From struggles to smiles: Big Top fundraiser supports life-changing programs for children with autism

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CHAMPIONSHIP. MARK YOUR CALENDARS HAPPENING ONE WEEK FROM TONIGHT. AN EVENING OF DANCING, GAMES AND FUN, ALL TO SUPPORT GLENWOOD A PLACE CHANGING LIVES FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM. BY SHOWING UP, YOU’RE NOT ONLY ENJOYING AN INCREDIBLE EVENT, YOU’RE HELPING STUDENTS LIKE LANDON THRIVE AT A PLACE DESIGNED TO GIVE THEM A FUTURE THAT THEY DESERVE. I STOPPED BY GLENWOOD ALLEN KAT SCHOOL TO SHARE MORE WITH YOU. HE’S HAPPY TO BE HERE. HE’S HAPPY TO TO ACTUALLY HAVE SOMEWHERE THAT UNDERSTANDS HIS ISSUES. AND IT IS ALMOST NONEXISTENT FOR JENNY AND MATT. TAYLOR A SIMPLE PHONE CALL USED TO MEAN BAD NEWS. THEIR SON LANDON, WHO HAS AUTISM, STRUGGLED IN PUBLIC SCHOOL. VIOLENT OUTBURSTS, FRUSTRATION AND CALLS TO PICK HIM UP WHEN THINGS BECAME TOO MUCH. VERY LIMITED SPEECH. VERY, VERY LIMITED ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE, PERIOD. YOU KNOW, AND OFTENTIMES EXTREME FRUSTRATION AND EXTREME IRRITABILITY AT YOUR INABILITY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HE’S TRYING TO SAY. BUT NOW THE CALLS ARE DIFFERENT. THEY RECEIVE PHOTOS OF LANDON DRESSED AS A PINATA, SPLASHING IN GLENWOOD POOL, OR GRINNING EAR TO EAR WITH HIS FAVORITE TEACHERS. GODSEND FOR A PARENT WHO IS AT THEIR WIT’S END, YOU KNOW AND DOESN’T KNOW. LIKE, OKAY, HOW AM I GOING TO GET THROUGH TODAY? MUCH LESS HOW DO WE PLAN FOR THE FUTURE? 14 YEAR OLD LANDON IS ONE OF MANY STUDENTS THRIVING AT GLENWOOD ALLEN SCHOOL, ALABAMA’S FIRST EDUCATIONAL AND THERAPEUTIC PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM. FOUNDED IN 1974. WE HAVE OVER 40 PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT HELP OVER 10,000 INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN THIS AREA. IT’S MORE THAN A SCHOOL. IT’S A SANCTUARY, A PLACE WHERE STUDENTS ARE NOT JUST CARED FOR, BUT TAUGHT TO GROW, COMMUNICATE, AND EMBRACE INDEPENDENCE. IT’S ALSO LET’S TEACH THEM HOW TO THRIVE. LET’S TEACH THEM HOW TO FUNCTION. LET’S TEACH THEM HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES IN A PLACE LIKE THIS, IT’S IT’S THE ONLY THING WE FOUND THAT WE THINK OUR SON’S ACTUALLY GOT A FUTURE NOW. AND IT’S IT’S INVALUABLE WITH TEACHERS LIKE QUANECIA BOYD SAY THE IMPACT GOES BEYOND ACADEMICS. THEY MAKE SURE STUDENTS FEEL HEARD AND SUPPORTED. IT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE THAT I’M MAKING A DIFFERENCE AND THAT I’M DOING MY JOB AND I’M LEARNING WITH HIM. FOR THE TAYLOR, THE TRANSFORMATION HAS BEEN LIFE CHANGING. WHEN YOU HEAR PARENTS TALK ABOUT THEIR LIFE AND HOW GLENWOOD HAS TOUCHED THEM PERSONALLY, IT MAKES YOU FEEL EXTREMELY SATISFIED. AT THE END OF THE DAY THAT KNOW THAT YOU’RE A PIECE OF THAT PUZZLE TO HELP OUT. AND THIS WEEKEND, THE COMMUNITY HAS A CHANCE TO KEEP THAT MAGIC ALIVE. BIG TOP GLENWOOD ANNUAL FUNDRAISER HELPING TO ENSURE STUDENTS LIKE LANDON CONTINUE TO SUCCEED. THE PEOPLE, THE IMPACT OF WHAT THEY’RE MAKING JUST BY SHOWING UP. THE IMPACT OF SHOWING UP. IT’S GIVING THE KIDS THAT WE SERVE A VOICE. YOU’RE GIVING US HOPE THAT WE CAN’T GET ANYWHERE ELSE. BIG TOP, HOSTED BY GLENWOOD’S JUNIOR BOARD, IS NEXT WEEK AND NEXT FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21ST AT THE NIC. THERE WILL BE A LIVE MUSIC, DANCING, A SILENT DISCO AND MUCH MORE ALL AGAIN TO SUPPORT GLENWOOD LIFE CHANGING PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM. I’M GOING TO PUT A LINK

For Jenny and Matt Taylor, a simple phone call used to mean bad news.Their son Landon, who has autism, struggled in public school—violent outbursts, frustration, and calls to pick him up when things became too much.“(He had) very limited speech, very, very limited ability to communicate, period. You know, and oftentimes extreme frustration and extreme irritability at your inability to understand what he's trying to say,” said Jenny Taylor.But now, the calls are different. They receive photos of Landon dressed as a piñata, splashing in Glenwood’s pool, or grinning ear to ear with his favorite teachers.“(It was a) Godsend for a parent who’s at their wits end—how do we get through today never mind the future,” said Jenny Taylor.Fourteen-year-old Landon is one of many students thriving at Glenwood’s Allan Cott School, Alabama’s first educational and therapeutic program for children with autism, founded in 1974.“We have over 40 programs and services that help over 10,000 individuals and families in this area,” said Justin Ragland, Communications and Marketing at Glenwood.It’s more than a school—it’s a sanctuary, a place where students are not just cared for but taught to grow, communicate, and embrace independence.“It's also let's teach them how to thrive… how to function, take care of themselves,” said Justin Ragland.“A place like this, it's, it's the only thing we've found that we think our son's actually got a future now. And it's, it's invaluable,” said Matt Taylor, Landon’s dad.Teachers like Quanesha Boyd say the impact goes beyond academics. They make sure students feel heard and supported.“(It) makes me feel I'm making a difference and that I'm doing my job and I'm learning with him,” said Quanesha Boyd, a teacher at Glenwood.For the Taylors, the transformation has been life-changing.“When you hear parents talk about their life and how Glenwood has touched them personally, it makes you feel extremely satisfied at the end of the day, knowing that you're a piece of that puzzle to help out,” said Justin Ragland.And this weekend, the community has a chance to keep that magic alive. Big Top, Glenwood’s annual fundraiser, helps ensure students like Landon continue to thrive.“The impact of what they're making just by showing up, the impact of us showing up. It's giving the kids that we serve a voice,” said Quanesha Boyd.“You're giving us hope that we can't get anywhere else,” said Matt Taylor.Big Top, hosted by Glenwood’s Junior Board, returns for its 21st year on Friday, February 21, 2025, at The Fennec. This fundraiser features live music, dancing, a silent disco, food, and much more—all to support Glenwood’s life-changing programs for children with autism. By showing up, you’re not just enjoying an incredible event—you’re helping students like Landon thrive at a place designed to give them the care, education, and future they deserve.Click here to get a ticket.“He’s happy to be here, he’s happy to have somewhere that understands his issues and it’s almost non-existent,” said Jenny Taylor.

GLENWOOD, Ala. —

For Jenny and Matt Taylor, a simple phone call used to mean bad news.

Their son Landon, who has autism, struggled in public school—violent outbursts, frustration, and calls to pick him up when things became too much.

“(He had) very limited speech, very, very limited ability to communicate, period. You know, and oftentimes extreme frustration and extreme irritability at your inability to understand what he's trying to say,” said Jenny Taylor.

But now, the calls are different. They receive photos of Landon dressed as a piñata, splashing in Glenwood’s pool, or grinning ear to ear with his favorite teachers.

“(It was a) Godsend for a parent who’s at their wits end—how do we get through today never mind the future,” said Jenny Taylor.

Fourteen-year-old Landon is one of many students thriving at Glenwood’s Allan Cott School, Alabama’s first educational and therapeutic program for children with autism, founded in 1974.

“We have over 40 programs and services that help over 10,000 individuals and families in this area,” said Justin Ragland, Communications and Marketing at Glenwood.

It’s more than a school—it’s a sanctuary, a place where students are not just cared for but taught to grow, communicate, and embrace independence.

“It's also let's teach them how to thrive… how to function, take care of themselves,” said Justin Ragland.

“A place like this, it's, it's the only thing we've found that we think our son's actually got a future now. And it's, it's invaluable,” said Matt Taylor, Landon’s dad.

Teachers like Quanesha Boyd say the impact goes beyond academics. They make sure students feel heard and supported.

“(It) makes me feel I'm making a difference and that I'm doing my job and I'm learning with him,” said Quanesha Boyd, a teacher at Glenwood.

For the Taylors, the transformation has been life-changing.

“When you hear parents talk about their life and how Glenwood has touched them personally, it makes you feel extremely satisfied at the end of the day, knowing that you're a piece of that puzzle to help out,” said Justin Ragland.

And this weekend, the community has a chance to keep that magic alive. Big Top, Glenwood’s annual fundraiser, helps ensure students like Landon continue to thrive.

“The impact of what they're making just by showing up, the impact of us showing up. It's giving the kids that we serve a voice,” said Quanesha Boyd.

“You're giving us hope that we can't get anywhere else,” said Matt Taylor.

Big Top, hosted by Glenwood’s Junior Board, returns for its 21st year on Friday, February 21, 2025, at The Fennec. This fundraiser features live music, dancing, a silent disco, food, and much more—all to support Glenwood’s life-changing programs for children with autism.

By showing up, you’re not just enjoying an incredible event—you’re helping students like Landon thrive at a place designed to give them the care, education, and future they deserve.

Click here to get a ticket.

“He’s happy to be here, he’s happy to have somewhere that understands his issues and it’s almost non-existent,” said Jenny Taylor.

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