About
Our Mission
The Arizona Autism Coalition improves the lives of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their families in Arizona by sharing resources and affecting autism systems reform through state-wide collaboration and advocacy.
Purpose of the Coalition
The Arizona Autism Coalition is an inclusive stakeholder organization committed to improving the lives of families, providers and educators impacted by autism in the state of Arizona. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 1 in 110 American children, more specifically 1 in 70 Boys, are now diagnosed with ASD: Autism Spectrum Disorder. This represents a staggering 57 percent increase from 2002 to 2006, and a 600 percent increase in just the past 20 years. Because of this statistic, the chance that you have been personally affected or know of someone who has been affected by Autism is exceptionally high. The Coalition is comprised of parents and family members affected by autism, representatives from provider agencies, medical professionals, local and state governmental agencies and other related special needs providers.
Navigating Arizona’s complex system of services can be overwhelming, expensive, and time consuming. Agencies providing services to children and families face significant challenges in identifying sufficient and sustainable revenue sources and ensuring the welfare of the children they serve through speedy access to services. The Arizona Autism Coalition is dedicated to assisting all individuals affected by autism equally, and is committed to the notion of unity in the community.
Goals and Objectives
- Advocating jointly at the city, state, and federal levels
- Educating professionals who interface with affected children
- Expanding the distribution of early identification and early intervention information
- Evaluating services to identify best practices and implementing those agreed upon
- Avoid duplication of services
- Building alliances with respected peers, fostering community allies and promoting cooperative involvement
Our Members
- Individuals with autism and their family members
- Medical professionals
- School and university professionals
- State agencies
- Service providers
For more information about the Arizona Autism Coalition, please contact Jessica Lewis at (480) 268-1453 or jessica@azautism.org. Click here to download the Coalition’s Fact Sheet.
