ASMT INC dba AUTISM TENNESSEE

IN 2024, AUTISM TENNESSEE EXPANDED ITS PROGRAMS AND OUTREACH TO MEET RECORD DEMAND AND CONTINUED TO ALIGN ITS WORK WITH THE EVOLVING NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY. THE AUTISMTN HELPLINE RESPONDED TO OVER 1,370 DIRECT REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION AND REFERRALS FROM INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES ACROSS TENNESSEE AND TWELVE OTHER STATES. PARENTS OF AUTISTIC CHILDREN REMAINED THE LARGEST PERCENTAGE OF CONTACTS AT 44.1%, WHILE ADULTS SEEKING EVALUATION, EMPLOYMENT, OR PEER SUPPORT GREW TO 28.9% OF ALL REQUESTS, REFLECTING A NOTABLE YEAR-OVER-YEAR INCREASE. AUTISMTN REGISTERED MORE THAN 2,540 INDIVIDUALS ACROSS 127 EVENTS IN 2024, REPRESENTING AN INCREASE OF NEARLY 500 REGISTRATIONS AND 20 ADDITIONAL EVENTS COMPARED TO 2023. PROGRAMMING INCLUDED FAMILY AND ADULT COMMUNITY GROUPS, PANEL DISCUSSIONS, EDUCATIONAL EVENTS, AND SOCIAL GATHERINGS. NEW COMMUNITY GROUPS WERE LAUNCHED, INCLUDING UNVEILING AUTISTIC IDENTITY, WHICH GREW TO MORE THAN 140 MEMBERS, AND WENBY CONNECT, CREATED FOR AUTISTIC WOMEN, GENDER EXPANSIVE, AND NON-BINARY ADULTS. THE SPECTRUM FAMILIES PROGRAM EXPANDED TO INCLUDE A NEW WILSON COUNTY GROUP WHILE THE CLARKSVILLE GROUP GREW TO SERVE OVER 690 FAMILIES. EMPLOYME WAS RELAUNCHED WITH NEW FUNDING AND SERVED 44 AUTISTIC JOB SEEKERS THROUGH THREE COHORTS AND A PANEL DISCUSSION ON AUTISTIC ENTREPRENEURSHIP. AUTISTIC-LED GROUPS SUCH AS CONNECT AND THE SPECTRUM CONNECTION CONTINUED TO FLOURISH, WITH RECORD ATTENDANCE AT IN-PERSON MEETUPS AND ROBUST ONLINE PARTICIPATION THROUGH ZOOM AND DISCORD. SPECTRUM SOCIALS AND GAME DAY PROVIDED JUDGMENT-FREE SPACES FOR COMMUNITY CELEBRATIONS INCLUDING A POOL PARTY, FRIENDSGIVING, AND A NEW YEAR?S EVE CELEBRATION. OUTREACH AND EDUCATION AUTISMTN PRESENTED AT THE TENNESSEE LIFESAVER AND LAW ENFORCEMENT CHALLENGE, THE CHATTANOOGA AUTISM CONFERENCE, AND LEADERSHIP NASHVILLE, EDUCATING KEY STAKEHOLDERS ON AUTISM, SAFETY, AND EMPLOYMENT. THE BUILDING BRIDGES TRAINING PROGRAM REACHED 74 CHILDCARE PROVIDERS AND WAS EXPANDED TO INCLUDE A FULLY TRANSLATED SPANISH CURRICULUM. THE ACE?ING THE SPECTRUM EDUCATIONAL SERIES OFFERED PRACTICAL WORKSHOPS ON TOPICS SUCH AS HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, FINANCIAL PREPAREDNESS, WATER SAFETY, AND CRISIS DE-ESCALATION. PANEL DISCUSSIONS, INCLUDING SPECTRUM CHATS AND PARENT PERSPECTIVES, ADDRESSED LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIPS, EMPLOYMENT, AUTISTIC CULTURE, AND NAVIGATING A NEW DIAGNOSIS. AUTISMTN ALSO PARTNERED WITH NASHVILLE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO DEVELOP AND PUBLISH SOCIAL STORIES TO SUPPORT TRAVELERS. ONLINE COMMUNITIES AND DIGITAL REACH GREW SIGNIFICANTLY IN 2024. THE SPECTRUM FAMILIES FACEBOOK GROUP GREW 8.4 PERCENT TO 1,920 MEMBERS, INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS GREW 161 PERCENT TO 806, AND FACEBOOK FOLLOWERS INCREASED TO 12,878. AUTISMTN?S WEBSITE RECEIVED MORE THAN 167,000 VISITS, INCLUDING 52,000 NEW USERS. SPECIAL EVENTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS AUTISMTN HOSTED ITS SIXTH ANNUAL PAJAMA WALK AND 5K WITH RECORD PARTICIPATION, INCLUDING 45 COMMUNITY PARTNER VENDORS AND THE SECOND YEAR OF A CERTIFIED COMPETITIVE 5K, WHICH RAISED MORE THAN $32,000 IN SUPPORT OF AUTISMTN PROGRAMS. THE FIFTH ANNUAL BIRTHDAY BASH CELEBRATED 126 COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN CLARKSVILLE WITH A FUN AND SENSORY-FRIENDLY EVENT. AUTISMTN ALSO AWARDED TWO CAPTAIN SPECTRUM ?BE KIND? SCHOLARSHIPS TOTALING $1,250 TO AUTISTIC ADVOCATES. ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY IN 2024, AUTISMTN STRENGTHENED ITS INFRASTRUCTURE THROUGH STAFF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND PREPARATION FOR THE 2025 LAUNCH OF A NEW MEMBERSHIP AND DONOR PORTAL. ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES WERE REDUCED TO 7.9 PERCENT OF OVERALL EXPENDITURES, ALLOWING 74 PERCENT OF ALL FUNDS TO GO DIRECTLY TO PROGRAM DELIVERY. IN SUMMARY IN 2024, AUTISMTN SUPPORTED MORE THAN 3,900 DIRECT BENEFICIARIES THROUGH HELPLINE SERVICES, PROGRAMMING, EVENTS, TRAININGS, AND COMMUNITY GROUPS. THE ORGANIZATION REMAINS COMMITTED TO ADVOCACY, EDUCATION, AND CONNECTION, ENSURING THAT AUTISTIC INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR SUPPORT NETWORKS HAVE THE RESOURCES, OPPORTUNITIES, AND COMMUNITY THEY NEED TO THRIVE.