Friends With Autism Initiative
Is Your Business Autism-Friendly?
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Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a lifelong developmental disability that appears by age 2, can affect anyone regardless of race, gender, ethnicity or socioeconomic background. Levels of impairment vary, and those "on the spectrum" may exhibit difficulties with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech, nonverbal communications, and behavioral skills. With three million people - as many as 1 in 36 children - diagnosed nationally, autism is the fastest growing developmental disability in the United States. Northeast Florida has nearly 25,000 individuals on the spectrum. While there is no cure, efforts to effectively address autism are ongoing. Early detection, intervention, and support services can help some people with ASD develop and lead distinguished, productive lives in their communities.
"Duval County Public Schools served 1500 students in their classrooms during the 2016-2017 school year.”
- Duval County Public Schools Spokesperson
Making Strides For Autism, Inc. (MS4A) aims to Connect The Community To Autism through our Friends With Autism Initiative. Our initiative partners with the community to increase inclusion and accessibility for families and people with autism. Our vision is to see our community become not only welcoming to families and individuals with autism spectrum disorder, but where those individuals can become valued, participating members. Making Strides For Autism, Inc. is proud to partner with the City of Jacksonville's Disabled Services Division., for the Friends With Autism Initiative, which provides support, training and advocacy for local individuals with autism and their families. This program is designed to create more autism-friendly businesses, provide sensory bags, improve accommodations and support, offer community health education about autism and sensory awareness, and provide career experience and jobs for autistic adults throughout the community.
As part of the initiative, we will offer a NEW Autism-Friendly Business Training, Mobile Sensory Break Rooms, and Sensory Bags that focuses on inclusion, accessibility, sensory challenges, and employing people with autism to our community business partners. Our Sensory Bags and Boxes provides jobs to autistic adults and women veterans. As our initiative gains momentum, the “I’m Friends With Autism” identification brand will become a recognized symbol in our community. This identification brand symbolizes businesses are not experts BUT provide a level of understanding and acceptance for families and people with autism living in our community. This brand will be recognized at Autism-Friendly businesses throughout Northeast Florida that have completed our NEW Autism Friendly Training.
As part of the initiative, we will offer a NEW Autism-Friendly Business Training, Mobile Sensory Break Rooms, and Sensory Bags that focuses on inclusion, accessibility, sensory challenges, and employing people with autism to our community business partners. Our Sensory Bags and Boxes provides jobs to autistic adults and women veterans. As our initiative gains momentum, the “I’m Friends With Autism” identification brand will become a recognized symbol in our community. This identification brand symbolizes businesses are not experts BUT provide a level of understanding and acceptance for families and people with autism living in our community. This brand will be recognized at Autism-Friendly businesses throughout Northeast Florida that have completed our NEW Autism Friendly Training.
why autism-friendly vs. sensory-friendly?
Sensory-Friendly limits access to a particular date or time. Staff with limited experience and tools are brought in once a month for a particular event. After the event, these items are removed.
Autism-Friendly creates year-round inclusion and accessibility, along with confident and professionally trained staff equipped to support the needs of the autism community and those with invisible disabilities.
Autism-Friendly creates year-round inclusion and accessibility, along with confident and professionally trained staff equipped to support the needs of the autism community and those with invisible disabilities.
join the friends with autism initiative!
We take the guesswork out of it! Partner with us and let us show you how easy it is for your business to become autism-friendly all year-round.
staff training
Confident and professionally trained staff improves employee and customer engagement.
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simple modifications
Our FWA Sensory Bags, Boxes, Mobile or Permanent Sensory Break Room, and Support Materials provide the right accommodations for customers with autism and invisible disabilities.
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market Assistance
Our FWA Community Resource Directory, Community Calendar, and Friends With Autism Magazine ensures the autism community is abreast of your services, products, and inclusive events.
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