Today we’d like to introduce you to Lynn Yeager.
Hi Lynn, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
When Jacob was three, we got the news—severe autism. That single word upended everything. Overnight, life became a whirlwind of appointments and therapies, a blur of experts and interventions. I couldn’t keep doing my old job; I left teaching behind so I could be there for Jacob, for every step and every milestone.
Years went by, and communication remained a huge challenge. We’d tried just about every method out there. Nothing really worked—until 2015, when we introduced Jacob to a new way: using typing on an iPad with motor planning ways that helped him press the letters. Suddenly, something clicked. Jacob had a voice, and for the first time, he could really tell us what he wanted, what he needed, and most importantly, what he thought. The impact was enormous. But as we tried to find local schools that understood this breakthrough, we hit a wall. There weren’t any.
That’s what inspired my husband and me to take a leap of faith—we opened a small school built around communication and real academics for Jacob and other kids like him. The results were better than we ever imagined. Our students weren’t just learning; they were thriving, meeting county-level standards and growing into themselves. We loved watching them succeed—but as our students got older, a nagging question kept us up at night: what happens when they turn 22, and their school funding ends?
Searching for answers, we discovered Brookwood Community outside Houston, Texas. Their vocational model was exactly what we were looking for. We visited their satellite program near Georgetown and signed up for their replication cohort. The idea just spoke to us—community, vocation, dignity, purpose.
So in 2022, we launched BiG, North Florida, running it alongside BridgeHaven Academy. BiG is different; it’s a Christ-centered vocational community where adults with disabilities aren’t just supported—they’re celebrated. Our Citizens run their own businesses as bakers, jewelers, artists, and makers. They find purpose in their work and pride in their accomplishments. Every product we sell tells the story of the person who made it, whether it’s a piece of art, a card, or homemade bread.
You’ll find us at the Palm Valley Community Farmer’s Market, at pop-up shops, and even online in our Etsy store—but our favorite way to sell is face-to-face, letting people meet our Citizens and see their work up close. Every item is unique, gift-worthy, and comes with a card about the maker so you know who poured their creativity into it.
Now we’re preparing for the next chapter. Construction is underway for our brand new campus at 236 N Roscoe Blvd in Ponte Vedra Beach, and we can’t wait to welcome more Citizens into our community as we move into this bright, park-like setting. Want to keep up with us? Follow along on social media or at www.bignorthflorida.org for updates, shopping days, and ways to get involved.
Jacob gave us a mission, and now we’re stronger for it. Every day we watch people discover their own voices, just like he did.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
*Starting a new program to serve individuals with disabilities is challenging because we want to best serve their needs and help them grow and prosper.
*We also rely on grants and community fundraising to be able to keep our program affordable for families.
*Building a new campus tailored to our specific needs is challenging and making sure we are in compliance with all county guidelines has been quite time consuming
*We want every one to know how special our vocational community is and how amazing our citizens are, so gaining a social media following hasn’t been a fast as we would like.
As you know, we’re big fans of Big, North Florida. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
BiG, North Florida is a Christ-Centered vocational community that provides meaningful work, a sense of belonging, higher education, dignity and respect for adults with disabilities. We are all uniquely abled and wonderfully made!
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
We learned early on that if we kept our program Christ-centered and invested into our citizens, we would be on the right track. My staff is absolutely incredible and show up every day to pour their hearts and souls into our program and the citizens are thriving because they know they are a valued member of our community!
We also learned to stay on course. I have a tendency to throw ideas out there and have learned to rely on my staff to decide if they are feasible or not.
We learned to try new things, even if they intimidate us.
And the biggest lesson of all…we learned to include our citizens in the decision making process. We presume competence and want and value their input.
Pricing:
- Tuition based program
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bignorthflorida.org
- Facebook: Big, North Florida
