Pathways to Independence

Pathways to Independence Pathways to Independence supports the development of skills that positively impact the lives of adul Clients are St.

Louis area residents diagnosed with a learning disability or associated developmental disorder including Asperger’s Syndrome. While they qualify for some support, they are not eligible for most services individuals with more severe disabilities receive. Our participants want fulfilling experiences with friends and acquaintances in the mainstream of life like everyone else. The participants are adu

lts who want to be independent, to interact effectively and be a part of the fabric of the community. As participants gain self-confidence and a feeling of competence, they experience increased employment readiness, useful life skills and a greater ability to engage in meaningful relationships. The clients gain a "quality of life" that ultimately translates into independent, productive, more fulfilled lives - their goal and our mission.

Summer has flown by, but Pathways made every moment count! Looking back, we packed the season with new experiences, loca...
08/28/2026

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...
08/25/2026

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 j...
08/21/2026

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/

Are you looking for resources for a neurodiverse person in transition? Look no further! Our lovely collaborators at BCI ...
08/19/2026

Are you looking for resources for a neurodiverse person in transition? Look no further! Our lovely collaborators at BCI (Boone Center Inc.) will host a Transition Planning Conference on Friday, September 18th.

This is an exciting event where neurodiverse young people can empower themselves with skills and connect with resources. This is also a great event for organizations like Pathways to connect with the community. Pathways will attend as an exhibitor, sharing our mission of social independence and inclusion.

Here are the details:
What day: Friday, September 18th
What time: 8:00 AM to 1:30 PM
Where: Ameristar Casino and Resort – 1 Ameristar Boulevard, Saint Charles, MO 63301

What to Expect:
- Insightful sessions on education, employment, and independent living
- Networking opportunities with industry professionals, service providers, and advocates
- Tools and strategies for navigating post-secondary pathways and career options
- Inspiration from success stories and lived experiences of individuals with disabilities

Interested in registering or learning more? Click below:
https://ptistl.org/2026/08/come-meet-us-bci-transition-conference/

Fostering friendships in Jefferson County 🫶Pathways is thrilled to annouce that the Developmental Disability Advocates o...
08/14/2026

Fostering friendships in Jefferson County 🫶

Pathways is thrilled to annouce that the Developmental Disability Advocates of Jefferson County have chosen to continue our partnership in 2026-2027 with $15,000 in support.

We are so grateful to the Developmental Disability Advocates for helping us fulfill our shared goal of bringing growth opportunities to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Jefferson County. With this investment, we can bring more people together to learn, grow, and thrive.

Thank you to the entire DD Advocates team for the important work you do for this community. To find out more about the DDA, visit ddadvocates.org.

It may be hot out there 🌡️ but hanging out with Pathways to Independence is always cool! Check out how Pathways is build...
08/11/2026

It may be hot out there 🌡️ but hanging out with Pathways to Independence is always cool! Check out how Pathways is building a cool community this summer:

🍻 Battling over board games and beer at Two Plumbers Brewery + Arcade
🌻 Soaking up the sun(flowers) at Eckert's Country Store & Farms
😂 Giggling and going with the flow during improv with Reggie
🎳 Finding friendships at Wow! Fenton
🛟 Bumper boating at Swing-A-Round Fun Town
⭐ Stargazing and socializing at Broemmelsiek Park
🏎️ Smiling (and speeding!) through the Go-Kart track
🎨 Crafting with memory care patients alongside Craftibility Foundation
💌 Celebrating Chris with a farewell brunch before his big move
🏘️ Discovering what community means to us in Social College

Do you have a skill or hobby you love? Our participants would love to learn from you 💛 Think activities like crochet, coding, yoga, and more! DM us or click below to learn more:

https://ptistl.org/2026/08/20206-july-recap/

08/07/2026

What happens when participants take the wheel in planning their own social lives? It builds genuine connection and empowers everyone involved!

Watch Taylor lead a trip to the Saint Louis Zoo for her Social Focus Small Group. At Pathways to Independence, our participant-led groups hand the planning directly to the individuals themselves, building skills through planning their venue, inviting friends independently, and more.

As Taylor shared, "It felt really good to invite people and catching up on what they've been doing for the past week and making some connections."

When you support Pathways, your generosity acts as seed capital for human potential, helping neurodiverse people build executive skills and authentic friendships.

👉 Empower more leaders like Taylor by investing in your community today: https://ptistl.org/donate

Missouri Voters: Election Day is next Tuesday, August 4th! 🗳️Two major proposals (Amendments 4 and 5) are on the ballot ...
07/30/2026

Missouri Voters: Election Day is next Tuesday, August 4th! 🗳️

Two major proposals (Amendments 4 and 5) are on the ballot and could directly impact funding, advocacy, and services for the IDD community.

Read and save this one-page guide to get the details and be an informed, engaged citizen.

👉 Click here for the full breakdown: https://ptistl.org/2026/07/missouri-amendments-4-and-5-voter-information/

🌻 Check Out Our New Little Free Library! 📚 Our participant, Samantha, asked for a book exchange, and thanks to some wond...
07/29/2026

🌻 Check Out Our New Little Free Library! 📚 Our participant, Samantha, asked for a book exchange, and thanks to some wonderful teamwork, it’s officially open!

Our incredible YA Program Manager, Mary Beth, donated a hand-painted bookshelf decorated with vibrant flowery wallpaper. It’s now a cozy, bright spot ready for readers! Whether you’re looking for fiction, resources, or a new recipe to try, our shelf has a little something for everyone.

How does it work? Take a book, leave a book!

You can help keep our shelf fresh by donating one to three of your favorite gently used books. Beyond stocking pages, we invite you to help us build a lasting culture of giving through your support.

📖 Read the full announcement, learn how the library works, and see how you can support our mission here: https://ptistl.org/2026/07/little-free-library-st-louis/

Soaking in all the summer magic! ☀️ Pathways spent the month filling our calendar with one adventure after another.Here’...
07/24/2026

Soaking in all the summer magic! ☀️ Pathways spent the month filling our calendar with one adventure after another.

Here’s a look back at everything we got up to this month:

⛳️ Aloha Mini Golf: Hitting the greens for a little friendly competition

👾 Two Plumbers Brewery + Arcade in St. Charles: Welcoming our new Executive Director alongside our folks for some classic games!

🤝 CSF Celebrations: Highlighting our partnership with the Children's Services Fund St. Louis County Children's Service Fund (shoutout to our staff, Jessie and Mary Beth!)

🏊‍♂️ Pool Day: Beating the heat at the pool in Maryland Heights

🍄 Mario Kart Party: Epic Young Adult gaming battles that sparked conversations!

🍔 Water Games & BBQ Potluck: Big splashes, delicious food, and great company

🎄 Christmas in July: Bringing a little holiday cheer to the summer heat

🌺 Botanical Gardens: Soaking in the sights and scenery with new geometric features!

🥤 Soda Palooza: Testing our tastebuds with incredible craft sodas donated by Millstream Brewing (a huge thank you to staff Madison’s family brewery!)

Moments like these are at the heart of everything we do. If you want to help us keep the adventures going and power our upcoming programs, head to ptistl.org/donate to chip in! 💙

Address

11457 Olde Cabin Road, Suite 235
St. Louis, MO
63141

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4pm
Tuesday 8am - 4pm
Wednesday 8am - 4pm
Thursday 8am - 4pm
Friday 8am - 4pm

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