NEXT for Autism

Color the spectrum community grants: in 2023, Next awarded a total of $292,620 in grants to 11 organizations across 9 states, all of which were autistic-led. The community grants support the transition from school to adulthood in the following three areas: home, work and social. The color the spectrum community grants are funded by proceeds raised during Next for Autism's 2021 color the spectrum one time only livestream event.

Community grants: Next provided grants to organizations that cover a broad spectrum of Autism and other related disabilities services located throughout the country. The community grants are funded by proceeds raised during the 2017 Next for Autism's night of too many stars comedy event. In 2023, Next awarded a total of $119,500 in grants to 2 organizations.

Next for dsps: Next for dsp is a train-the-trainer professional development curriculum that enhances mandatory compliance training. Next for dsp provides skill-based learning that is tied to improving health and well-being, lifelong learning, belonging, and choice. Next for dsp has conducted pilots with arc of westchester and arc palm beach and the curriculum is also used in conjunction with the Next for fellows program. To date, Next for dsp has impacted more than 210 staff members at arc palm beach and arc westchester, and over 480 individuals with Autism and intellectual disabilities across residential, day and transition programs. In 2023, we discovered that our vision to change the narrative on how dsps are trained could be scaled through an e-learning program rather than a consultative approach. We have completed the e-learning component.

Next connects is a bi-directional mentorship program connecting adults with Autism transitioning into employment to established professionals looking to build more inclusive workplaces. The program provides guidelines, structure, and expectations while facilitating critical dei conversations via interactive elearning modules. The training is supplemented by ready to use resources that are available free of charge to anyone who visits our website. In 2023, Next connects was piloted with 5 companies and is in the process of being digitized and scaled nationally. Next for dei provides companies with the tools and resources they need to be neuroinclusive by promoting the measurement and reporting of disability employment data, and encouraging all companies to commit to progress to transform the landscape and promote inclusivity for people with disabilities. In 2023, Next published a dei company self-assessment for companies to identifiy their strengths and opportunities for growth and created free tools and a downloadable pdf to help companies with making the commitment to including neurodiversity within the workplace. Next for Autism fellows - in 2023, Next launched a national scholarship program for students and professionals interested in working with autistic and neurodivergent adults. The program provides financial scholarships to qualified students while also ensuring new dsps enter the workplace to support autistic adults.