BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Aspika - ECPv6.18.2//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:Aspika X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://aspika.com X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Aspika REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/New_York BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20250309T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20251102T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20260308T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20261101T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20270314T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20271107T060000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261024T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261024T170000 DTSTAMP:20261024T104754Z CREATED:20261024T104754Z LAST-MODIFIED:20261024T104754Z UID:28810-1792828800-1792861200@aspika.com SUMMARY:María C. Palacio-Pike DESCRIPTION:COMINGSOON\n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n on \n aspika.tv \n \n\n \n \n Coming soon \n \n \n \n \n on \n aspika.tv \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n Tap to continue \n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n \n Language: English \n\n \n \n Founder and President of Crystal Academy | Education Visionary | Autism Advocate | Community Leader \n From a mother's experience to a legacy of education\, commitment\, and human possibilities \n \n Some of society's most extraordinary contributions are born from deeply personal experiences\, capable of transforming a life and\, over time\, opening opportunities for countless individuals. \n For María C. Palacio-Pike\, affectionately known as Mary\, that turning point came with her son David's autism diagnosis. What began as a mother's determination to understand and support her son grew into a lifelong commitment dedicated to transforming educational opportunities for children with autism and other developmental differences. \n Today\, Mary is the founder and president of Crystal Academy\, a specialized educational and therapeutic institution established in 2009 in Coral Gables\, Florida\, whose mission is to help children develop their individual capacities\, strengthen their autonomy\, and reach their maximum potential. \n From a Communications Career to a Purpose-Driven Mission\n Before dedicating her professional career to specialized education\, Mary built a career in advertising and communications. However\, her life took a profoundly meaningful turn when her family faced a world that was still poorly understood: autism. \n At a time when knowledge about this condition\, available resources\, and specialized educational opportunities were considerably more limited\, Mary decided to transform personal challenges into a vision for change. \n In 2009\, she helped establish Crystal Academy\, creating an educational environment where individualized instruction\, therapeutic support\, and an understanding of each student's unique needs could be integrated into a single space. \n Under her leadership\, Crystal Academy has become an important resource for families seeking specialized education and support in their children's development. Its multidisciplinary approach promotes communication\, academic learning\, social skills\, daily living skills\, and greater independence. \n At the core of her philosophy lies a fundamental conviction: education must recognize each child's capabilities rather than allowing a diagnosis to define the limits of their future. \n Leadership\, Social Commitment\, and Community Impact\n Mary's influence extends far beyond the classroom. \n Through her civic leadership and advocacy work\, she has helped strengthen collaboration among families\, educators\, healthcare professionals\, and community leaders\, promoting greater understanding and better opportunities for individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities. \n Among her contributions is her service on the City of Coral Gables Disability Advisory Board\, as well as her collaboration on Embracing Autism: A Coral Gables Story\, an Emmy Award-winning documentary produced in partnership with the City of Coral Gables. \n In recognition of her commitment\, Mary received the 2020 Cruz-Whitehurst Rights Advocacy Award\, presented by the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities at the University of Miami and Nova Southeastern University (UM-NSU CARD). \n Her leadership continues to drive the future of Crystal Academy\, including plans to establish a permanent educational facility to expand opportunities for new generations of students and their families. \n A Legacy That Transcends Education\n More than 16 years after the founding of Crystal Academy\, Mary's journey represents the extraordinary power of transforming a personal experience into lasting impact for an entire community. \n Her legacy lies not only in the institution she helped build\, but also in the students who have discovered new capabilities\, the families who have found guidance\, and the opportunities that her determination continues to make possible. \n María Palacio-Pike's story is a story of motherhood\, resilience\, visionary leadership\, and a deep trust in human potential. \n What began as a mother's search for answers has evolved into a mission dedicated to transforming lives. \n Because the most extraordinary legacy is measured not only by what we achieve\, but by the possibilities we are able to create for others. \n \n \n\n \n \n \n Mission and Approach\n Education must recognize each child's capabilities rather than allowing a diagnosis to define the limits of their future. \n ApproachIndividualized instructionTherapeutic supportMultidisciplinary approach\n PromotesCommunicationAcademic learningSocial skillsDaily living skillsIndependence\n \n \n\n \n \n Gallery\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 01 / 12\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n Achievements and Recognitions\n Her journey represents the extraordinary power of transforming a personal experience into lasting impact for an entire community. \n \n 01Founder and President of Crystal Academy\, a specialized educational and therapeutic institution created in 2009 in Coral Gables\, Florida\n 02Over 16 years leading an institution serving children with autism and other developmental differences\n 03Cruz-Whitehurst Rights Advocacy Award (2020)\, presented by UM-NSU CARD\n 04Member of the City of Coral Gables Disability Advisory Board\n 05Collaboration on Embracing Autism: A Coral Gables Story\, an Emmy Award-winning documentary\n 06Driving the plan to establish a permanent educational facility for Crystal Academy\n 07Prior background in advertising and communications\n \n \n\n \n \n Video\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n Website\n \n crystalacademy.org\n \n \n Visit crystalacademy.org\n \n\n \n \n Follow Mary\n \n \n \n Instagram\n \n \n \n YouTube\n \n \n \n LinkedIn\n \n \n \n Websitecrystalacademy.org\n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n Compartir \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Facebook \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Linkedin \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Twitter \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n WhatsApp \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Telegram \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Available in aspika.tv URL:https://aspika.com/event/maria-c-palacio-pike-2/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://aspika.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/MARIA-HORIZONTAL.jpg END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR