NEXT for Autism

Color the spectrum community grants: in 2022, Next awarded $1.3 million in grants to 42 organizations across 20 states, 14 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 the 2021 Next for Autism's color the spectrum one-time only livestream event.

Next connects: Next connects, 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 2021, Next connects was piloted with 5 companies and is in the process of being digitized and scaled nationally.

Next for dsps: Next for direct support professionals is focused on training direct support professionals and promoting real career paths through a model grounded in best practices and committed to systems change. During 2022, we developed comprehensive model curricula and digital and classroom coursework, designed and implemented a key performance indicator dashboard to track performance metrics, piloted the model at two sites and engaged in train-the-trainer sessions. We have trained upwards of 150 dsps, 30 frontline supervisors, 20 clinicians and 10 directors. Ultimately, Next has impacted 482 individuals with Autism and intellectual disabilities (and counting) across residential, day programs, schools.

- 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 2022, Next published a dei company self-assessment for companies to identify 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 2022, Next created a national scholarship program for students and professionals interested in working with autistic and neurodivergent adults. The program launched in may 2023. - Next for going out - in 2022, Next developed and published an ebook curriculum designed specifically for adults with Autism and intellectual disabilities that includes structured lessons, visual supports, and easily customizable content to promote community integration and ensure safety. - corporate employment consulting: corporate employment consulting practice providing employment hiring and retention consulting to one large corporation as this program winds down.