The Day Jericho Went Silent
The Jericho School for Autism has permanently closed — not because of local mismanagement, but because of a federal shutdown. As political gridlock stalls funding, families in Jacksonville are left without vital services, showing how national decisions can quietly devastate local lives.
The History of Jericho
In 1995, a group of parents and educators decided to create a safe learning environment for children with autism. This would, over time, become the “Jericho School for Children with Autism.” Located in Jacksonville, Florida, Jericho has been a school designated for those with autism who want a specialized education system made specifically for them. In recent years, it has been run by Executive Director Angelo Martinez and his Board of Directors. They were operating as a private nonprofit organization for over 30 years. They received funding from the government through Tricare, Scholarships, and many donations for nearly three decades. Jericho has been a vital resource for the local community for the past 30 years. Yet after three decades of service as a cornerstone for families in Jacksonville, Jericho’s story has taken a tragic turn- the school has now been forced to close its doors. That closure was not an isolated event, but part of a larger crisis unfolding across the nation.
From Hope to Heartbreak
When the Shutdown Hits Home
On October 1, 2025, the United States Congress failed to pass a budget, which resulted in a government shutdown that very night. This shutdown stretched 43 days, and brought a crisis felt in living rooms, classrooms, and communities across the country. In Jacksonville, its impact was devastating: the Jericho School for Autism, a lifeline for families, was forced to close permanently due to the disruption of funding and the existing suspension of federal payments.
Immediate Impact
“The closure now leaves 27 families without a school for their children,” according to a News4jax article. They were on campus on Monday, packing up their students’ belongings.”
The image of parents carrying boxes and children saying goodbye to classrooms and teachers showed how quickly a national budget fight became a local heartbreak. For parents, the shutdown wasn’t just about packing boxes — it was about losing a sense of security.
Emotional Toll
For families, the loss was more than logistical – it was deeply personal.
“This is just completely devastating for all of us. My son’s been here for 12 years. He loved the school. He’s very familiar with it and comfortable here,” parent Laura Skipper said in a News4jax article.
Her words captured the feeling of stability Jericho had provided, and the painful uncertainty its closure left behind. Jericho was more than just a school; it was a cornerstone of the community, a beacon of hope, a place of belonging. Most importantly, it was a haven where children felt understood, and families found hope. Jericho’s doors may be closed, but the void it leaves in the community remains open. That void is felt most deeply in the lives of students whose futures were shaped within Jericho’s walls.
Jericho’s Lasting Legacy
Jericho’s impact is likely best seen through the life of Elizabeth Popp. As a child, she struggled with communication and daily routines until Jericho gave her the tools to grow.
“She learned how to sit in a chair and do work and began the process of learning meaningful verbalization, meaningful communication with her mouth instead of the continual tantrums,” her mother, Lauralyn Popp, recalled in a First Coast News article.
Today, Elizabeth is thriving in her 30s — an accomplished pianist who loves to clean, organize, and cook. Her journey is living proof of Jericho’s legacy: a home where hope turned into transformation, and where the lessons learned continue to shape lives long after the doors have closed.
The story of Jericho is just one example of how the shutdown’s reach extended far beyond Washington. What began as a budget stalemate in Congress quickly rippled into classrooms, kitchens, and workplaces across the nation. Families who lost schools, benefits, or paychecks were living proof that the shutdown was not an abstract political battle, but a crisis with real human costs. Elizabeth’s success is proof of what Jericho made possible — but her story also highlights what is at stake for families nationwide.
The Wider Impact
The shutdown’s reach extends far beyond the streets of Jacksonville. Across the country, families are struggling with basic needs such as food, bills, and shelter as federal programs stall.
“When food access disappears, so does nutritional stability, triggering ripple effects across health, education, and local communities. As families’ resources for healthy meals diminish, and as some go without food entirely, these changes have the potential to exacerbate food insecurity and deteriorate overall public health outcomes. Without swift intervention, the disruption could spiral into a national health crisis,” reported in an Observer Article.
Meanwhile, federal workers are still dealing with the harsh circumstances and effects that came with the shutdown.
“The October 2025 government shutdown has left about 1.4 million federal employees without their first full paycheck, splitting roughly evenly between furloughed workers and those required to work without pay,” according to a Factually.co article.
For households that depend on those paychecks and government assistance, the shutdown has meant missed mortgage payments, delayed bills, and massive amounts of uncertainty.
Together, these realities show that the shutdown was not just a political standoff in Washington – it was a crisis that reshaped daily life, from the classroom to the kitchen table, and from local schools like Jericho to the lives of millions of federal workers.