named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
College and Career Resources
Offers guidance on post-secondary programs and career pathways for individuals with autism, including college support programs and transition planning.
Educational Planning Support
Provides information and referral services to help families navigate educational programs, IEPs, and specialized schools for children with autism.
Recreational Inclusion Programs
Connects individuals with autism to inclusive recreational activities such as adaptive sports, sensory-friendly events, and summer camps.
Support Groups and Workshops
Hosts biannual workshops and provides access to support groups for individuals with autism and their families across the lifespan.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Autism and Neurodiversity Family Support Services 2 activities
- Information and Referral ServicesProvides information and referral services to individuals with autism, their families, caregivers, and professionals across the lifespan, including support for diagnosis, treatment, education programs, and community resources in Western New York. Services are delivered via website, email, phone, and virtual platforms.
- Support Groups for Families and CaregiversOffers monthly virtual support group meetings via Zoom for family caregivers of children with special needs, including a dedicated group for parents of children with ADHD or suspected learning differences, focusing on shared experiences and coping strategies.
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Inclusive Social & Recreational Events 1 activity
- Community Engagement and Family EventsOrganizes family-centered community events such as screenings of autism-relevant media, hands-on activities, and child-focused collection-sharing opportunities, including sensory accommodations like sensory rooms to support inclusive participation.
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Organizational Newsletter Production and Distribution 1 activity
- Email Communications and Event UpdatesSends email updates to inform the autism community in Western New York about upcoming events, workshops, and support opportunities.
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Specialized Summer Camps for Disabilities 1 activity
- One-on-One Training and SupportProvides up to ten sessions of individualized training and support to children with disabilities and their families to help them participate in community activities.
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Autism & Neurodiversity Education Workshops 1 activity
- Virtual Workshops and Educational WebinarsHosts biannual and monthly virtual workshops and webinars on topics including autism research, IEP development, supported decision-making, and water safety, often featuring experts and including Q&A sessions. One workshop on autism research was attended by over 300 people.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Distribution of Educational MaterialsCreates and distributes educational materials, including downloadable water safety posters and resource lists for support groups, to families, caregivers, and service providers in the Western New York area.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$15K
Contributions & grants$13K91%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$1K9%
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$13K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$8K
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$55K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$55K
4 years on record · 2021–2024 · YoY revenue +63.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 2
- Deb Kroetsch — Board Member
- Karen Townson — Board Member
relationships · 22
Who they work with
- Autism Canada Partner — Co-hosted a scientific symposium on the gut-brain connection in autism.
- Autism Research Institute Partner — Co-hosted a scientific symposium and provides research resources on special diets and biomedical interventions.
- Autism Society Network — Autism Society Western New York is an affiliate of the national Autism Society.
- Autism Society of America Network — Member chapter of the national Autism Society network.
- Autism Society of America Partner — Cosponsors and presents in a webinar on autism acceptance and water safety.
- Children’s Guild Autism Spectrum Disorder Center in Buffalo Partner — Refers individuals to the center for autism evaluation and diagnosis.
- DDAWNY (Developmental Disabilities Advocacy and Wellness of New York) Partner — Shares meeting space and collaborates on family support initiatives, including joint listings and referrals for the DDAWNY Family Committee meetings.
- Daemen College Partner — Hosts CAUSE-Center for Allied and Unified Sport and Exercise, providing facilities and college student participation
- Dipson Theatres, Inc. Partner — Partners to offer sensory-friendly film screenings at Flix Stadium 10 in Lancaster, NY
- Institute for Autism Research at Canisius College Partner — Collaborates on research and programming related to social development for children with high-functioning autism.
- Levine Autism Center, Golisano Children's Hospital Partner — Referred as a diagnostic and treatment resource for children with autism, indicating a partnership in service navigation and care coordination.
- Levine Autism Clinic at Golisano Children’s Hospital in Rochester Partner — Provides referral information for diagnosis and comprehensive care services.
- National Drowning Prevention Alliance Partner — Collaborates on hosting a webinar about autism acceptance and water safety.
- Oishei Children's Hospital Autism Spectrum Disorder Center Partner — Referred as a diagnostic resource for children with autism, indicating a collaborative relationship in connecting families to evaluation services.
- Parent Network WNY Partner — Co-organizes and hosts the Chautauqua County Family Caregiver Support Group via Zoom.
- Parent Network of WNY Partner — Co-hosts and manages registration for a joint event focused on student involvement in IEPs.
- Parent Network of WNY Partner — Co-sponsors and administers the ADHD/Learning Differences Support Group, including registration and communication.
- Parent Network of Western New York Partner — Collaborates on support group logistics and event coordination, as seen in shared listings for the Chautauqua County Family & Caregiver Support Group and The Link WNY’s Family & Caregiver Group.
- Parent to Parent of NYS Partner — Collaborates on family support by providing parent matching, information and referral, and training services to families of individuals with autism.
- SDMNY Partner — Collaborates on facilitation process for supported decision-making agreements
- SUNY Buffalo State’s Exceptional Education program Partner — Provides student volunteers for Au-Some Evenings at Explore & More
- WNED Buffalo Toronto Public Media Partner — Co-hosted a family screening event for Carl the Collector.
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Community Empowerment Through Connectionmethodology: community_empowermentBy fostering connections within the autism community, the organization empowers individuals and families with resources and peer support, because relational networks increase access to information, reduce isolation, and enable full participation in life.
- Early Intervention for Improved Outcomesmethodology: early_interventionBy promoting early diagnosis and intervention—especially before age 3—the organization improves long-term developmental outcomes and reduces future care costs, because early neuroplasticity and behavioral shaping significantly influence life trajectory.
- Peer Support for Emotional and Practical Resiliencemethodology: peer_supportBy facilitating peer-to-peer and caregiver peer connections, the organization supports emotional expression and shared problem-solving, because lived-experience exchange builds resilience, reduces burnout, and increases effective strategy adoption.
- Self-Determination and Dignity Modelmethodology: self_determination_and_dignityBy centering self-determination, individual choice, and dignity, the organization increases engagement and autonomy among individuals with autism and their families, because these principles enable informed decision-making and self-directed planning that lead to better service utilization and life outcomes.