Let's Build Autism Friendly Communities!
Autism Friendly Communities is a program that provides local businesses and organizations with high-quality, comprehensive training about Autism.
Why is this program needed?
Autistic individuals and their families regularly experience misunderstanding when they interact with the general public. This often leads to alienation in public spaces and isolation from many areas of the community. The Autism Friendly Communities program addresses these issues by providing local businesses and organizations with the training and resources that they need to create safe, welcoming environments for Autistic community members.
Autism Friendly Communities Training Process
- Our program is divided into three levels, giving partners flexibility to determine the best way for their team to participate
- Cost is determined based on discussion with team members, your budget, and needs
- In-Kind Trades are an option
Partners that complete all 3 levels will receive:
- Official “Autism Friendly Communities Designation,” with electronic & physical badges to display
- Endorsement by the ASCV as an Autism Friendly Community; to include social media recognition, listing with contact information and live link on the ASCV website, and a press release announcing endorsement
- Ongoing technical assistance, with quarterly check-ins
- Opportunity to offer a service or a discount to ASCV members and receive a listing on ASCV website
Bronze Level
Introduction to Autism Training 1-1.5 hours in length
Target Audience: Any, customized versions are provided to best meet your needs.
In this training, participants will:
- Gain definitions and language used to describe people with Autism
- Identify common characteristics of Autistic individuals
- Challenge myths and misconceptions about people on the Autism spectrum
- Learn how to apply a strengths-based, individualized approach to proactively support people with Autism
- Discuss practical strategies for enhancing communication and interactions with Autistic individuals
Target Audience: Faculty, staff, and students at colleges and universities
In this training, participants will:
- Gain definitions and language used to describe people with Autism
- Identify common characteristics of Autistic individuals
- Recognize how Autistic individuals’ differences may present themselves in the college setting
- Describe the value of neurodiversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education
- Identify barriers to success for Autistic college students
- Learn how to apply a strengths-based, individualized approach to proactively support students with Autism
- Discuss practical strategies for accommodating Autistic students
Target Audience: Business owners, HR department staff, employee teams
In this training, participants will:
- Gain definitions and language used to describe people with neurological differences
- Identify common characteristics of neurodiverse individuals, including strengths and challenges
- Recognize how neurodiverse employees’ differences may present themselves in the workplace
- Describe the value of neurodiversity in the workplace
- Discuss practical strategies for supporting neurodiverse employees and enhancing the workplace environment for all
Target Audience: Business owners, HR department staff, employee teams
In this training, participants will:
- Gain definitions and language used to describe people with Autism
- Identify common characteristics of Autistic individuals
- Recognize how Autistic employees’ differences may present themselves in the workplace
- Challenge myths and misconceptions about people on the Autism spectrum
- Describe the value of neurodiversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace
- Learn how to apply a strengths-based, individualized approach to proactively support employees with Autism
- Discuss practical strategies for accommodating Autistic employees during all aspects of employment and enhancing the workplace environment for all
- Demonstrate knowledge gained through scenarios
Silver Level
- Initial meeting with leadership team
- Introduction to Autism training for employee team
- Organizational audit and facilities review
- Follow up meeting with leadership team to share feedback and recommendations for enhancements
- Recorded version of Introduction to Autism training for employees and our online toolkit of additional resources and materials
Gold Level
- Resource development (i.e. social story, sensory map, webpages, etc.)
- Individualized presentations for employees with customized resources and strategies
- Support in implementing accommodations and resources
- Access to additional online/on-demand training and resources for employees for continued professional development
Other Initiatives and Training Opportunities
Autism Friendly Communities for First Responders is a program that provides local First Responders with high-quality, comprehensive training about Autism. LEARN MORE
Questions?
Please email Community Engagement Director, Debra Holloway at [email protected] to learn more about how the AFC program can benefit your business.
Partner Testimonials
Autism Friendly Communities partners represent a broad range of business sectors, including healthcare, recreation, education, retail, personal care, and others.
“ASCV delivers one of the best training & development opportunities we have participated in…we have been able to develop actionable steps for growing our Garden into an even more inclusive resource for the community.”
-Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
“This is a great training program. As someone who has multiple family members with autism, this training helped me understand certain things that may be ‘scary’ for them when coming to the doctors office. This training helped learn ways to create a welcoming environment for our patients.”
-KidMed
