Always supportive. Always caring.
Importance of Community Support & Involvement
Parents often say they feel isolated from the community. Having a child with autism and the associated behaviors, combined with the feeling of isolation and social stigmas can make their lives more challenging. Unfortunately, stigma plays a large role in families feeling shamed and isolated because their family is different from what others expect. Autism is a complex neurological disorder that affects the individual’s language, social interaction, and behavior. The stigmas and isolation make it difficult for families to go out in the community and find a social network and support for their child with autism.
The North Dakota Autism Center (NDAC) has created community programs to help these families. The Enrichment Center, safeTY jacket, and Sensory & Inclusive Community Partner programs were created to help families feel welcome, safe, and part of the community.
In an effort to provide opportunities to individuals and families in our community, the North Dakota Autism Center, Inc. (NDAC) has created the Enrichment Center.
The safeTY jacket program is a partnership with the North Dakota Autism Center, Inc. and local first responders to provide emergency information about individuals with autism to local first responders.
The Sensory & Inclusive Community Partners program helps provide a more inclusive environment for families within the community.