Autism Serves – Helping Hands
Empowering Neurodivergent Teens & Young Adults Through Volunteerism
Welcome! We are a neurodivergent-led volunteerism program from Autism Empowerment that brings teens, young adults, older adults, families, and community supporters together to serve others, build friendships, and make a positive difference.
The Next Generation of Service is Here!
Autism Serves – Helping Hands grew out of Autism Empowerment’s nationally award-winning Autism Serves Kids Care Club. After the pandemic, the original club paused. Then one of our founding youth leaders, Sumi Dyment, returned with a vision to create something new: an inclusive, neurodivergent-led volunteerism program for teens and young adults that focuses on kindness, leadership, service, and community connection.
Who Can Join?
Are you or someone you know a neurodivergent teen, young adult, or someone with a disability?
You are welcome here. Our goal is to create meaningful volunteer opportunities where people can contribute their gifts, meet others, and grow in confidence while helping make our community more inclusive.
- Neurodivergent teens ages 13+ and young adults
- Individuals with disabilities of all ages who want to participate in community service
- Parents, caregivers, siblings, peer mentors, and supportive volunteers
Please note: Autism Serves – Helping Hands is not a drop-off or respite care program. If a participant is under 18 or is an adult who needs support to participate safely and meaningfully, a parent, caregiver, or approved support person must remain on-site for the duration of the event.
We do our best to share information in advance about sensory factors, accessibility, and expectations so each participant can decide whether a project is a good fit.
Why Volunteer?
- Make a positive difference in the community.
- Build friendships and social connections.
- Grow leadership, teamwork, and communication skills.
- We all have strengths and gifts, and it feels great to help others.
- Your service matters and helps make our world a more awesome place.
What Kind of Projects Will We Do?
Our neurodivergent-led group will participate in a variety of fun and meaningful community service projects throughout the Vancouver, WA area. We partner with a wide range of Southwest Washington nonprofits using our gifts and talents to support their missions and values. We want to include our group members in the decision-making and brainstorming for what kind of projects are of interest to us and of need in our community. Some of the areas we will be looking at include: Animal Welfare, Disability Advocacy, Environment, Homelessness, Hunger, Kindness, Seniors, Social Justice, and Veterans. Together, we can create meaningful change and grow stronger as a community.
Examples of past and possible upcoming projects include:
- Packaging resource bags for community partners
- Environmental clean-ups and beautification projects
- Food and donation drives
- Projects that support disability inclusion and accessibility
- Kindness cards and outreach for local community members
- Wellness kit assembly for veterans and seniors.
- Seasonal caroling at Stephen’s Place and other holiday service opportunities
Photos from previous events can be found on our Past Events page.
Upcoming Events
We have several volunteer projects planned during the rest of the year! Projects for July, August and September 2026 are listed below. In order to be on our mailing list and learn about additional upcoming volunteer events and opportunities, please register using our sign up form for Autism Serves Helping Hands.Â
We look forward to connecting and serving with you! Please contact sumi@autismempowerment.org if you have any questions.
Frenchman’s Bar Park Clean Up
Date: Saturday, July 25th, 2026
Time: 9 am – 11:00 amÂ
Location: Frenchman’s Bar Regional Park, 9612 NW Lower River Road, Vancouver, WA 98660
- Check In Location:Â Event check in will happen at the first parking lot entrance.
- What to Wear: Event will happen rain or shine. Please wear your Autism Serves Helping Hands t-shirt, closed-toe shoes, and dress for the weather.
- Food and Water:Â Bring a reusable water bottle and snacks for the day.Â
- What to Bring:Â All tools will be supplied by Clark County Public Works.
- Project Description: Litter pick up at Frenchman’s Bar Regional Park
This form and registration link belong to Clark County Public Works.Â
Date: Saturday, August 1st, 2026
Time: 9:30 am – 3 pm (Picnic runs from 11:00 am – 2:30 pm)Â
Location: Salmon Creek / Klineline Pond, 1112 NE 117th St., Vancouver, WA 98685
Please join us for the annual Autism Empowerment Picnic and Potluck. Helping Hands will be helping to set up, greet, and pack up this wonderful event. You will also be able to eat and enjoy the festivities. We will have multiple time slots available for volunteering so you aren’t required to be there the whole time. Also, this is a family event, so the entire family is welcome to attend. Please let us know how many will be volunteering.
- Check In Location: Event check in will be at the picnic shelter. Look for us in our Autism Serves Helping Hands / Ambassador for Acceptance t-shirts.
- Parking: Salmon Creek charges $5.00 per vehicle for parking.
- What to Wear: Please wear your Autism Serves Helping Hands t-shirt.
- What to Bring: Autism Empowerment will provide hamburgers, hot dogs, and drinks. Attendees will be bringing potluck items. Be sure to bring seating, supplies and snacks that make you feel comfortable.
Date:Â Saturday, September 19th, 2026
Time: 9 am – 11:00 amÂ
Location: Whipple Creek Regional Park, 17202 NW 21st Ave, Ridgefield, WA 98642
- Check In Location: Meet at North parking area off NE 179th Street and 21st Ave.
- What to Wear: Event will happen rain or shine. Please wear your Autism Serves Helping Hands t-shirt, closed-toe shoes, and dress for the weather.
- Food and Water:Â Bring a reusable water bottle and snacks for the day.Â
- What to Bring:Â All tools will be supplied by Whipple Creek Restoration Committee but you may want to bring personal work gloves if you have them.
- Project Description:Â We will be joining the Whipple Creek Restoration Committee to maintain the trails at Whipple Creek Regional Park. Tasks usually include brush cutting and adding gravel to trails.
Please contact sumi@autismempowerment.org if you have any questions.
Would you like to join Autism Serves – Helping Hands?Â
Thanks to generous donors, there is currently no cost to register for our program. Your registration includes one free club t-shirt for you, and one for up to two parents or caregivers (if applicable, while supplies last).Â
Registration form: https://bit.ly/helpinghandsreg
In addition to this one-time registration form, we will also have quick sign-up forms for each Autism Serves Helping Hands event or activity. These will be emailed to everyone who has filled out this main registration form and will also be posted on our website and in our Facebook group.
We strive to find volunteer activities that are inclusive, accessible, and suitable for all ability levels. You are welcome to join us if you live anywhere in the Portland metro or Southwest Washington, however please note that our events will be taking place at various locations in Vancouver and the Clark County area.Â
Questions? Please contact our teen leader and founder, Sumi Dyment.
For general Autism Empowerment questions, please contact John Krejcha at info@autismempowerment.org.
You are also invited to join our Facebook group:Â Autism Serves Helping Hands
Learn more about Sumi Dyment and the Vision Behind the Program:
Read our Spectrum Life Magazine interview with teen advocate and Helping Hands leader Sumi Dyment to learn more about her heart for service, inclusion, and creating opportunities for neurodivergent youth and young adults.
Watch Our Kickoff Meeting
Want to get a feel for the heart behind the group? Watch our kickoff Zoom meeting and learn more about how Autism Serves – Helping Hands began.
Volunteerism matters. Service changes lives.
Support Autism Serves – Helping Hands with a donation and help us create a kinder, more inclusive world through the power of service, leadership, and community connection.
Donate Now – Help us grow our vision
Last updated July 17th, 2026