Communities where adults with and without IDD's get the support they need.

Front Porch Co-Housing: A Neuro Inclusive Community by NDL believes the best way to deliver on our vision is by providing a sense of belonging as we create authentic and vibrant spaces that are not just houses, but homes for adults experiencing neurological disorders. Our homes are designed to bring a sense of neighborhood while providing hope and peace of mind to the families and friends who support these adults, knowing their loved ones are in a community that will empower them.

We believe we can accomplish a nostalgic setting from a time when neighborhood kids played until the streetlights came on and people visited on their front porches through our co-housing model, a time when neighbors supported each other.

Neuro Diverse Living Inc (DBA Front Porch Co-Housing)

An organization focused on advocating or providing services for animals. It received its nonprofit status in 2021.

Spreading animal awareness and companionship through education and rescue.
Founded in 2021, Unforgettable Paws Animal Rescue is a registered Animal Rescue Service run by and for its members. Based in central Florida, we strive to be the voice of the lost paws everywhere. Our team and volunteers work tirelessly to save lives and promote animal welfare.

Our goal is to find forever homes for our fur companions who have have a rough go at life. We aim to achieve this goal through animal rescue, adoption, foster programs, and volunteer activities. We put forth a great focus towards educating the communication on overpopulation and the importance of animal rescue on lowering the euthanasia rate in the country. 
​
Although we are an animal rescue, Unforgettable Paws also aims to aid our two legged friends too. We have a special place in our hearts for war veterans and individuals with autism and would love for members of those communities to be paired with an animal that will change their life. 
​
Our adoptions are a life-long companionship agreement. Our rescue is a life-long family. 

Paws that were once lost will join our rescue and never be forgotten again. 

Unforgettable Paws

Harmony Theater is an organization focused on performing arts for people with disabilities based in southeastern PA. 

Harmony Theater

Dar-us-Sakina is a nonprofit dedicated to inclusion of individuals with disabilities in the Muslim community of Houston.  

Our platform is a safe space for people of all abilities and their caregivers.  We inspire the community to abandon stigmas and embrace individuals with disabilities with empathy and respect.  Together, we are better!

The mission of Dar-us-Sakina is to provide inclusive opportunities for individuals with disabilities in the Muslim community of Houston, while empowering the affected and their caregivers with social support and access to local resources.

The vision of Dar-us-Sakina is a Muslim community where individuals with disabilities are fully accepted and included, and both they and their caregivers have adequate access to support.

Dar-us-Sakina provides its programs and services to all special needs individuals and their caregivers within the Houston community, but reserves its Zakat fund for those families who are in financial need and/or crisis.

PROGRAMS AND SERVICES:

​Special Needs Weekend Islamic School Programs: At four locations across Houston, children with special needs come weekly to the masjid to learn about their faith using an adapted curriculum and to be included in the community.

Teen Adult Program (TAP): This program helps individuals with special needs take the first step to adulthood by teaching them independent life skills in a supportive social environment.

Sakina Internship: This is a one year commitment for college age students who dedicate one day of the week serving individuals with special needs while learning about related topics.

Volunteer Enrichment Program: This is a volunteer buddy program for High School students.

Caregiver Support Groups: This allows mothers, fathers, and siblings of individuals with special needs to connect with others with similar life circumstances.

Inclusive Events: These events are equipped with accommodations creating a safe and welcoming environment to our special needs families.

Inclusion Training: We visit local Islamic schools, masaajid, and Scouts to train typical youth on accepting and including their brothers and sisters with disabilities.

Community Education: We conduct awareness events and workshops to educate the general community on disability awareness and early childhood intervention.

Caregiver Training: We conduct training sessions for our caregivers with local experts on topics such as educational advocacy, acquiring government benefits, and transition to adulthood for our caregivers

ZAKAT FUND:

Dar-us-Sakina’s Zakat fund is transforming lives of struggling families with special needs right here in the Houston community.  The Zakat Fund is reserved for those special needs families that are in financial need and/or crisis.

• A homeless single mother of an unschooled child with severe autism now able to secure a steady job and income after having been supported through advocacy and appropriate school placement of her child

• An immigrant family with no insurance and severe language barriers provided an adaptive vehicle for conveyance of their previously home bound child with complex medical needs

• A burnt out special needs caregiver on the verge of collapse provided immediate respite and counseling to prevent emotional breakdown in order to continue her long term caregiving

• A refugee single special needs mother unable to secure a job due to bullying and inappropriate school placement of her child supported through advocacy to an improved educational setting and special ed bus services, allowing mom to go back to work 

* A low income special needs family repeatedly denied Medicaid assisted through case work and legal support now successfully receiving Medicaid that covers the child’s medical treatment, surgeries, and therapies

These are the stories of those supported by the Dar-us-Sakina Zakat fund.  We are providing specialized services for individuals with disabilities, shifting them from a state of crisis to a state of well being. 

Dar-us-Sakina

Muslims Understanding and Helping Special Education Needs

Muhsen is a nonprofit umbrella organization serving children and adults with any intellectual, mental, or physical disability. Muhsen’s aim is to establish an inclusive and accessible environment for individuals with disabilities and their families. Muhsen will assume an active role to advocate and educate, conduct training, and implement programs and services across North America to improve the experience within mosques, conventions, related classes and events, as well as to engender a positive and welcoming community for persons with disabilities.

Muhsen

Committed to educating and assisting African American families with Autistic children. Autism affects children of every race, ethnic group, and socioeconomic status.

The Color of Autism Foundation is committed to raising public awareness about autism spectrum disorders and devoted to empowering families and lessening their isolation. We are dedicated to ensuring that all people with autism receive appropriate, effective services to maximize their growth potential and to enhance the general public's awareness of autism.

The Color of Autism Foundation

We are a 501(c)3 partnering with the Lord to rebuild, restore, and providing healing to families in the disability community.

Through our Bags of Hope program, we ship internationally to families who receive a prenatal diagnosis for their child. Our goal is to extend this program to the Autism community. Through our Bags of Comfort program, we ship internationally to families who have lost a child with a disability. 

Love That Surpasses

Transforming the lives of people with autism and those who care for them through lifetime services and collaborative partnerships

Els for Autism Foundation was established in 2009 by Liezl and Ernie Els. The Els’ son, Ben, is impacted by the disorder which affects 1 in 44 children in the U.S. The world-class pro golfer and his wife have devoted their efforts to a game-changing, philanthropic undertaking – The Els Center of Excellence® Center. The Center is a world-class, 26-acre campus that is home to three distinct nonprofit organizations: Els for Autism Foundation, The Learning Center, a tuition-free, nonprofit, Palm Beach County public charter school serving students ages 3 – 14, and The Learning Academy, a tuition-free, nonprofit, Palm Beach County public charter school serving students ages 14 – 21. 

The Foundation offers innovative, evidence-based programs for families and individuals across the lifespan in three areas of focus: Early Intervention & Education Services, Recreation Services, and Adult Services. Els for Autism Foundation serves families around the world, offering programs and services both virtually and in person at The Els Center of Excellence campus in Jupiter, Florida. 

Your generous donation will help provide services to individuals with autism and their families.  Our staff uses evidence-based practices to guide the development of new and effective ways to provide services and support to individuals of all ages on the autism spectrum.  - Where possibilities are endless - 

Els for Autism Foundation

Our mission is to put Judeo-Christian principles into practice through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind and body for all.

YMCA of Greensboro

Committed to supporting autistic individuals to achieve their maximum potential, while building connections for a happy life

Optimal Rhythms uses our unique neurologic approach to provide a therapeutic K-12 day school, ACCESS Academy; our A2A K-12 and adult virtual education programs; and an innovative Summer "CAN-Do" Camp for student with complex communication, motor, and sensory needs. We challenge communities to #rethinkautism by providing valuable training to equip parents and professionals to best support the sensory and communication needs of nonspeaking individuals.  Our Rethinking Autism Programs bring crucial training and resources to parents/caregivers, teachers, therapists, medical professionals and first responders.  We help those who care for nonspeaking children and adults to recognize their true potential, provide effective supports and accommodations, and afford them the human rights we all enjoy. Individuals who gain access to our programs experience acceptance, hope-giving opportunities for a true academic education, and meaningful connections with their peers and families. Will you help us extend our reach to more deserving students and families?


Optimal Rhythms / Access Academy

We support families touched by autism and fund autism research - autismsciencefoundation.org

Our organization adheres to rigorous scientific standards and values. We believe that outstanding research is the greatest gift we can offer our families. Every research dollar needs to count.

Autism Science Foundation

Americas Scholarship Konnection Inc is a national 501c3 focused on equality in education. It  received nonprofit status in 2016.

Americas Scholarship Konnection envisions a system which enables equal educational success and opportunity.

With the conversation in our country about inequality, here at “ASK” we are working to make things better.  We literally function to level the playing field for children starting at kindergarten to make sure that every family can send their child to the school of their choice, one student at a time. 
We are passionate about this, and it reflects in everything we do. 

ASK is moving the needle across the country with measurable results. We strive to make opportunities that facilitate social change, because we believe this is an incredibly worthy endeavor. 

ASK serves underprivileged families, disabled students, students that have been displaced to foster care or any American family that wants to see their child succeed in a private school. 
We facilitate this by providing scholarships for K-12 tuition and other school expenses thus preparing students for ongoing success in and outside of school. 

Please consider a generous donation to Americas Scholarship Konnection.

Americas Scholarship Konnection Inc

Answering the dreams of children ages 3-18 who are chronically ill, physically challenged and/or abused throughout US since 1976.

MISSION STATEMENT
Sunshine Foundation answers the dreams of children, ages three through eighteen, who have severe or profound physical/developmental/intellectual challenges or trauma from physical/sexual abuse, and whose families cannot fulfill their requests due to financial strain that the child's illness may cause. Sunshine Foundation answers dreams to children from all 50 states and Puerto Rico with life-long chronic conditions; ones that are turned away from the other national wish granting organizations that require a life-threatening or critical diagnosis.

HISTORY
In the 1960’s and 70's, Philadelphia police officer, Bill Sample, was assigned on protective duty to St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children. He encountered critically ill and chronically ill children, and saw firsthand how these children’s families were burdened, not only by mounting medical bills, but also by the frustration of not being able to provide their child a special dream.

In 1976, Bill took out a $4,000 personal loan and, with the help of volunteers, started the Sunshine Foundation and began making dreams come true for chronically ill, seriously ill, physically challenged and abused children. The first child helped was Bobby, a five-year-old boy diagnosed with Leukemia. Bobby’s nurse told Bill that the boy had a dream to go to the mountains to see snow. Bill brought Bobby, his parents, and siblings to the Pocono mountains in PA for a week of playing in the snow, sledding, and snowmobiling. Not long after, Bobby passed from his battle with Leukemia. Bobby’s mom told us years later that she did not realize at the time how important that dream would be to their family. She said that trip with Bobby, laughing and playing in the snow, was the happiest moment of their lives, and those memories created have lasted a lifetime.

Under Bill’s leadership, the Sunshine Foundation grew into the first national wish-granting organization. In 1990, the Sunshine Foundation Dream Village in Florida opened with nine fairy-tale themed cottages, specially equipped to handle the needs of the children who dreamed of visiting the Central Florida theme parks. Bill also established an annual Dreamlift to bring children with severe special needs on a chartered jet to the Magic Kingdom for a day; and for twenty-seven years, Bill hosted a gathering of children from across the globe who lived with the unique challenges of Progeria (Hutchinson-Guilford Syndrome).

More than 41,500 children have benefited from programs and services of the Sunshine Foundation over the past 45 years. Sunshine Foundation is proud to continuously be ranked as the Top-Rated wish-granting organization serving the terminally ill or chronically ill according to www.charitywatch.org. 

PROGRAM
The most popular dream request is for a family trip to Orlando to visit LEGOLAND Florida, SeaWorld, Universal Orlando, Walt Disney World, Kennedy Space Center, and the Florida coast beaches. Families stay at the Foundation’s 22-acre Dream Village in Davenport, FL, an enchanted accommodation less than 15 miles from Disney World. Since opening in 1990, more than 21,000 children have enjoyed the Dream Village which includes 9 fairy-tale themed cottages, a heated zero-entry swimming pool, handicap accessible playground and a miniature golf course. The Sunshine Foundation provides everything for the entire family including airfare, transportation, lodging, tickets to the attractions and spending money. These Magical Dreams cost approximately $6,600 per family.

We also answer Special Dreams: shopping sprees, computers, iPads, gaming systems, bedroom makeovers, outdoor playsets, above ground swimming pools, family trips, and many more. These Special Dreams cost approximately $2,200 per family.

TARGET
The Sunshine Foundation strives to bring joy to children who need us most, including children from income-limited families who suffer from chronic illnesses, often which has a devastating life-long impact. These are the children who are forgotten and ignored because the initial outcome of their diagnosis is not immediately life-threatening. However, they suffer incredible pain from many incurable diseases that will significantly shorten and hinder the quality of their lives.

The children we serve suffer from several illnesses and conditions including spina bifida, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, Down syndrome, spastic quadriplegia, low functioning autism, brain & spinal injuries, Type 1 diabetes, post-traumatic stress disorder, mental illness, injury from abuse and numerous other syndromes due to mutated chromosomes and rare genetic circumstances. We do not limit our support to one specific illness and address each child’s request with the dignity that is deserved. 

IMPACT
Granting a dream or a wish for a child with an illness is not a part of traditional medicine. However, it often becomes an integral part of a child’s path towards wellness, independence, stability, or recovery. The Sunshine Foundation has many accounts on record from parents and children who attest to the power of a few days away from doctors, hospitals, and treatments. It can make all the difference in the world and the staff proudly pursues its work on behalf of children every single day.

Examples of Special Dreams answered over the last year:

Robert, age 12, Holoprosencephaly, Cerebral Palsy
Special Dream - Wheelchair Swing
“Bobby was so excited to try out his wheelchair swing for the first time today. He kept saying, "Really? I can't even believe it that I can have my own swing at my own house!" Bobby loves to swing and having an accessible swing in his own yard will provide countless hours of fun, relaxation, and smiles. We cannot adequately express our deep appreciation for this wonderful gift!”- Bobby’s Mom

Miracle, age 8, Down Syndrome
Shopping Spree (Birthday Party and Presents)
“In a year full of difficulties, and after losing her dad in 2020, we are thankful that Miracle was able to celebrate her 8th birthday with lots of fun and presents that we would not have been able to do for her without the support of the Sunshine Foundation. We are forever grateful for her special gift!” – Miracle’s mom

Jon, age 18, Cerebral Palsy, Traumatic Brain Injury
Special Dream - Massage Chair
“Thank you very much for this opportunity to get our son, Jon, a heated message chair. Jon has had such a difficult time during covid with medical decline. This heated message chair brings comfort and joy to his aching body. This is truly a miracle at this stage of his life.” - Jon’s dad

MEASURABLE OUTCOMES
We will measure the outcomes using exit surveys and letters of thanks from the families we serve and expect at least 80% of the children will see either a temporary or permanent improvement in their outlook and at least 80% of the families will also experience some relief from the stress of their child’s or sibling’s illness.

Sunshine Foundation

Family To Family Network creates success for children with disabilities by empowering their families with knowledge & support.

Family to Family Network creates success for children with disabilities by empowering their families with information, training, referrals and support as they navigate the complex education, health care and social service systems.

Family to Family Network believes that ALL children should be included and supported in our schools and community in order to ensure the future success of children with disabilities. 

F2FN transforms lives by helping people discover possibilities, see potential when others see barriers, and advocate for what their children need to achieve their dreams.  By changing attitudes and mindsets about disabilities, our organization changes lives to make sure every individual gets to live THEIR best life.

By 2031, Our Goal is to Help 25,000 Families See Possibilities in their children with disabilities!
You can help us reach our goal by:
1) Supporting the development of a bilingual learning platform where families can access training at their own pace;
2) Providing intensive case management to families in underserved communities, especially our communities of color and those that are non-english speaking; 
3) Updating & maintaining our bilingual website that provides accurate & consistent information on the special education process;
4) Subsidizing our annual conference for 500 family members & youth with disabilities. 

Through these services, families and individuals with disabilities have an opportunity to network and learn from one another.

By working together, we can create communities where ALL children belong and excel!
Help create success for children & youth with disabilities!

OTHER INFORMATION:
There are over 127,000 students with disabilities receiving special education services in the greater Houston Region 4 Education Service Center area.  This does not include those receiving accommodations only through 504 plans or children who are home schooled or in private school placements.

Last year, Family to Family served families with the primary disability labels of:
59% Autism Spectrum Disorder
16% Intellectual Disability
10% Other Health Impairment
7%   Orthopedic Impairment
6 %  Deaf/Hard of Hearing, Blind Visual Disability, Deaf Blind
2%   Learning Disability

The age ranges of the children in the families that we serve are:
2%      Age 0-3
10%    Age 3-5
22%    Age 5-11 (elementary)
12%    Age 12-15 (junior high/middle school)
19%    Age 16 – 18  (High School)
8%      Age 18+  (18+ High School)
27%    Adults (Out of School)

The ethnic diversity of the families served are 19% Black, 31%White, 33% Hispanic/Latinx, 15% Asian and 2%  identified as Two or More.

29% Request help with the Individualized Education Program (IEP) special education process. 28% Request help finding resources in the community.  39% Needed help navigating Adult Service systems, Medicaid Managed Care or Social Security.

Family to Family helps families understand their rights & responsibilities, while also aiding them in understanding the right words to use, right place to look, right person to connect with when trying to find services & supports for their children with disabilities.  

Education is the only FREE service available to children with disabilities.  Adult services are not free, and there are over 150,000 Texans with disabilities waiting over 10 years for long term services & supports.  That is why it is imperative for children with disabilities to receive the necessary supports and services at school so that they can become contributing members of our community and live meaningful lives after high school.









Family To Family Network

Making communities accessible, inclusive for 1 BN+ disabled people. Join us for 21st century social transformation opportunity.

Focused on advocacy efforts, promoting accessibility, inclusion of 1 BN+ Specially Abled People, worldwide with help of VOSAP advoacy tools, VOSAP mass movement, Individual Enablement with Assistive Devices to learn and earn!. Join 11,000 like minded people, changemakers around the world by taking VOSAP pledge to volunteer.

Let us Empower The Specially Abled People with Accessibility, Education and Employment.

Visit us at www.voiceofsap.org to choose opportuntiies to volunteer as high school student or college students or corporate emaployees or as an individual per your role in the society. 

Voice of Specially Abled People

Climb Work Activity Center A Non-Profit Corporation is a nonprofit organization focused on employment and jobs. It is based in Alhambra, CA. It received its nonprofit status in 1978.

Climb Transition Services

Pioneers research, outreach & cooperative efforts with other organizations worldwide

Our mission is to support the health and well-being of people affected by autism through innovative, impactful research and education.
Causes of ASD remain unclear but recent scientific advances challenge the traditional view of autism as an untreatable disease—as one that is “genetically hard-wired.” These developments support the position that Autism Research Institute (ARI) has always maintained: Autism Is Treatable. Established in 1967 by psychologist and renowned father of modern autism research Dr. Bernard Rimland, ARI continues to pioneer in research, outreach, and cooperative efforts with other organizations worldwide. ARI advocates for the rights of people with ASD, and operates without funding from special-interest groups.

Autism Research Institute

Creating a world for kids with intellectual disabilities in Lusaka, Zambia.

Studies in low income, middle income countries in Sub-Sharan Africa have shown that many parents perceive severe disability as worse than death, and ironically, some families might even view premature death as a welcome relief because of the substantial lifetime costs of supporting disabled children without any social welfare benefits, especially in rural settings.  Special Hope Network has stepped in the Zambian community where the government has not.  We are currently working with 325 children and their care givers in 5 Community Care Centers around Lusaka, Zambia.

We believe every child with an intellectual disability has a God-given right to the following: 1. Home - A space where they are loved, nurtured, cared for and challenged. 2. Health - Resources that allow them to be cared for body, soul and mind. 3. Education - An environment where they are encouraged to grow, learn and progress to their next developmental level.

Special Hope Network

On a mission to provide social, vocational and residential opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities.

“Looking forward, we are gaining momentum with what we can offer. We know the needs will continue because this problem is not going away. We know mentally/physically our members are healthier when they are socialized, feel good about themselves, working and that impacts their entire family. That has always been our True North since our founding, and no matter the growth or needs that increase, that will remain our focus for the future.”

— Cheri Weaver, Executive Director

Wings Special Needs Adult Community

E N C Inc is a 501c3 nonprofit organization since 2019, based in Marsfield, WI focused on older adults and adults with autism.

Adults with autism need society to understand what autism is for each individual.  The education system, in much of the US, has gained a great deal of expertise in meeting individual needs and reliably creating a environment for individuals to be successful.  Unfortunately after high school there is a cliff rather than a bridge to more productive opportunities.

Our older adults in America are very often isolated by circumstances of where they live and how their lives have changed.  Children have grown up and moved away.  The social activities that the children obligated them to attend are gone so many have no social contact for weeks.  Isolation leads to boredom, loneliness and depression.  Loneliness has been shown to be as hard on health as 15 cigarettes a day.  

The Pandemic has taught us how all of us NEED social engagement.   It is not a luxury it is a need and each person needs social engagement differently.   The model for aging in America right now is to stay in one’s home as long as possible, move to assisted living if it is feasible, and ultimately to a nursing home as independence deteriorates.

The people who live the longest active lives on the planet are engaged in family and community and are needed members of the community.  In assisted living and nursing home models our older Americans often feel meaningless and crave a more meaningful life.

What if we could create a multigenerational community that understands autism and cultivates volunteer activities that support one another?  What if we could create a pedestrian community where one could walk down to the community center to meet for coffee and conversation?  What if we had close working relationships with property management, social services and our coordinating staff?  We could create successful long-term places to live for families, older Americans and autistic people in a vibrant connected community.

It has been estimated before the pandemic that up to 40 % of homeless people had intellectual or developmental disabilities.  We don’t really know what percentage have autism, but I can tell you a story about a young man near me.

Tim, not his real name, was 28 years old, with a job and living in his own apartment for three years in a complex for people with disabilities when he was arrested for cutting the cords on the vacuum cleaners for the second time.  For those of us who live with loved ones who are autistic we ask, “Why did it happen a second time?”  Autistic people have a variety of sensory hypersensitivities that may be sounds, sights, tastes, smells, and touch, basically any sensation that can be felt.  The manager could have told Tim when he was going to vacuum so that Tim could put on a headset, or the manager could have vacuumed when Tim was not home.  Likely the vacuum sound was torture for Tim.

Instead of working out a solution Tim was arrested and could have ended up in jail.  Fortunately Tim’s parents were still in the picture, and just as fortunate, the judge recognized that Tim was not competent and as such had not committed a crime.  Unfortunately, Tim was evicted from his housing, and would have been homeless except that his parents found him a place to live.

Many people with autism will never be able to self-advocate.  This is an inherent part of autism.  Navigating the social world is confusing at best and one of the biggest challenges for autistics to navigate the social world of the neurotypicals.

My autistic son has taught me a lot about how different autism perception of the world is from mine.  I like to say that living with him “Everyday is Opposite Day.”

What do we mean by opposite?
 
An autistic person may run back into a burning building after being rescued, seeking their place of comfort.  Unfortunately people have died, both the autistic person and would be rescuer when this has happened.  The person with autism may seek comfort when stressed and want to return to a bedroom.
 
A person with autism is likely to be unable to look at you and listen at the same time.  Most people assume if someone is not looking at them they are also not listening.  This is not only untrue but can also lead to worse issues.  Law enforcement is often trained that avoiding eye contact is a “guilty look.”
 
“Time out” may not be an effective strategy for discipline, as many autistic minds prefer isolation.  The isolation with “Time out” is often exactly what the person with autism likes; it is quieter, much less confusing and overwhelming and can be a situation that they want to experience over and over.

Services are not enough for our older Americans, our autistic loved ones, or any of our isolated people.  What is missing from our choices of assisted living and nursing homes?  A meaningful life.  People need opportunities to do meaningful things on their own terms.

We are interpreting an award-winning model, “Treehouse Community” in Easthampton, MA, that brought together older Americans with families adopting children who have experienced foster care.  They have a high school graduation rate near 100% for those children with near 90% who go on for higher learning.  The community is all about building long term relationships.  The older Americans we met there voiced, "I never imagined I could have a life like this."  The older Americans support one another, the kids, the parents and love what they are doing.

In the model they have a three-way cooperation between Treehouse staff, property management, and social services.  They are able to match peoples’ needs to available services, leveraging what is available already.  It is a neighborhood community that considers itself trauma informed and encourages 6 hours or more a week of volunteering in the community for seniors.  This might be giving rides, teaching a skill like cooking, or taking a walk.

We have spoken to church groups, employee groups and clubs and the most common question is, “Why doesn’t this exist already?”  This kind of community is not for everyone.  Grouches need not apply.  For people who want to build a new social life where they are needed it is a new choice.

Imagine a community where people appreciate one another, where we grow understanding of one another’s’ unique qualities.  I imagine a community where my autistic son can greet everyone enthusiastically and the people get a charge out of it.  I call him “My Tigger” for the way he bounds and bounces from person to person greeting them repeatedly with his big smile.  He seems to understand that greeting people makes them happy so I imagine his repeated greetings as him multiplying the happiness he is spreading.  Who wouldn’t want someone who is happy to see them?

We will be nurturing understanding of one another, not just the autistic individuals.  We will be fostering volunteer activities of all kinds that can introduce people to one another and create teamwork in efforts desired by the community members.   We see many of the needs and abilities that may dovetail, like our older folks needing house cleaning and a few of our autistic people who love to clean.  We see working with local agencies and creating new opportunities to expose our special people to new activities but with agencies that know how to do it.

As a parent I worry about what will happen to my son when I can no longer advocate for him?   Family is not enough.  He needs a community.  We need to grow advocacy both for our aging population and our adults with disabilities.

Autism is very challenging because each person is so different.  The saying in the autism community is, “If you know a person with autism you know ONE person with autism.”  In a neighborhood community it is our aim for people to know one another and look out for one another.  

We are partnering with Wisconsin Housing Preservation Corporation (WHPC), a nonprofit developer to create the rental properties that will include a portion of affordable rental units and a community center.  We would also like to have a home ownership option immediately adjacent to the rental community.

We aim to have an outreach activity that includes the general public and those with autism in the greater community who wish to engage.

We don't have a committed timeline yet, but an estimate is three years.  We don't have a final budget yet but our estimate is $1,000,000 for our part of the capital fund and $500,000 for start up costs and staffing.  The Treehouse model has  a Community Facilitator, an education officer, coordinators for volunteers and outreach coordinators.

We believe our town is the right place for the first community like this.  We have many retired teachers and healthcare personnel who have the passion for helping one another.  A small town has its challenges in fundraising and we are grateful for the opportunity on Every.org.  We believe that this community model will be replicated and will promote a better healthy aging option for our growing population of older Americans.

I imagine a community where people understand and value one another.  I imagine a community where "My Tigger" can greet and spread happiness to all he meets there.  One need only understand that he will not likely be a conversationalist but he has a great smile and enthusiasm that is contagious.

I imagine a community where my son and others like him are safe in the world when parents are gone.


E N C Inc

Multiple is a (501c3) non-profit dedicated to catalyzing innovation and supporting technologies for the autism community at scale.

Multiple is the engine for innovation—a global community of dedicated families, entrepreneurs, funders, and experts collaborating to solve the greatest challenges for people with autism. We are an early-stage autism innovation platform; a force-multiplier, supplying data, resources and relationships to fuel innovation and solve the greatest challenges for people with autism.

Autism innovation lacks the critical support it needs to power positive change for the autism community, which is perhaps a reflection of the spectrum itself, a fantastically dis-integrated community. The solution is Multiple: a hub where we can create greater impact by creating together. 

Multiple

Theatre starring people with intellectual disabilities and autism. Actors gain confidence, social skills, friends.

Mission: Through collaborative performance and lifelong learning opportunities, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities gain the skills and confidence to engage with the world.

ArtStream fuels students' imagination, creativity, and focus. We offer over 850 classes and workshops each year for 1,617 participants, six Theatre Companies totaling 90 participants and four Cabaret Companies totaling 30-40 participants, all of whom create and perform original theater works.

WHY ARTSTREAM?
People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities - including Autism - frequently face isolation or marginalization, and are excluded from activities and spaces where community, friendships, and connections are made. Creative opportunities are even fewer and farther between. In ArtStream’s drama and performing arts classes, workshops, and theatre companies, participants learn skills that apply to all aspects of life, including how to be present, pay attention, listen to instructions, participate in the activities that the class is doing that day, and perhaps most important of all, build friendships. 

Performance is transformative for every actor. This is also true for people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, including Autism. Whether in classes, workshops, or rehearsals, ArtStreamers play theatrical games that require them to listen, to engage, to communicate, and to collaborate with each other; and improvisational games that teach them how to make eye contact, think on their feet, make connections, synthesize information, and solve problems. ArtStream’s demanding and very entertaining process encourages ArtStreamers to discover their creativity and strengths, and perform with confidence! What’s more, at ArtStream, our participants create their own scenes, dances, and songs for their performances, whereas most other theaters and non-profits serve people with disabilities by enacting or adapting plays or scenes written by professional playwrights. This is the “ArtStream difference.” 

A 55-year-old, 15-year ArtStream veteran expressed it better than we could ourselves: “I don’t get nervous on stage because I feel such happiness. I like to perform 24 hours a day! I love this place! ArtStream is making me happy!” 

ArtStream’s collaborative programming gives people with interest, talent, drive, and creativity – but few opportunities – a unique chance to build skills they will carry with them throughout their lifetimes. Our retention rate is 90%, attesting to the effectiveness of our organization in carrying out our mission. 



ArtStream, Inc.

The NLF dba The Greatest Gift Catalog Ever focuses on raising awareness for nonprofits in Tarrant County, Texas.  

Giving through The Greatest Gift Catalog Ever (a program of The National Leadership Foundation) is the best way to give to benefit Tarrant County neighbors in need.
Gifts are matched dollar for dollar, and those dollars are leveraged by each orgnization in amazing ways.  Matching funds are directed to the nonprofits at a rate of 100%.

Each page in the catalog, or on the website, shows where the money goes, and how it is matched.  For example, for every $1000 donated, a neighbor with a long term disability such as cerebral palsy or demetia can be enrolled into a lifetime of attendant care services valued at over $26,000 a year or an estimated lifetime value of $650,000 per client!

Supporting local charities can be a wonderful gift idea as well.  We have a gift card program where the donor gives a set amount, and gifts that amount to a co-worker, family member, friend, neighbor, teacher, or client so that they can read all about the opportunities to give and then decide where that donation should be directed.   It's the gift that puts a smile on more than one face!
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The National Leadership Foundation

We empower & promote the health & independence of people with special challenges through the therapeutic power of horses.

Horses of Hope / Caballos de Esperanza Inc., is a therapeutic riding center, located in beautiful Isabela, Puerto Rico. We are both a 501c3 nonprofit and a Puerto Rico certified charity (EIN # 66-0907166; PR caso # 2019-1101.01-6.

Our mission is to engage the therapeutic power of our horses to nurture the special abilities of people with disabilities, help heal those suffering from trauma, and empower our clients to improve the quality of their lives, their families' lives, and their community. We provide life-changing therapeutic riding, equine education, and equine-assisted activities and have programs suitable for children (4 years and up) to adults of all ages. 

Our therapeutic riding instructors are certified through the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship, International (PATH, Int'l). We follow their standards of safety, which are the highest in the world, for clients, volunteers, horses, and staff.

Our equine-assisted services are based on current research and outcomes in the industry.

Horses Of Hope-Caballos De Esperanza Inc

FEAT supports & funds autism programs for the entire family. Much of our work is done by volunteers in the Louisville area.

Families for Effective Autism Treatment (FEAT) of Louisville is a non-profit organization that actively supports and funds autism programs for the entire family. Created for families by families, FEAT of Louisville is dedicated to easing the autism journey through ongoing support, education and programs including the Autism Friendly Business Initiative.

FEAT was founded in December 1999 by a small group of parents searching for answers to their children’s complex medical problems and educational needs. We are now a dynamic group of families in the Kentuckiana area with a growing membership.

FEAT of Louisville

Autism Society of America Foundation is a nonprofit organization focused on diseases, disorders, and medical disciplines. 

The Autism Society of America has been improving the lives of all affected by autism for over 50 years and envisions a world where individuals and families living with autism are able to maximize their quality of life, are treated with the highest level of dignity, and live in a society in which their talents and skills are appreciated and valued. We provide advocacy, education, information and referral, support, and community at national, state and local levels through our strong nationwide network of Affiliates.

Autism Society of America Foundation

Our mission is building inclusive communities through advocacy, support and information. 

We are dedicated to improving the quality of life for all people and believe participation in community life is essential to the well-being of every person. With the right assistance and support, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities can and will be contributing, valued members of the communities in which they live. We invite you to explore our website to learn how we accomplish our mission and vision through the activities, programs and people we support.

Arc of Northwest Wayne County

We provide physical, occupational, oral motor/feeding and speech therapy for children with special needs ages birth to 18.

Empowering children with special needs through the provision of individualized, family-centered pediatric therapy services.

Children's Therapy Center

Mission: To prepare individuals with and without developmental disabilities for life success within their family and community.

Crossroads is a non-profit, ABA organization serving students 2-12 years old, with and without disabilities, specializing in teaching students with autism.
Our center-based school consists of 11 classrooms. 7 are for preschool students and 4 are for school-aged students. Our ABA Clinic serves students on site, or in their own communities. 
Children are provided with highly individualized programming to meet unique needs and ABA/Applied Behavior Analysis is our approach to all learning and therapy. 


Crossroads Center for Children

NESS Cares, Inc. is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization serving the mental health and special education community.

OUR MISSION IS to increase overall resources in our community by doing charitable work and supporting individuals with mental and special needs.

Our initiative began with creating COVID-19 care packages for special education students who have been misplaced during the transition to virtual learning. We look forward to continuing our contributions.

Be a part of the mission. Donate to a small non-profit organization like NESS Cares, where 100% of donations are put towards our program's funds for direct impacts. 

Ness Cares Inc

At SNAPkids, beautiful children with special needs get to swim, exercise, play, make friends, and have fun!

Since 1991, SNAP has empowered children with special needs to exercise, swim, connect with others, make friends and enjoy the gifts of childhood through a community based and accessible adapted aquatics program. SNAPkids gives children with special challenges and gifts a place for their lights to shine brightly, to be respected and included, to exercise, play and have fun! Our volunteers work one-on-one, creating unique bonds with our swimmers and developing insights and sensitivities which ultimately make our communities more accepting and inclusive.

Water is the great equalizer, welcoming and forgiving, enabling the freedom of movement with joyfulness of play. The water can help children with balance, coordination, strength, fitness, focus, communication, social skills, and confidence. Many of the children in SNAP use the water as their primary source of physical activity and exercise. SNAP is a great social outlet and creates a caring and open community for the children, families, and volunteers who participate.

During the COVID-19 crisis we have suspended our in-water classes and we are providing FREE online exercise classes for our special kids. Please help support our efforts to keep our kids active, healthy, and engaged.

SNAPkids (Special Needs Aquatic Program)

STAR Institute is the international leader for research, treatment, and education related to sensory integration and processing. 

We are all familiar with the sensory aspects of day-to-day life. Our brains and bodies are processing sensory information all the time and as this sensory information moves through our nervous system it shapes how we feel and respond throughout the day. Every body has to process sensation in order to stay alive, function and make meaning of the world. How our brain interprets sensory information impacts our physical health, mental health, and general wellness. Sensory processing can influence every area of life including our preferences in diet, exercise, relationships, career, and our hobbies.

STAR Institute is the international leader for research, treatment, and education related to sensory integration and processing. As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, we are dedicated to improving mainstream awareness of sensory health and to providing life-changing support and resources for individuals and families across the lifespan. STAR Institute supports all areas of sensory health including mental health, school success, child development, parenting, relationships, and vocational success. For some, disordered sensory processing profoundly impacts daily functioning. However, many differences in sensory processing do not need to be disabling. We believe everyone should have access to high-quality support, resources, and treatment for sensory health.


INDIVIDUALIZED TREATMENT
All treatment programs are different. We pioneer and provide best practice intervention through the lifespan with customized therapy plans focused on individual strengths and needs. 

CUTTING-EDGE EDUCATION
We are dedicated to increasing global accessibility to current information on sensory processing through innovative online and live programming for clinical professionals and families.

LEADING RESEARCH
STAR Institute conducts and collaborates in rigorous research into the identification, characterization, and treatment of sensory integration and processing strengths and needs.

STAR Institute for Sensory Processing

Horse SenseAbility helps youth at risk or with special needs develop life skills by learning about, caring for & being with horses

Every child deserves the chance to experience the joy of horses regardless of their economic circumstances or special needs. Every horse deserves to live in a comfortable, clean and caring environment. Your support makes both of these possible.

Horse SenseAbility gives children who are at-risk, have experienced trauma, have autism, struggle with anxiety and depression or have physical disabilities the opportunity to learn from, care for and be with horses. In return, the horses give the children total acceptance, respect, confidence and a feeling of competence.

Your support of Horse SenseAbility makes all of this possible by providing high-quality care for our awesome equines and scholarships for over 50% of our participants. Make a one-time gift or join our Blue Ribbon Club by becoming a monthly donor.

Horse SenseAbility is based in Sherborn, MA and is a program of Wildstar Equine-Assisted Activities and Therapy, Inc.

Horse SenseAbility

unlimited emotional wellness support for families to continued practice, and authentic social connections in real life. 

curaJOY

Hood Medicine is a nonprofit public health collective dedicated to protecting black and brown lives during the pandemic & beyond.

We focus on health equity, public health communications, and combating health-related dis/misinformation in BIPOC communities to serve our primary mission of using science and technology to improve health outcomes for historically marginalized communities, empower families to make healthy choices & help them find trusted healthcare & vital resources. 

We have research collaborators across industry and academia working with us to understand how health misinformation affects intersectional patient populations and evaluate interventional strategies for public health advocacy at the grassroots level.

We provide vaccine education and promotion to various civic & health organizations using our culturally tailored public health communications framework to develop equity-focused messaging targeting intersectional BIPOC communities.

Hood Medicine Initiative Inc

AJHR is focused on providing services for horses. It is based in Apache Jct, AZ. It received its nonprofit status in 2007.

APACHE JUNCTION HORSE RESCUE
MISSION STATEMENT

Apache Junction Horse Rescue Corporation is a 501 ( C ) 3 non-profit organization that believes that every horse should be treated the same way we would want a higher being to treat us.

AJHR is responsible for rescue, rehabilitation, and adoption of unwanted, abused, or neglected horses. AJHR also upholds an on-going commitment to educate the public on proper equine care, horsemanship skills, and proper etiquette for a moving vehicle around horses.

