5th Annual Tee Up For Autism

South Walton Academy Tees Up for Autism

- Groundbreaking inclusion school hosts its 5th annual charity golf tournament to benefit a diverse student body consisting of children that are neurotypical, advanced developing, and on the Autism spectrum. -

SANTA ROSA BEACH, FLORIDA May 18, 2024 – South Walton Academy is raising awareness for students on the Autism Spectrum one swing at a time. The school is hosting its 5th Annual 2024 Tee Up for Autism Golf Tournament on May 18th, at 9 am at The Baytown Sandestin Golf and Beach Club, “The Links” with registration beginning at 8:00. Teams and individuals alike are in for a fun day of golf, food, drinks, entertainment and prizes. All proceeds will benefit South Walton Academy, a non-profit inclusion school—only one of its kind and is located here in Santa Rosa Beach, FL.

“We are a unique school that accommodates all learning styles and learning abilities. All of our classrooms are inclusive, which helps us teach our students with and without disabilities to learn and be more successful,” says South Walton Academy Founder and President, Calley Middlebrooks. “We are so much more than just a private school, we are also a pediatric therapy center, and now have a gymnasium center open to the public and soon will have an amphitheater for additional community play space. We focus on the success of all children and by providing a private education we are able to focus on all students with various abilities”.

Middlebrooks, Developmental Therapist, and mother to three, has a son who was diagnosed with Autism at age 4 while one of her daughters was developing at an advanced rate. Through her experience as a Developmental Therapist and at home, Calley recognized the need for a school where children could move at their own pace and receive therapy or accommodations as needed all in one place, a game-changer for most families coping with ASD. Middlebrooks states, “our school is for all students, not just those with special needs, but being able to accommodate special needs students provides the inclusion environment that all of our community needs. We don’t plan to stop here, our hope is to soon add adult services to include music, art, and fitness”.

Sponsorships for the 2024 Tee Up for Autism Golf Tournament are now available and there are many ways to become involved. Sponsor a Child for as little as $150, Donate a Raffle Prize, Sponsor A Hole, or Sponsor an Event such as Longest Drive and Closest to the Pin. Each sponsor will be mentioned in the program, and on social media in addition to other perks. Volunteers are needed for the day of the event.

Teams of four can sign up for $500, and individuals can play for $150. Register in advance at www.SouthWaltonAcademy.com. Players will also be able to register in person the day of the event but pre-registration is highly encouraged to ensure your spot along with your filled event bag and golf cart. For more information on how to become a sponsor, volunteer, and/or player, please contact us at

teeupforautism@southwaltonacademy.com

SWA’s goal is to help every child be successful. All proceeds from the golf tournament will go directly to South Walton Academy.

“As a parent, I am always looking for ways to educate others about Autism to make the world a safer place for my child and others on the Autism Spectrum,” says Middlebrooks. “We can all learn from each other and by doing this together, we can make the world a better place.”

About South Walton Academy

South Walton Academy is a 501c3 nonprofit, private school and pediatric therapy center in Santa Rosa Beach, FL. SWA accepts children from birth to 12th grade to include all abilities, whether they are neurotypical, advanced developing or have a developmental delay. Additional Private Pediatric Therapy services are available and open to the public. South Walton Academy is the only school in South Walton where students can receive ABA Therapy, Speech Therapy, and Occupational Therapy in the same location. State funded scholarships are available to help cover the cost of private school tuition which include families with low income, medium income, children with developmental delays, students who have been bullied, sibling scholarships and for students who need assistance with reading. (Learn more about scholarship options at www.stepupforstudents.org and spread the word).

For more information and/or to make a donation to support SWA, please call (850) 213-4595, find SWA on Facebook, or visit www.southwaltonacademy.com.