Big things are on the horizon. This fall, we're opening three new spaces designed to give our students even more opportunities for independence, employment, and community connection.
For nearly three decades, PAAL has been preparing individuals with autism for meaningful adult lives. Now, we're taking the next step — building spaces where our students can work, decompress, and engage with their community like never before, all under one roof at The Roberts Building at Routes 30 & 322 in Downingtown.
Coffee. Community. Connection. Kayla's Kafe is a real, working coffee shop staffed and operated by PAAL students — a welcoming place where every cup creates an opportunity to connect. From taking orders to preparing drinks, our students will gain hands-on employment experience in a space where neighbors come together and everyone belongs.
Calm. Comfort. Focus. A calming, purpose-built space for sensory regulation — soft lighting, tactile stations, and quiet zones that give students a safe place to reset when the world feels like too much. Because learning to self-regulate is one of the most important life skills there is.
Great finds. Big possibilities. Trevor's Treasures is a student-run shop filled with thoughtful gifts and special finds — wrapped up with heart. Students will learn real retail skills — sorting, pricing, merchandising, customer service, and money handling — in a shop that's open to the whole community.
Kayla's Kafe and Trevor's Treasures are named in loving memory of two cherished members of the PAAL family. These spaces carry their names so that the joy they brought to our community keeps growing.
A gentle soul with a wry sense of humor and a boisterous laugh, Kayla was a PAAL student and adult day program participant who found connection, community, and joy in her days here. She loved her family's hugs, cats and farm animals, her beloved Akitas, the water — one of her favorite "happy places" — and sunsets in Cape May. Kayla's Kafe carries her name so that connection keeps growing.
Trevor communicated in ways that reached far beyond words. A PAAL student with an infectious laugh, he brought unmistakable joy to everyone around him — to have met Trevor was to love him. Trevor's Treasures carries his name so the joy he shared keeps finding its way into the community he was part of.
Help us open their doors.
Every day, our students practice the skills they'll need for the rest of their lives — in real places, with real people, doing real work. Kayla's Kafe, The Sensory Room, and Trevor's Treasures aren't just new spaces. They're new futures. More students will have the chance to learn what it feels like to earn a paycheck, serve a customer, manage a shelf, or simply find a quiet moment when they need one.
This expansion is the next chapter in nearly 30 years of work — and we're building it for every student who deserves a shot at a meaningful, independent adult life.
PAAL is one part of a larger network supporting individuals with autism. Below are outside organizations we recommend exploring as you navigate services, planning, and support.
A comprehensive special needs directory connecting families and caregivers with information, services, and support across the special needs community.
A family-friendly framework for evaluating residential programs for autistic adults — covering value-driven programming, quality of life, individualized assessment, qualified staff, family communication, and program evaluation.
Read the Guide (PDF)A fillable companion workbook with guided questions and note space to help families compare residential programs side by side and keep detailed notes throughout the search.
Open the Workbook (PDF)Whether you want to donate, volunteer, partner, or simply spread the word — this expansion only happens with community support.