2021A Year of Momentum
A Year of Momentum
2021 has been a year of forward momentum, and we invite you to celebrate the future with us.
Welcome
NEXT for AUTISM is a nonprofit organization that transforms the national landscape of services for people with autism by strategically designing and launching innovative initiatives. Our team is laser-focused on quality-of-life areas that truly promote meaningful impact on the lives of autistic adults and their families in four key areas:
Home
Work
Social
Health & Well-Being
What’s next for NEXT for AUTISM?
Doing whatever it takes to make the world a better place. We are ensuring every adult with autism is a valued, contributing member of society – living their very best life. This lookback report is meant to give you a snapshot of our work.
Letter from the CEO—Gillian Leek
Momentum.
This one word best captures NEXT for AUTISM as we close 2021. Momentum describes our great organization, important mission and bold path forward to make sure every adult with autism thrives.
It’s been a challenging time. We have all experienced incalculable loss — of life, of opportunity, and of our daily patterns of living.
For the community NEXT for AUTISM proudly serves, the stakes have changed. The isolation brought on by COVID-19 restrictions has only magnified the many disparities that autistic adults face at work, at home, and in their communities. We are keenly aware of how disconnected from their larger communities individuals with autism and their families often feel, even in the best of circumstances.
With renewed demands for social justice, calls for greater equity, and increased focus on diversity across our country, it is also time for autistic individuals to not only be seen, but to join in, to be included in this important movement toward acceptance, representation, and true belonging, no matter our perceived differences.
We are working hard to bring this vision to reality, sharply attune to projects that will have the greatest impact, particularly in the areas of home, work, social, and health & wellbeing.
This year, we embarked on several exciting efforts to quickly address some of the most pressing issues adults on the spectrum now face. This lookback report is meant to give you a snapshot of our work.
We are doing whatever it takes to make the world a better, more inclusive, and more equitable place. We work every day toward one goal: advancing our vision of a world where differences are embraced.
It is time to change the paradigm for how individuals with autism thrive throughout their adult lives – and NEXT for AUTISM is completely committed to being a leader in this movement.
Gillian Leek
CEO
NEXT for AUTISM
To hear more about NEXT for AUTISM’s vision, listen to Gillian on “The Business of Giving" with Denver Frederick
A Message from our Board Chairs, Laura Slatkin & Michelle Smigel
"NEXT for AUTISM is an organization intent on growing our mission impact and core areas of work to best support autistic individuals. Because adults living with autism deserve equity in the workforce, homes that are safe and welcoming, a rich social life—life experiences and opportunities we all work toward."
Laura Slatkin
Co-Founder & Board Chair
"We know this important work takes a village. Valuable partnerships are essential to NEXT for AUTISM, and we are working with like-minded groups and individuals at the community, non-profit and corporate levels committed to challenging the status quo. In teaming with others, our aim is to develop innovative content and meaningful offerings that build capacity, improve outcomes, and ultimately, enhance the lives and experiences of autistic individuals."
Michelle Smigel
Board Chair
NEXT for AUTISM Welcomes Tommy Hilfiger to the Board of Directors
"As a parent, I have firsthand experience raising children with autism, and I’m deeply committed to doing my part in raising awareness and supporting the development of resources and programs that will help individuals on the spectrum go beyond barriers and lead enriching lives. I am honored to join NEXT for AUTISM as a board member and to help advance their mission. In the spirit of this year’s theme “Momentum”, I am looking forward to working with our incredible board and team to continue opening up new horizons for people with autism through inclusion, education, and a strong sense of community.
Tommy Hilfiger
Board Member
Our Work
NEXT for DSPs
For too long, direct support professionals (DSPs) have been without adequate training, professional development, benefits, and liveable wages. Amidst a national workforce crisis, NEXT for AUTISM is working every day to move the needle for DSPs and this critical profession that serves our community.
NEXT for AUTISM has partnered with The ARC Westchester to pilot a professional learning model focusing on components of choice, belonging, healthy living, and life-long learning.
"As a DSP, I am a witness to progress every day thanks to the NEXT for DSPs program. I see our residents' level of comfort increase as time passes, and they become more interactive with our staff and their surroundings. We continue to learn how to effectively support them in learning the skills they need to live a happy, fulfilling life."
Misa Martin
Community Living Support Professional at The Arc Westchester
NEXT for DEI
Adults with autism continue to face barriers to meaningful employment. With a heightened focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts, and thanks to a grant from the Bhatia Family Foundation awarded to NEXT for AUTISM in April of 2021, we are creating a DEI toolkit for companies that are committed to reporting their disability statistics. NEXT for DEI encourages every business to measure their success in employing professionals with disabilities and promoting this data publicly, as they do with gender and race/ethnicity in their diversity reports.
“As the mother of an autistic teenager, it is a privilege to partner with NEXT for AUTISM as they forge new ground for adults with autism. Their work is changing lives not only in the autism community, but in the community at large. It’s time for autistic individuals to be seen as key components of our society and should be included in conversations around diversity, equity, and inclusion, especially in the workplace.”
Anita Bhatia
Executive Director, Bhatia Foundation
NEXT for Going Out
A fulfilling and meaningful social life is key for any adult. Autistic adults often find themselves without the proper visual tools to navigate and manage life in the community.
This year, we launched NEXT for GOING OUT, an easy-to-use resource providing visual support tools for adults with autism and the professionals supporting them. Picture supports for common activities like shopping and going to the library will be easily accessible for every adult. Using visual supports improves the ability of adults with autism to be independent and have more control of their world. NEXT for GOING OUT was piloted in 2020 and will be published in December of 2021.
With help from the Embassy of the State of Qatar, NEXT for GOING OUT provides visual supports through choice boards, visual schedules and work systems, because we know that visuals increase independence.
NEXT for Going Out in action
To develop the workbook, NEXT for AUTISM hired autistic adults as models to showcase the activities featured.
Meet our model Timothy, who was eager to get to work and prides himself on being a hard worker, making sure to know everyone’s name that he is working with. After booking this project, Timothy practiced taking the city bus to the meet up location in White Plains, New York several times. This was one of his goals as part of a community habilitation program, as travel training is an important skill for increased independence.
Since working with NEXT, Timothy has been hired at a local university and plans to learn which bus to take to travel to his new job. With his first successful experience taking the city bus alone, he now has the confidence he needs to learn his new route.
NEXT GEN Connect
Mentorship is a well-established practice for supporting employment. NEXT GEN CONNECT is a peer mentorship program to improve acquisition and retention of employment for autistic adults. We are leveraging the passion and skills of professionals to act as mentors. Neurotypical people can fill the role as mentors, but ideally mentors will have autism too. After we pilot, evaluate and refine our program, we will disseminate it across the myriad of channels available for mentor relationships. These include alumni associations working with soon to be college graduates, young professionals committed to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion, autism networks interested in supporting the emerging workforce—we are open to all interested.
“I met with my co-mentor today. It was so nice getting to know him and learning more about him. The materials were excellent - I thought they structured the meeting well and promoted thoughtful discussion. We chose a theme for our next meeting that I think complements both the prepared materials and his goals. This is so much fun!”
Alexa West
NEXT Gen Board Member
“Meeting with my mentor has been a very fulfilling experience. We learned so much about each other in the form of our goals and career interests. Interacting with my mentor has helped me understand how to make professional connections with people and how to tie my experiences to my career interests. Overall the NEXT GEN CONNECT program has helped me make new connections and opened me up to new career opportunities."
Eric Ogando
NEXT Gen Connect Member
Community & Partners
Introducing the Advisory Board
We know that the best way to support adults with autism is to fully include them in the fabric of the organization and elevate their voices in every corner of our work. To that end, NEXT for AUTISM established an advisory board in 2021 that is dedicated to providing critical feedback on our work.
The Advisory Board is frequently consulted to help NEXT for AUTISM determine areas of support not currently in the programmatic portfolio, as well as evaluate the current work as it relates to opportunities for improvement and growth. The 15-member Advisory Board, comprised of autistic and neurotypical professionals, weigh in on relevant topics directly affecting autistic adults and providing insight into how NEXT for AUTISM can best address concerns and help identify paths to solutions.
"I’m really happy with the range of autistic voices that are present on the Advisory Board. There’s a real breadth of ages, identities and backgrounds and the board is really doing a great job of answering the questions that NEXT poses to us from intersectionality-based positions. I think we’re doing a lot to expand NEXT’s connection with autistic adults. I was diagnosed late in life, so the inclusion of older and late-diagnosed stories is as important to me as hearing other LGBTQIA voices was to me as a young person coming out. I also really appreciate connecting professionally with other autistics. This Advisory Board is a great capacity building opportunity for NEXT for AUTISM and, independently, for the Autistic Community.
Johanna Murphy
advisory Board Member
Autistic Reflections
Meet Dallas Dismuke
Life on the autism spectrum presents a unique set of experiences every day. Check out our first-person reflections from autistic individuals speaking to what it’s like navigating employment, a social calendar, prioritizing health and happiness, and defining what “home” means to them.
Community & Partners
NEXT for AUTISM and The Fragrance Foundation hosted our 2nd annual BOOTCAMP fundraiser with AARMY’s Co-Founder and Chief Fitness Officer Akin Akman in December 2020. We received support and donations from over 275 people to benefit community living for adults with autism.
Now, we’re gearing up for this year’s BOOTCAMP event! There’s still time to join us on December 7th, 2021. We welcome teams and individuals of all abilities and fitness levels across the country to join in for 45 minutes of supercharged fun in support of NEXT’s mission!
275
+ people
donated to benefit community living for adults with autism.
In honor of Autism Acceptance Month, Edit NYC and Shawn Warren Jewelry held a special virtual shopping event in support of NEXT for AUTISM. The event was held during the week of April 14th online (and in-person by appointment) where 20% of all sales were donated to NEXT. A big thank you to our supporters of Retail Therapy near and far.
20
%
of all sales were donated to NEXT.
Activations
NEXT for AUTISM is proud to partner with organizations and corporations to generate a variety of meaningful employment opportunities for adults with autism, further engage with our community, and raise awareness and critical funds. It’s our mission to ensure that leaders are well-equipped for thoughtful and consistent inclusion, and it all starts with a breadth of key partnerships like these.
In April of 2021, the Strategic Workforce Initiatives team partnered with the Office of Disability Employment Policy and Inclusion Works to present a webinar about Autism in the Workplace. It has been posted on our YouTube Channel and is our most-watched video to date.
“The detailed thinking that I have and some of the other strengths and talents that I have, some of which are because of my autism, helps give me the gifts and strengths that can help empower my work and have really enhanced the work I do for ODEP”
Scott Michael Robertson, PhD
Senior Policy Advisor,
Employment-Related Supports Policy Team
Office of Disability Employment Policy
U.S. Department of Labor
NEXT for AUTISM is continuing our corporate consulting work with Freddie Mac on their Neurodiversity at Work program and Cintas with their disability recruiting efforts through the 2021 year.
“Working with NEXT FOR AUTISM has been a very rewarding experience. Providing accessibility reviews, group training and research, Freddie Mac has become better equipped to provide support to our neurodivergent talent.”
Sarah Crump
Manager, OFFICE OF INCLUSIVE ENGAGEMENT
FB Live Event with Autism Society of America on September 16, 2021: Housing Crisis and Solutions where NEXT for AUTISM'S VP of Strategic Initiatives, Brad Walker, discussed the housing crisis in the autism community and ways to combat the issue.
“Even if a person is able to find housing in congregate settings or group living, right now our industry is facing a serious DSP shortage, how are they going to access the resources that are necessary to ensure that they can navigate all the other aspects of semi-independent and independent living?”
Brad Walker
Vice President, Strategic Adult Initiatives, NEXT for AUTISM
Color the Spectrum Community Grants
The Color the Spectrum Community Grants are funded by proceeds raised during the 2021 NEXT for AUTISM’s COLOR THE SPECTRUM livestream event, in partnership with YouTube. We received over 300 applications, and will soon award several $25,000 community grants to support the transition from school to adulthood. This year, NEXT for AUTISM is championing autistic-led and centered organizations and initiatives.
Financials
2020 Financials
NEXT for AUTISM has once again received a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator for demonstrating strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency. Click below to view our full Charity Navigator page.
Team
NEXT for AUTISM Team
Board of Directors
Laura Slatkin,
Co-Founder and Board Chair
Harry Slatkin,
Co-Founder
Michelle Smigel,
Board Chair
Suzanne Aisenberg
Michael Auerbach
Sharon Cunningham
Dr. Orrin Devinsky
Karen Siff Exkorn
Esther Fein
Rick Goldsmith
Doug Herzog
Tommy Hilfiger
Yie-Hsin Hung
Steven J. Kantor
Arlene Maidman
David Remnick
Bellanca Smigel Rutter
Robert Smigel
Jon Stewart
Tracey Stewart
Emeritus Board
Deeda Blair
Patricia Cayne, PhD
Ilene Lainer,
Co-Founder
Ophelia Rudin
William Rudin
Team
Gillian Leek,
Chief Executive Officer
Amy Wallace,
Senior Vice President, Finance and Administration
Patricia Wright,
Senior Vice President, Strategic Initiatives
Kate Brunner Quinn, CFRE
Vice President, Development
Alison Bush,
Senior Manager, Strategic Initiatives
Lauren Cudgma,
Senior Marketing Manager
Anjula Duggal,
Vice President, Marketing
Kelly Fleming,
Director, Development and Events
Coleif Holte,
Associate, Finance and Administration
Leah Spindell,
Manager, Office and Administration
Lauren Todd Steinbacher,
Director, Strategic Workforce Initiatives
Brad Walker,
Vice President, Strategic Adult Initiatives
Advisory Board
John Barrowman
Dawn Buffington Townsend, Ph.D., BCBA-D
Mari Cerda
Nasiah Cirincione-Ulezi, Ed.D., BCBA
Carly Ott Fulgham
Dr. Peter Gerhardt
Casey Grothus
Jim Hogan
Andrew Komarow, MSFS, CFP, CNP
Johanna Murphy
Maria Davis-Pierre, LMHC
Anne Roux, MPH, MA
Denise Rozell, JD
Maurice Snell
Next Gen Board
Tania Ryalls,
Board Co-Chair
Erik Rutter,
Board Co-Chair
Marni Hirschfield Gomez
Ali Goldsmith
Jenna Grippo
Jennifer Hilibrand
Andrew Klestadt
Kayla Lebovits
Harry Maidman
Matthew Tinkelman
Alexa West