Community Collaborations

Autism Empowerment is physically based in Vancouver, Washington. We are considered part of Southwest Washington although we are also very close to the Oregon border and interact frequently with the Portland, OR metro community.

We believe it is important to be actively involved in our community. Community can take on different meanings:

• Geographical Community – The volunteers at Autism Empowerment are often seen hosting or participating in events, training and outreach in the Southwest Washington and Portland, Oregon metro area.  As the organization continues to grow and expand, we look forward to having an Autism Empowerment presence in local communities throughout the world.

• Autism, Asperger and Autistic Community – In addition to the work we do online through our website, blogging, social media and through our Autism Empowerment Podcast, we try to stay actively connected with other autism-related organizations. We look for positive opportunities for collaboration and for ways to help other groups showcase the great work that they do.

• Disability Community (or cross-disability community) – This includes any organizational entity which works with children, teens or adults that have disabilities. This includes visible disabilities, invisible or hidden disabilities as well as temporary disabilities.

Just like individuals without autism, autistic children and adults want to be accepted, respected and included in their community. Through outreach and positive collaborations with local clubs, support groups, resource agencies and a wide range of organizations and businesses, we have an opportunity to promote autism awareness, autism acceptance and inclusion in a variety of settings.

We believe it is important to promote the positive work of other organizations and to participate in their functions when the opportunity allows. When organizations contact us to pass along information about positive events and resources, we are happy to accommodate them.  We also use social media to share information from groups and self-advocates around the world. Although we do a lot of work with individuals directly, this particular page focuses on group, agency or organization collaboration.

Here are just a few of the many groups, businesses and organizations we have either worked with, collaborated with or connected with in a positive way:

* No longer active as of last update

Autism-Related Nonprofits or Coalitions

These are organizations specializing in supporting autistic children and adults.

• Autism Society of Southwest Washington *
• Autism Society of Oregon
• Community Autism Network (C.A.N.)*
• GRASP – Global and Regional Asperger Syndrome Partnership
• Lewis County Autism Coalition
• US Autism and Asperger Association – World Conference in Portland, OR in 2017

Autism or Disabilities Related Support Groups 

We have either presented to or partnered with in some way the following local support groups:

• Amazing Moms
• Autism Social Club
• Building A Better Autism Village / Ladies’ Night Out
• Pasitos Gigantes
• Special Celebrations
• Vancouver Autism Moms

Nonprofits or coalitions specializing in supporting children and adults with disabilities and family members

• Arc of Southwest Washington
• Clark County Disability Coalition
• Clark County Parent Coalition
• Geek Club Books *
• GenerationOn – with our Autism Serves Kids Care Club
• Informing Families, Building Trust – Washington State Developmental Disabilities Administration
• Innovative Services NW
• PACER.org – We have been a Washington State Champion to help support Bullying Awareness and Prevention
• Parent to Parent of SW Washington
• Parents Empowered and Communities Enhanced – PEACE
• Salmon Creek TOPSoccer
• SEPTSA – Special Education PTsA of Southwest Washington *
• Stephen’s Place
• SW WA Special Education Conference and Resource Fair
• Swindells Children’s Center at Providence Hospital
• The Miracle League of Vancouver, WA *
• Vancouver Parks and Recreation Inclusion Program

Nonprofits, schools or local groups which partnered with Autism Empowerment to provide support and training to children, adults and families.

Not specific to autism or disability

• CASA – Court Appointed Special Advocates
• Cascade Pacific Council and other Districts – Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts
• First Presbyterian Church of Vancouver
• Fisher’s Landing Elementary
• Mustangs Unlimited of Vancouver, WA
• Northwest Gospel Church
• Northwest Health Foundation
• Oregon Zoo
• Portland Children’s Museum
• Portland State University
• Shahala Middle School
• The First Church of God – Harvest Party
• Various scouting organizations that serve youth

Businesses that have worked with us to help and serve the autism community through local outreach

• Comcast
• Davidson Insurance
• Intel & their IDAN Group
• Kazoodles Toy Store
• Learning Palace *
• MassMutual of Oregon
• Palladio Group
• Walmart
• Wimmer Solutions
• Over 600 distribution partners that display Spectrum Life Magazine – www.spectrumlife.org/findacopy

Businesses or organizations wishing to support the autism community through donations or volunteer time

• Please see our Sponsors / Donors page

Organizations supporting nonprofits in general

• Nonprofit Association of Oregon
• Nonprofit Network of Southwest Washington
• NonprofitReady.org
• Nonprofit Technology Enterprise Network (NTEN)
• TechSoup
• Vancouver Chamber of Commerce
• Washington Nonprofits

Autism Empowerment is committed to helping change the world for the better. We are always looking for new groups to work with locally, regionally and throughout the world.

You can e-mail us at info@autismempowerment.org

If you would like to support Autism Empowerment, we would love to have you get involved!  Please see our Get Involved section for specific ways you can help!