Autism Society Of America

PROVIDE SUPPORT AND EDUCATION TO PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS, EDUCATIONAL AND MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS AS WELL AS OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN THE TIDEWATER, VIRGINIA REGION. PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS LEARN ADVOCACY SKILLS FOR THEIR CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER (ASD). EDUCATIONAL AND MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS AS WELL AS OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS ARE BETTER ABLE TO SUPPORT AND PROVIDE SERVICES TO PERSONS WITH ASD IN THE COMMUNITY THROUGH EDUCATIONAL AND AWARENESS MATERIAL AND RESOURCES. THE ORGANIZATION OPERATES A REFERRAL LINE IN WHICH THE COMMUNITY CAN CALL IN TO INQUIRE ABOUT RESOURCES AND SERVICES IN THE TIDEWATER REGION. THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION INCLUDE TOPIC SPECIFIC VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON TRAININGS INCLUDING OUR "AUTISM 101- AND "AUTISM 201" MEETINGS WITH NEW AND RETURNING FAMILIES STARTING OR CONTINUING THEIR JOURNEY THROUGH ASD AND THE SERVICES AND SUPPORTS NEEDED FOR AN INCLUSIVE AND SUCCESSFUL LIFESPAN. DURING 2019, OUR STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS ASSISTED OVER 5,000 FAMILIES WITH DIRECT ASSISTANCE. CONDUCTED "RESPITE NIGHTS" WHERE STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS RELIEVE THE PARENTS FOR SEVERAL HOURS TO ALLOW THE PARENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO DINNER, SHOP OR SPEND TIME AT HOME RELAXING. DURING 2019, OUR STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS PROVIDED OVER 500 FAMILIES WITH RESPITE CARE. CONDUCTED MONTHLY SUPPORT GROUPS CALLED "CHAT N' CHEWS" FOR PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS. WE PROVIDE A SUPPORTIVE OPPORTUNITY FOR PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH ASD TO MEET AT A LOCAL RESTAURANT TO DISCUSS THE CHALLENGES, OPPORTUNITIES AND SUCCESSES THAT THEY HAVE FACED WITH THEIR LOVED ONE. DURING 2019, OUR STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS PROVIDED 45 MEETING ACROSS THE REGION INCLUDING THE SOUTHSIDE AND PENINSULA OF THE TIDEWATER REGION. CONDUCTED MONTHLY SOCIAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH ASD. INDIVIDUALS ARE GROUPED BY AGE AND ATTEND A LOCAL GAMING CENTER, LIBRARY OR CHURCH TO ATTEND THE SOCIAL. DURING MONTHLY SOCIALS INDIVIDUALS WITH ASD PAIR UP WITH OTHERS, INCLUDING VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE THEIR TYPICAL PEERS, TO ENJOY A FUN TIME OF VIDEO GAMES, SNACKS, DANCING, SINGING AND KARAOKE. ADDITIONALLY, WE HOSTED OUR ANNUAL WINTER GALA WHERE OUR TEENS AND ADULTS COME TOGETHER FOR A GREAT END OF YEAR CELEBRATION TO SOCIALIZE TOGETHER AND DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY. DURING 2019, OUR STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS PROVIDED OVER 500 INDIVIDUALS WITH ASD A SOCIAL OPPORTUNITY WITH THEIR NEUROTYPICAL PEERS. OUR ONLINE RESOURCE DIRECTORY PROVIDES THE COMMUNITY WITH A LINK TO LOCAL SERVICE PROVIDERS THAN CAN PROVIDE DIRECT THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTIONS AND SERVICES. OUR OPTIONS POLICY PREVENTS US FROM ENDORSING ANY ONE PROVIDER OVER ANOTHER, BUT PROVIDERS CAN PARTNER WITH US TO PROVIDE FREE EDUCATIONAL TRAININGS AND RESOURCES TO ASSIST FAMILIES AND CAREGIVERS AS WELL AS AUTISTIC INDIVIDUALS. DURING 2019, WE RECEIVED OVER 25,000 UNIQUE VISITORS TO OUR RESOURCE DIRECTORY PAGE. EACH YEAR WE OFFER THE COMMUNITY LOCAL RESOURCE FAIRS AND FAMILY FUN DAYS AT NO CHARGE SO THAT THE COMMUNITY CAN COME TOGETHER AND MEET WITH OTHER FAMILIES AS WELL AS COMMUNITY BASED PROVIDERS AND HEAR FROM SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS IN BREAKOUT SESSIONS ON SPECIFIC TOPICS. IN 2019, WE HOSTED 6 LARGE RESOURCES FAIRS AND FAMILY FUN DAYS INCLUDING OUR PENINSULA RESOURCE FAIR, SUMMER CAMP RESOURCE FAIR AT CAMP GROM, AUTISM SUPERHEROES VS. VILLAINS FAMILY FUN DAY AT CHESAPEAKE CITY PARK, SUMMER FAMILY FUN DAY, BOOTACULAR FAMILY FUN DAY, AND HOLIDAY FAMILY DAY WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO GIVE CHRISTMAS GIFTS TO EACH CHILD WHO ATTENDED.