activities · 27
what they do
direct service · 27
- Autism 101 Training Series Autism Education & Transition WorkshopsOffers free monthly online "Autism 101" classes in English and Spanish for families of newly diagnosed children with autism, those at risk, or families new to Arizona, covering service access, special education processes, and state care systems. Resources discussed are available on the "Navigating Autism in AZ" resource page.
- Autism 101 Training Series Autism Education & Transition WorkshopsOffers a free monthly online "Autism 101" class via Zoom for parents and family members new to autism or Arizona, covering service access, special education processes, and resources. This series also includes an "Autismo 101 en español" class for Spanish-speaking families.
- Autistic Adult Support and Social Groups Autism-Focused Peer Support GroupsOrganizes various monthly in-person and online support and social groups for autistic adults, including a West Valley social meetup for ages 20+, an online discussion and social group for ages 30+, an in-person connection and social group for ages 30+, and an online peer-led support group for ages 40+ with later-life diagnoses.
- BE SAFE Interactive ScreeningsHosts BE SAFE Interactive Screenings across Arizona that pair local police officers with teens and adults with autism to promote mutual understanding, safety awareness, and mentorship.
- BE SAFE Interactive ScreeningsHosts BE SAFE Interactive Screenings across Arizona, pairing local police officers with teens and adults with Autism to facilitate mutual learning and mentorship.
- Community Resource Navigation and Referrals Autism Family Support & NavigationProvides information, resources, and support to individuals newly diagnosed with autism or new to Arizona. The organization connects individuals and families with counselors, family support partners, crisis resources (including suicide hotlines and crisis housing), domestic violence resources, employment organizations, food assistance programs, health and medical resources, housing choices, and therapy/service providers.
- Community Resource Navigation and Referrals Community Resource Navigation & ReferralConnects individuals and families to a wide range of resources, including counselors, family support partners, crisis resources (suicide hotlines, crisis housing), domestic violence resources, employment organizations, food assistance programs, health and medical resources, housing choices (group homes, assisted living, Section 8), safety resources, and therapy/service providers for DDD/ALTCS members.
- DDD Customer Service Guidance ADA Complaint Resolution & TrackingProvides guidance on contacting the Division’s Customer Service Department to report issues with DDD or support coordinators, which tracks member concerns and ensures resolution.
- Informational Resources and Sensory Experiences Autism Family Support & NavigationProvides informational videos addressing common questions about autism and related services, a list of commonly used acronyms in the disability community, and a 360-degree virtual experience titled "The Party" to simulate the sensory environment of autism.
- Informational Resources and Tools Autism Family Support & NavigationProvides informational videos addressing common questions about autism, a list of commonly used acronyms in the disability community, and a 360-degree virtual experience titled "The Party" to simulate the sensory environment of autism.
- Informational and Educational Materials Autism Family Support & NavigationProvides informational videos about autism and related services, maintains a list of commonly used disability-related acronyms (with an invitation for community input to expand it), and offers online resource pages covering topics such as navigating autism in Arizona and safety.
- Online Autism 101 Training Series Autism Education & Transition WorkshopsOffers free monthly online "Autism 101" classes for families of newly diagnosed children, those at risk, or families new to Arizona, covering service access, special education, and state systems of care. Classes are held on the third Tuesday of each month via Zoom and include Spanish-language offerings ("Autismo 101 en español").
- Online Transition 101 Class and Resources Autism Education & Transition WorkshopsProvides a free monthly online Transition 101 class on the first Thursday of each month for individuals and families of autistic people aged 14+, focusing on post-high school services and resources. Complements the class with a dedicated Transition to Adulthood resource page.
- Parent and Caregiver Support Groups Autism-Focused Peer Support GroupsHosts monthly online and in-person support group meetings for parents and caregivers to connect, share information, and provide mutual support.
- Resource Connection and Referral Services Community Resource Navigation & ReferralConnects individuals and families to a wide range of community resources, including crisis support (suicide hotlines, crisis housing), domestic violence shelters, food assistance programs, housing options (group homes, assisted living, Section 8), employment services, health and medical care, therapy providers for DDD/ALTCS members, and safety resources.
- Safety 101 Education ProgramOffers a free online "Safety 101" class twice per year to educate families on safety topics including fire, kitchen, pool, internet, wandering, scams, and emergencies. A Spanish version ("Seguridad 101") is also available. Resources from the class are hosted on a dedicated Safety resource page.
- Safety 101 Training SeriesOffers a free online "Safety 101" class two times per year in English and Spanish to educate families on keeping loved ones safe across all ages and stages of life, covering topics such as fire, kitchen, pool, internet, wandering, scams, and emergencies. Resources are available on a dedicated Safety resource page.
- Safety 101 Training and ResourcesOffers a free online "Safety 101" class two times per year to educate families on keeping loved ones safe across all ages and stages of life, covering topics such as fire, kitchen, pool, internet, wandering, scams, and emergencies. A "Seguridad 101" class is also offered in Spanish, and related resources are provided on a dedicated safety page.
- Support Groups and Social Meetups for Autistic Individuals and Families Autism-Focused Peer Support GroupsOrganizes monthly support group meetings for parents and caregivers, available online and in-person. It also hosts various social groups for autistic adults, including an in-person meetup for ages 20+ in the West Valley, an online discussion group for ages 30+, an in-person connection group for ages 30+, and an online peer-led support group for ages 40+ with later-life diagnoses. Additionally, virtual game nights are offered for teens aged 12-19.
- Support Groups for Autistic Adults Autism-Focused Peer Support GroupsFacilitates a range of support groups and social meetups for autistic adults, including: a monthly in-person group for adults aged 20+ in the West Valley; a monthly online discussion group for adults aged 30+; a monthly in-person social group for adults aged 30+; and a peer-led online support group for adults aged 40+ with later-life diagnoses.
- Support Groups for Parents, Caregivers, and Families Autism-Focused Peer Support GroupsHosts monthly online and in-person support groups and meetups for parents and caregivers of autistic individuals, providing opportunities to connect, share information, and offer mutual support.
- Support for New Diagnoses and New Arizona Residents Autism Family Support & NavigationProvides targeted information, resources, and support to individuals who are newly diagnosed with autism or are new to Arizona, helping them navigate local systems of care.
- Transition 101 Class and Resources Autism Education & Transition WorkshopsProvides a free online "Transition 101" class monthly for individuals and families of autistic people aged 14 and older to learn about post-high school services and resources. A dedicated resource page features information discussed in the class.
- Transition 101 Class and Resources Autism Education & Transition WorkshopsOffers a free online Transition 101 class monthly for individuals and families of autistic people aged 14 and older to learn about post-high school services and resources. The organization also maintains a resource page with information discussed in the class.
- Virtual Game Nights for Teens Online Gaming Communities for Youth & Marginalized GroupsHosts virtual game nights for teens aged 12-19, playing Super Smash Bros. Ultimate on the Nintendo Switch System.
- Young Adult Neurodiverse Support Group Autism-Focused Peer Support GroupsOperates an in-person Young Adult Neurodiverse Support Group for individuals aged 17-35, focusing on building connections, friendships, and social skills through activities and small group discussions.
- Youth and Young Adult Social Programs Online Gaming Communities for Youth & Marginalized GroupsHosts virtual game nights for teens aged 12–19 featuring Super Smash Bros. Ultimate on Nintendo Switch, and operates an in-person Young Adult Neurodiverse Support Group for individuals aged 17–35 focused on building friendships and social skills through activities and discussions.
strategies · 12
how they think
Theories of action extracted from this org's own source material. Click any to see the full field of orgs running the same approach.
- Advocacy through information and rights awareness advocacy-through-informationEmpowers autistic individuals and families to advocate for themselves by providing clear information about their rights, complaint procedures, and available grievance pathways within service systems, enabling effective responses to service delivery issues.
- Education and training for individuals, families, and professionals skill-building_trainingDelivers targeted educational workshops, curricula, and skill-building programs to increase awareness of autism-related resources, improve emergency preparedness, and teach practical communication and safety strategies for autistic individuals and those who support them.
- Empowering individuals and families through education and resource navigation education_and_navigational_supportThe organization provides comprehensive educational resources and direct navigational support to individuals with autism and their families. This includes clarifying complex terminology, guiding them through service application processes (e.g., DDD, ALTCS), informing them about grievance pathways, and preparing them for critical life transitions and interactions, thereby enabling them to access necessary services and advocate for themselves effectively.
- Empowering through Education and Information Dissemination education_and_information_disseminationThe organization provides accessible, community-informed educational resources and training to individuals, families, and professionals to increase awareness, clarify complex terminology, and equip them with the knowledge needed to navigate systems, understand services, and advocate for themselves or their loved ones.
- Facilitating accessible learning and support through community-informed and peer-led approaches accessible_community_learningThe organization leverages accessible formats, such as video-based education and online platforms, and fosters peer-led support groups to deliver community-informed guidance and support. This approach ensures that educational content is easily digestible and that individuals and families can connect with and learn from others with shared experiences.
- Peer-Led Support and Community Building peer_support_modelThe organization fosters community support through peer-led groups, utilizing volunteers to facilitate discussions and shared experiences rather than relying on licensed professionals, thereby creating accessible and relatable support networks.
- Promoting safety and preparedness through specialized training safety_and_preparedness_trainingThe organization develops and delivers specialized training programs, often utilizing video modeling and community engagement, to equip individuals with autism, their families, and professionals with critical skills and knowledge for safe interactions, crisis prevention, and emergency preparedness, particularly concerning encounters with law enforcement.
- Safe and monitored virtual engagement online_safety_protocolsUses secure, monitored digital platforms like Discord for virtual programming, while actively educating participants and caregivers about online safety protocols to ensure a protected environment for engagement.
- Safety and Preparedness Training for Individuals with Autism and First Responders safety_and_preparedness_trainingThe organization provides specialized training, including video modeling and skill-building, to individuals with Autism to prepare them for safe interactions with law enforcement, while also offering opportunities for officers to engage with disabled individuals to foster community understanding and preparedness for various encounters.
- System Navigation and Advocacy Support system_navigation_supportThe organization guides individuals and families through complex service systems, clarifying procedural pathways, assisting with application processes, and informing them of complaint and grievance mechanisms to ensure access to appropriate services and support.
- System navigation support for disability services navigational_supportProvides guidance to individuals and families navigating complex public systems such as the Arizona Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD), ALTCS, special education evaluations, and school-based IEP processes, increasing access to critical services by clarifying procedural pathways and application steps.
- Video-based education and modeling for skill development video_modelingUses video-based tools like "Be Safe The Movie" and curated educational content to teach critical safety and life skills to autistic individuals, particularly for high-stakes situations such as police encounters, while also training caregivers and educators to reinforce these lessons.
named programs · 3
what they call their work
Autism 101 Class
Monthly free online class via Zoom for parents and family members new to autism or new to Arizona, covering service access, special education processes, and local resources.
BE SAFE Interactive Screenings
Program that brings together police officers and teens/adults with autism to practice safe interactions with law enforcement through video modeling and role-playing.
Support Groups
Monthly in-person and online support group meetings for parents, caregivers, and autistic adults to connect, share resources, and receive peer support.
relationships · 14
who they work with
- AZCentral Partner — Mentioned in an article about the need for continued training for first responders on interacting with people with autism.
- Arizona Center for Disability Law Partner — Distributes the DDD Grievance and Appeals Brochure produced by this organization.
- Arizona Center for Disability Law Partner — Links to resources from the Arizona Center for Disability Law for filing grievances and appeals with DDD.
- Arizona Department of Economic Security Government — Provides links to DES manuals related to ALTCS and DDD services.
- Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System Government — Links to AHCCCS FAQ sheet on parents as paid caregivers.
- Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System Government — Provides referral information for reporting fraud and quality of care complaints to AHCCCS.
- Aspen Behavioral Consulting Partner — Dr. Diana Davis-Wilson from Aspen Behavioral Consulting provided a testimonial for the Safety 101 Training.
- Attain ABA Partner — Provides ABA therapy services for children and adolescents with ASD and other developmental delays, and supports families.
- Channel 12 News Partner — Mentioned in an article about police training to recognize Autism spectrum behaviors.
- Division of Developmental Disabilities Partner — Provides referral information for filing grievances and appeals with DDD and its Customer Service Department.
- KJZZ 91.5 Partner — Mentioned in an article about Buckeye Police increasing autism training.
- Rainbow Acres Partner — Partner organization mentioned in connection with resources for individuals with developmental disabilities.
- Sweetwater Care, LLC Partner — Arizona-based HCBS agency providing DDD services, mentioned as a supporter or resource for the Safety 101 class.
- White Mountain Independent Partner — Mentioned in an article about training promoting safe interactions between police and special needs individuals.