Shea Helton

Health

My Autism Connection helping adults deal with their disorder

Shea Helton

When a child is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), people tend to gather and offer support networks to help the person navigate the new reality. But what happens to those who are diagnosed with ASD later in life, as adults? Resources and support often are limited, if any.My Autism Connection (MAC), a non-profit organization located in Fort Myers, is helping to change that narrative by offering a safe, inclusive space for autistic adults ranging in age from 18 to 50.

Students in the Cypress Lake High School SAVE club

Mental Health

Local SAVE clubs targeting violence to make schools safer

Shea Helton

In schools across Lee County, students are taking a stand against violence and promoting school safety through the Sandy Hook Promise’s Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE) clubs. Local students, parents and faculty are joining forces to make their campuses safer.Launched by the Sandy Hook Promise organization in response to the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary school in 2012, these clubs are a part of a nationwide effort to ensure that school environments are not only physically safe but also emotionally and psychologically supportive.

Initially, an FGCU project to help identify plant species that will accumulate and retain sand in efforts to reform dunes, used fence posts as reference points to track how sand moves and settles around plants over time.

Environment

FGCU efforts helping to shield vanishing Southwest Florida coast

Shea Helton

Southwest Florida coastlines are undergoing a dramatic transformation. The relentless force of the ocean is devouring the coastline. Rising sea levels paired with more frequent and powerful storms have turned what was once an escape to paradise into a glimpse of a harsh reality for locals and researchers alike. However, a team of researchers from Florida Gulf Coast University is working to address this challenge with a unique solution.