Orlando, FL (February 25, 2025) – The Orlando Health Advanced Rehabilitation Institute is expanding its Neuro-Friendly Restaurant Initiative with the Magnolia Yoga & Wellness Center and GoodWay Café in Longwood. The purpose of the program is to increase community inclusion for those living with an acquired brain injury such as a stroke, traumatic brain injury, brain tumor, or a progressive disorder such as Parkinson’s disease.
“For people who have survived a brain injury, eating out and socializing may present a number of invisible obstacles,” said Jessica Hooke, a speech language pathologist at the Orlando Health Advanced Rehabilitation Institute who spearheads the Neuro-Friendly Restaurant Initiative. “Through this program, we are partnering with local businesses to make public places more welcoming for people with various neurological conditions.”
For the first time, the program will include opportunities to attend yoga classes in a trauma informed yoga studio to promote overall emotional and physical wellbeing with the non-profit Magnolia Yoga & Wellness Center. The GoodWay Café, which is inside the same building, offers wholesome, plant-based meals. As part of the initiative, the restaurant will provide a photo menu with options listed in the following categories: heart health, low-sugar and brain wellness. Assistive utensils and quiet hours will also be available for customers.
Magnolia Yoga & Wellness Center executive director Lorena Castiglione, who has personally experienced a neurological health journey, says she was eager to join the Orlando Health program when she learned it was available to the community.
“Jessica Hooke has been absolutely wonderful to collaborate with on this initiative. Her compassion and commitment to individuals living with neurological conditions truly comes through in her work. Partnering with her and Orlando Health has allowed Magnolia to be part of something deeply meaningful for our community.”
Bryan Krizek, CEO of Christian Relief Services Charities, Inc., the nonprofit organization that oversees Magnolia Yoga & Wellness Center and GoodWay Café, added, “At Christian Relief Services, our mission has always been to improve quality of life through compassionate, community-centered initiatives. Partnering with Orlando Health to expand neuro-friendly spaces at Magnolia and GoodWay Café reflects our commitment to accessibility, dignity and holistic wellbeing for all.”
Orlando Health teamed up with Magnolia Yoga & Wellness Center and GoodWay Café for a soft launch of the neuro-friendly initiative this week, inviting former patients and their caregivers to check out the cafe, as well as participate in a yoga class.
“It’s very encouraging and I really am grateful that there’s an openness to expanding restaurant perspectives and opening businesses to stroke survivors or brain injury survivors. The sensitivity to menus and space is a great thing,” said stroke survivor George Wilcox.
The Neuro-Friendly Restaurant Initiative grew out of Hooke’s first-hand experiences watching patients struggle with loud dining rooms, hard-to-read menus and limited food choices that aligned with their recovery. The first restaurant collaboration launched in 2023, and the program continues to grow. Restaurants or businesses interested in joining the Neuro-Friendly Restaurant Initiative may reach out to Jessica Hooke at 321-841-4166.
About Orlando Health
Orlando Health is a private not-for-profit, integrated academic healthcare system with $14 billion of assets under management, that serves the southeastern United States – including Florida and Alabama – and Puerto Rico. With corporate offices in Orlando, Florida the system provides a complete continuum of care across a network of medical centers and institutes, community and specialty hospitals, physician practices, urgent care facilities, skilled nursing facilities, home healthcare, and long-term and behavioral health care services. Founded more than 100 years ago, Orlando Health’s mission is to improve the health and the quality of life of the individuals and communities we serve. The system provided nearly $2 billion in community impact in the form of community benefit programs and services, Medicare shortfalls, bad debt, community-building activities and capital investments in FY 24, the most recent period for which the information is available. For more information, visit orlandohealth.com, or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and X.
