Autism Support And Advocacy Center

Through our Torchlight Residency program, participants move through a curriculum of Disability Justice, weaving history with the present, unpacking the ways we have talked about, thought about, and treated Autistic, Neurodivergent, and Disabled people over time. This residency is a place to name, process, and respond to the internal and external manifestations of ableism and the ways that interests with the other held identities. Together, we explore the ways art can be a means of healing and an avenue of protest.

Education and Advocacy -- In our continuing efforts to platform the disabled and neurodivergent voices within our community, we held the Neur-Affirming Strategies in Action conference. Our keynote speakers were given the space to share their experience with a wider audience, highlighting areas where through dismantling ableist structures within our community and internalizing Disability Justice concepts through everyday life we can move closer towards a community that's sustainable and equitable for everyone. Among the 500 attendees, many were teachers from Durham public schools and local healthcare workers. We host a perspective series of events with speakers and discussions focused on the Autistic experience and the voices in the Autistic community.