Vision
Lewis County Autism Coalition actively seeks to provide a welcoming community that promotes inclusion and independence for neurodivergent people and their families.
Mission
The Coalition promotes lifelong inclusion and independence for neurodiverse individuals and their families through community collaboration, self-advocacy, and equitable access to education, recreation, and employment.
Overview
In 2030, the Autism Coalition has an active presence throughout Lewis County that promotes meaningful, inclusive access to resources, self-advocacy and independence for neurodivergent people and their families. The Autism Coalition is propelled by neurodivergent people and their allies. The Autism Coalition’s hub is a safe, welcoming space to access our program services. We support and stand with people with physical, developmental, and intellectual differences, people of color, and indigenous and LGBTQ+ communities.
Our Beginnings
Inspired by Dr. Isaac Pope of Pope’s Kids Place, the Coalition was started when the state Department of Health identified Lewis County as a pilot Community Asset Mapping project and invited a couple dozen agencies and parents to participate in a February, 2010 meeting to map assets and identify service gaps. The coalition was launched!
As a formal nonprofit with tax exempt status, the Autism Coalition is best known for its eight annual Southwest Washington Autism Conferences, and the invention of the SMART (School-Medical Autism Review Team) model for building local capacity for autism diagnosis and services referral.
Programs, Plans and Partners
Local families know the Autism Coalition by The Link resource center, as well as summer and year-round programs for people from toddlers to adults. The Coalition is guided by an adopted Strategic Plan (Vision 2030) and holds monthly meetings to coordinate efforts. A nine-member Board of Directors comprised of parents, professionals and adults on the spectrum provides program and fiscal oversight
The Coalition regularly partners with Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital, the Washington Department of Health and University of Washington Autism Center. We are grateful for strong financial support over the years from both private and public institutions, including the United Way of Lewis County, The Community Foundation of South Puget Sound, Weyerhaueser Corporation, and Lewis County Social Services.