graduates. Even more importantly, 45 graduates (75%) have gained and maintained competitive employment after successfully completing this rigorous, multi-year training program.

And we’re just getting started! Our largest new StepUP class ever begins in early October, and we need your help. Every time you visit The Pioneer gives our participants more opportunities to learn, practice, grow and build the skills and confidence needed for lifelong employment.

So STEP UP for StepUP! Stop in a little more often, bring a friend, have breakfast or lunch, and be part of creating opportunities that can last a lifetime. 💙


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Wow! What an incredible show of community we got to experience recently in St. Charles County. Pathways attended two incredible events that brought us face to face with some of the most dedicated advocates across sectors - families, direct support professionals, educators, and more!

🤝 Thank you to everyone at Community Council of St. Charles County for the amazing opportunity to connect with other nonprofits at the Community Services Summit. Our Adult Program Manager, Christine, connected with many organizations that could be vital resources for our participants.

🚀 And thank you to the team behind the BCI (Boone Center Inc.) Disability Transition Planning Conference for bringing together disability services and the families who need them. Our Executive Director, Matt, was a member of the planning committee who made sure the event ran smoothly, including insightful breakout sessions and parent panels.

Our Community Engagement Coordinator, Grace, represented Pathways at both events, welcoming guests at the information booth and sharing the organization's mission with attendees.

How lucky we are to learn and connect with the neurodiverse and the professionals who support them! We cannot wait to build these connections into meaningful partnerships that help all of us in St. Charles County. Thank you so much 🧡

🔗 Click here to learn more: https://ptistl.org/2026/09/st-charles-county-disability-support-partnerships/

Behind every metric is a personal journey of courage and growth.

From July 2025 to July 2026, the Pathways community focused on building real skills and lifelong connections. Here is what that growth looks like:

💪 99% increased their level of independence
🩵 99% reported feeling a sense of belonging at Pathways
🎯 98% saw measurable skill improvement in social skills, self advocacy, and functional life skills
🏠 97% of families see participants actively apply these skills at home

Thank you to everyone who supports our mission and helps this incredible community thrive!

🔗 Learn more at our website: https://ptistl.org/2026/09/pathways-outcomes-in-action/

It's Direct Support Professional (DSP) Recognition week! 💙 Every day, our DSPs go above and beyond to empower and advocate for neurodiverse individuals in St. Louis.

Check out these photos to see our amazing team members out in the community doing what they do best!

🧺 Ray, Jocelyn, and Bailee enjoy the outdoors and each other's company at the 20-Somethings Potluck Picnic
🎭 Lacey and Tyrone enjoy some frozen treats before a show at The Muny
🧡 Chris, Jamie, and DeVonshae support Participant Laine's family as they debut The Tree Frog
🥎 Ed leads some fun in the sun for participants at last years Annual Picnic at The J - St. Louis
🎄 Jen, DeVonshae, Mary Beth, and Kelli bring the cheer for St. Louis Union Station Polar Express Night
🦌 Bryce goes along for the ride as participants experience the Grant's Farm Tour!
🇨🇷 Madison chats with Carrie, Mike, and Evan over Costa Rican snacks
🍝 Jim joins Chris and Matt in enjoying Favazza's Restaurant on the hill

Pathways' Direct Support Professionals build bridges to confidence, friendship, and community inclusion. Thank you to our team and to all DSPs who make magical moments possible.

💬 Comment and share your favorite memory with a Pathways DSP!

If you know Pathways, you know Craftibility 🎨 We are so excited to be bringing a team to their upcoming Trivia Night!

The Details:
🗓️ When? Saturday, October 17th
(doors open at 5:30pm and trivia will run 6-9pm)
📍 Where? St. Timothy's Episcopal Church
(808 Mason Road, St. Louis, MO 63141)
🎟️ How much? tables of 10 are $250 or $25 per person

Craftibility Foundation and Pathways have partnered for many creative and community-building events! Funds for this event will go toward inclusion scholarships and programming.

We encourage you to register your team and play along with us for a great cause!

🔗 Find more information and register your team at craftibility.org/6th-annual-trivia-night

We will see you there!

If you're looking for resources to help your neighborhood thrive, the Community Services Summit is your place to be.

Pathways to Independence is delighted to join Community Council of St. Charles County and participate in this gathering of resources shared by local experts who care. Make a difference in your community by registering today!

The details:

🗓️ When - Tuesday, September 15th from 8AM-3PM
📍 Where - Calvary Church, 3998 Mid Rivers Mall Dr, St Peters, MO 63376
🎫 How much - $50 for Community Council members, $75 for non-members

🔗 Click here to learn more and sign up: https://ptistl.org/2026/08/join-us-community-services-summit/

Summer has flown by, but Pathways made every moment count! Looking back, we packed the season with new experiences, local exploring, and lots of shared smiles.

Here’s how we wrapped up the summer:

🐶 Making four-legged friends volunteering at Five Acres Animal Shelter
🛒 Grocery shopping together before cooking up some fun
🚥 Teaming up to zoom through the Go-Kart track
⚾ Cheering on our local Frontier team, the Gateway Grizzlies Baseball team
🎡 Climbing and conversations at City Museum, St Louis, MO
🚣 Battling it out with smiles in bumper boats
🌻 Getting creative with botanical collage crafting
🎟️ Winning big prizes at the arcade with Swing-A-Round Fun Town
🎳 Bonding over bowling at Olivette Lanes
🐟 Trying out the touch tank with Taylor at the St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station

Summer may be wrapping up, but we’re just getting started! Head to www.ptistl.org see how you can get involved. 🔗

Are you 70½ or older? You may have a unique tax saving opportunity!

A Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) is the smallest amount you have to withdraw each year from a tax-deferred retirement account (like traditional IRAs or 401(k)s), often starting at age 70½.

A Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) allows these individuals to transfer money directly from a traditional IRA to an eligible charity.

Here is why many donors consider this approach:

📝 Satisfy Your RMD: Direct transfers can count toward your required distribution for the year.

💰 Be Tax Efficient: Because the funds go directly to charity, the gift is generally excluded from your adjusted gross income, which may help reduce your taxable income regardless of whether you itemize deductions.

🤝 Maximize Your Impact: 100% of your gift goes directly to support Pathways' vital programs and community initiatives.

Even if RMDs are still a few years off for you, this information might be useful for ...

👪 parents
👵 family members
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 friends
🧑‍💼 colleagues

or anyone currently navigating retirement planning and looking for impactful ways to support a mission close to their heart.

To learn more about how RMDs or QCDs work, or if you'd like to discuss giving options, please reach out to [email protected] or consult with your financial or tax advisor.

🔗 Click here to learn more: https://ptistl.org/2026/08/required-minimum-distributions/

Thank you for keeping Pathways in your heart and future plans 🩵

Celebrating Sophie's big April win with Third Degree Glass Factory 👩‍🏭

Back in April, Sophie’s family did an incredible job connecting with the most donors during our 36-hour Campaign. Her prize was creating any calendar event she wanted. She chose a glass-blowing demonstration at Third Degree Glass Factory, and Pathways made it happen!

A massive thank you to ...
❤️ Sophie, Kristy, Jerry, and their whole community for their advocacy
👏 Our Program Team for bringing Sophie’s vision to life
🔥 Third Degree Glass Factory for welcoming us into their space

When participants are motivated to use their own voices to support themselves and their peers, it expands horizons for everyone.

Click here to learn more and help create experiences like Sophie's: https://ptistl.org/2026/08/sophie-third-degree-glass-factory-event/