↑ parent cluster · ·
research dossier →

ST MICHAELS ASSOCIATION FOR SPECIAL

ST MICHAELS, AZ · EIN 860224865 · Form 990 · FY2020 · Medium ($1M-$10M) · smase.org
revenue
$3.2M
expenses
$3.7M
net assets
$4.1M
employees
95
program ratio
85%
mission · from form 990

TO PROMOTE AND PROVIDE A COORDINATED, ACCESSIBLE SYSTEM OF QUALITY SERVICES FOR NAVAJO CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND THEIR FAMILIES.

profile · synthesized from sources

St. Michaels Association for Special Education (SMASE) provides specialized education and support services for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities on the Navajo Nation. Founded in 1968, the organization offers person-centered programs including academic instruction, therapy, residential care, and community integration. It serves individuals with significant medical and sensory needs, emphasizing dignity, family involvement, and cultural connection to Diné traditions.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2020

what they reported doing

Program narrative the organization filed with the IRS. Ordered by program spending.

  1. #1 primary $0
    TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE TO INDIAN CHILDREN WITH SEVERE DIASBILTIIES.
  2. #2 $0
    TO PROVIDE WELFARE ASSISTANCE TO INDIAN FAMILIES THAT HAVE CHILDREN WITH SEVERE DISABILITIES.
named programs · 9 · from sources

what they call their work

Diné Language and Culture
Program integrating Navajo language and cultural education into student learning to strengthen identity and community connection.
Flying Colors
Innovative art program enabling physically disabled students to paint using a laser and assistance from others’ hands.
Learning Support Classroom
Teaches a functional curriculum focused on independence and life skills to seven students, integrating academics with community-based activities such as running the SMASE café and horticulture.
Multi-Sensory Classroom
Provides daily education, therapy, and medical care for six medically fragile students with multiple disabilities and severe sensory impairments, including non-ambulatory and non-verbal students requiring tube feeding and one-to-one care.
Residential Services
Provides supervised living support for clients, with staff managing daily needs and promoting community integration.
SMASE News
Adaptive morning news program where students develop communication skills by reporting on lunch menus, sports, and cultural news using switches, pictures, and assistive devices.
Service Learning
Teaches older students independent living and job skills through community volunteering as part of transition planning beyond the classroom.
Special Olympics
Enables approximately 30 student and adult athletes, over half of SMASE’s clients, to participate in year-round Special Olympics competitions.
Transportation
Operates transportation services to ensure access to school and programs for students and clients across the region.
activities · 8 clusters

what they do

  • Youth Civic Leadership Development 5 activities
    • Service learning and community engagement
      Provides service learning opportunities for older students through community volunteering, café operations (SMASE café), horticulture activities, and group-based community engagement to develop independent living and job-related skills.
    • Student Skill Development Programs
      Operates programs like SMASE News for communication skill development, the Flying Colors program for physically disabled students to create paintings, and provides service learning opportunities for older students to develop independent and job-related skills through community volunteering, including running the SMASE café and participating in horticulture activities.
    • Student Skill Development Programs
      Operates a student-led morning news program (SMASE News) to support communication skill development and provides service learning opportunities for older students to develop independent and job-related skills through community volunteering, including running the SMASE café and participating in horticulture activities.
    • Student Skill Development Programs
      Operates a student-led morning news program (SMASE News) to support communication skill development and offers service learning opportunities for older students to develop independent and job-related skills through community volunteering, including running a café and participating in horticulture activities.
    • Student-led morning news program
      Operates SMASE News, a student-led morning news program that supports communication skill development among students.
  • Residential Support for IDD Adults 4 activities
    • Residential Services
      Provides residential services for individuals with special needs.
    • Residential Services
      Provides residential services for individuals with special needs, administering a person-centered system of community support.
    • Residential Services
      Provides residential services for individuals with special needs.
    • Residential and community support services
      Provides residential services and a person-centered system of community support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, ensuring comprehensive, individualized care and integration into community life.
  • Specialized Private Day Schools for Students with Disabilities 4 activities
    • Special education classroom programs
      Operates multiple specialized classroom programs including RISE Classroom, Learning Support Classroom, and Multi-Sensory Classroom to provide tailored education for children and adults with intellectual, developmental, and complex medical needs. These programs serve students with moderate to severe disabilities, including those from the Navajo Nation, and include individualized instruction, therapy, and daily medical and hygienic care.
    • Specialized Education Programs
      Provides highly specialized education and services for individuals with low incidence, significant complex disorders, and medical needs, including RISE Classrooms, Learning Support Classrooms, and Multi-Sensory Classrooms. These programs serve moderate to severely disabled children and adults from areas near and throughout the Navajo Nation.
    • Specialized Education Services
      Provides highly specialized education and services for individuals with low incidence, significant complex disorders, and medical needs, including Learning Support Classrooms, RISE Classrooms, and Multi-Sensory Classrooms. These services cater to moderate to severely disabled children and adults from areas near and throughout the Navajo Nation.
    • Specialized Education Services
      Provides highly specialized education and services for individuals with low incidence, significant complex disorders, and medical needs, including Learning Support Classrooms, RISE Classrooms, and Multi-Sensory Classrooms. These services cater to moderate to severely disabled children and adults from areas near and throughout the Navajo Nation.
  • Non-Emergency Medical & Social Transportation 4 activities
    • Transportation Services
      Offers transportation services for individuals with special needs.
    • Transportation Services
      Offers transportation services for individuals with special needs.
    • Transportation Services
      Offers transportation services for individuals with special needs.
    • Transportation services
      Offers dedicated transportation services for individuals with special needs to support access to educational, therapeutic, and community programs.
  • Clean Water Well Development 4 activities
    • Water Filtration System Installation
      Installed 5 point-of-access water filtration systems to provide medical-grade clean water to staff and students, addressing previous reliance on bottled water due to poor tap water quality.
    • Water Filtration System Installation
      Installed 5 point-of-access water filtration systems, providing medical-grade clean water to staff and students, addressing previous reliance on bottled water due to poor tap water quality.
    • Water Filtration System Provision
      Installed 5 point-of-access water filtration systems to provide medical-grade clean water to staff and students, addressing previous reliance on bottled water due to poor tap water quality.
    • Water safety and filtration infrastructure
      Installed five medical-grade point-of-access water filtration systems donated by FloWater to replace reliance on bottled water for drinking and cleaning medical equipment, ensuring safe and clean water access for staff and students.
  • Adaptive Sports Programs for Youth with Disabilities 3 activities
    • Special Olympics Participation
      Supports approximately 30 student and adult athletes in participating in Special Olympics competitions annually.
    • Special Olympics Participation
      Supports approximately 30 student and adult athletes in participating in Special Olympics competitions annually.
    • Special Olympics participation support
      Supports approximately 30 student and adult athletes annually in training for and participating in Special Olympics competitions.
  • Adult Day Training & Enrichment Programs 2 activities
    • Therapeutic Services
      Offers individualized occupational, physical, and speech therapy, as well as group lessons, swimming hydrotherapy, and sensory-integration activities.
    • Therapeutic and Daily Care Activities
      Provides a range of daily care and therapeutic activities including personal hygienic care, range of motion and massage, positioning changes, medication dispensing/feeding, sensory-integration activities, group lessons, swimming hydrotherapy, horticulture, daily circle time, and individualized occupational, physical, and speech therapy.
  • Uncategorized 6 activities
    • Adaptive Arts Program
      Operates the Flying Colors program, which enables physically disabled students to create paintings using a laser and assistance from another person's hands.
    • Adaptive Arts and Sports Programs
      Operates the Flying Colors program, enabling physically disabled students to create paintings, and supports approximately 30 student and adult athletes in participating in Special Olympics competitions annually.
    • Community Support and Services for Individuals with Disabilities
      Administers a person-centered system of community support and services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
    • Community Support for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
      Administers a person-centered system of community support and services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
    • Flying Colors art program
      Operates the Flying Colors program, which enables physically disabled students to create paintings using a laser and assistance from another person’s hands, promoting creative expression and engagement.
    • Therapeutic and Daily Care Services
      Provides daily educational services, therapy (occupational, physical, speech, hydrotherapy), medical care, personal hygienic care, range of motion and massage activities, positioning changes, medication dispensing/feeding, and sensory-integration activities as part of its daily classroom routine.
financials · form 990 · fy2020

the money

revenue
Total revenue$3.23M
Contributions & grants$2.96M92%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$3370%
Other revenue$266K
expenses
Total expenses$3.66M
Program expenses85%
Admin / overhead15%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$2.24M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$4.97M
Cash$174K
Investments$0
Liabilities$875K
Net assets$4.10M
Liquid reserves0.6 mo
2 years on record · 2019–2020 · YoY revenue -23.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2020

who runs it

paid leadership · 5
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
MICHELLE SPENCER FORMER EXECUTIVE DIR. 40 $700
MARGARET SANDOVAL SECRETARY 2 $375
ANNA BETHNEZ PRESIDENT 2 $300
EDISON LESLIE VICE PRESIDENT 2 $300
JEFFERSON KEE DIRECTOR 2 $300
relationships · 4

who they work with

  • Cuddy & McCarthy Government — Legal Consultant for the organization
  • DigDeep Partner — Partnered to test water and develop a water treatment system for the school.
  • FloWater Partner — Donated and installed 5 point-of-access water filtration systems on campus.
  • Navajo Nation Government — SMASE is requesting immediate cash funds and long-term grant assistance from the Navajo Nation to sustain operations and reinvest in infrastructure.