Newaygo County Autism Community
Description:
We are parents, school professionals, and community members who actively seek to support and advocate for persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families.
We strive to increase Awareness, Support, & Acceptance throughout Newaygo County for persons with ASD and their families.
We do this by providing support groups, social & community activities, information & resources, and raising public Autism awareness throughout the year.
We are a 501(c)3- Non-Profit organization.
All funds raised for Newaygo County Autism Community will be used in Newaygo County. The way we distribute funds are:
Support
We will support individuals with ASD and their families through our Support Group Meetings with occasional guest speakers and through fun, welcoming events and programs. Some of the programs and events might include: dinners, fun days, holiday parties, and the Newaygo County Safe Swim Academy.
Awareness/Acceptance
We will help to raise awareness and acceptance of individuals with ASD and their families by planning and hosting Walks for Autism, our Go Blue campaign, newspaper articles, through social media, and by asking businesses and public places to host special programs/events that are sensory friendly. For example, the Fremont Cinemas hosts Sensory Friendly Movie showing of family friendly movies. We want to encourage and support businesses throughout Newaygo County to be actively aware of those with special needs.
We will also offer training throughout Newaygo County to any school, business, or public organization.
We will have Autism Awareness shirts, ribbon magnets, bracelets, etc available for purchase throughout the year.
Resources
We will help individuals with ASD and their families with a Lending Library. Our hope is that the Lending Library will help individuals with ASD and their families know if an item will work for them, before they purchase it. They may check out books, fine and gross motor skill therapy items, writing therapy items, social therapy items, occupational therapy items…a wide range of resources.
We will reach out to businesses and organizations within Newaygo County to assist them with resources to better serve the ASD community. For example, recently we have reached out to Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial’s Emergency Department with ideas and ways to offer sensory needs to ASD patients and families. We are very excited to be working with them to create and discuss ways to better serve ASD individuals who seek medical assistance at SHGM.
We also hope to one day have a Community Sensory Room that will be available to all.
Location: Newaygo County Autism Community
Administrative Contact Number:
Administrative Email:
Category: Advocacy
Service: Advocacy and Disability Agencies
Category: Community Activities
Service: Recreation Activities
Category: Support Group
Service: Parent and Caregiver Support Groups
Category: Support Group
Service: Support Groups for Adults with ASD