System
Advocacy
Working Towards a
Better Future
The Autism Society Inland Empire works for systems reform and policies that address the long-term success and well-being of all children. We work to affect public policy by influencing the views of policy-makers whether in a state legislature, city council, government agency, or anywhere decisions are made that affect the Inland Empire Autism Community.
We work at the local, state and federal levels in collaboration with community partners and stakeholders providing expertise, leadership, and support around critical issues such as autism assessment, autism services, education issues, employment, housing and more.
Fun Fact: Autism Society Inland Empire was part of the Alliance of California Autism Organization which sponsored and won approval for the Autism Insurance Mandate. To this day it is the most comprehensive requirements for services with no caps on age or amount of services in the nation!
AAC: Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) is a field of endeavor addressing the communication and other related needs of individuals who experience significant and complex communication disorders. The goal of AAC is to achieve the most effective communication possible for the individual in order to maximize their potential and lead the highest quality of life possible. Check for our annual conference.
Disaster Readiness: Since 2016, the Autism Society Inland Empire has been working with PrepIt Forward and other community partners to bring about awareness of the specific needs of our community in Disaster and Emergency Situations. This includes providing workshops and education for families and giving input to a new curriculum for Disaster Preparedness. In 2020, the Autism Society Inland Empire was awarded a grant by the Inland Empire Community Foundation to provide Disaster Preparedness training/material to over 4,000 residents of Riverside County.
Employment and Day Services: Since 2007, the Autism Society Inland Empire has worked to bring in new, innovative, and best practices for adults. DDS reports that 39% of our adult population in the I/DD community who are Inland Regional Center clients, which is over 5,000 adults have no day services.
Safety in the Community: The June 2019 shooting of Kenneth French and his parents in the Corona Costco highlighted the needs for reform and education for both the First Responders and members of the I/DD community. The Autism Society Inland Empire is working with State Council on Developmental Disabilities, San Bernardino Office new I/DD Safety Task Force as well as organizations at the state level to bring about change. In 2020, the Autism Society Inland Empire was awarded a grant to develop a new 4 hour POST certified curriculum for law enforcement; 240 local law enforcement personnel will be trained in the next year.
Autism Society Options Policy
This Resource Guide was developed to provide families and professionals with an opportunity to find resources related to autism in the Inland Empire in one place.
All information provided or published by the Autism Society Inland Empire is for information purposes only. Specific treatment, therapy or services should be provided to an individual only at the direction of the individual’s doctor, caregiver, or other qualified professional. References to any treatment or therapy option, program, service, or treatment provider are not an endorsement by the Autism Society. References of treatments, therapies, programs, services, and/or providers are not intended to be comprehensive statements. You should investigate alternatives that may be more appropriate for a specific individual. The Autism Society assumes no responsibility for the use made of any information published or provided. The Autism Society Inland Empire provides information, but it does not constitute medical or legal information. Referrals provided are suggestions to organizations that might help, but do not constitute a recommendation. The Autism Society Inland Empire cannot be held responsible for consequences that arise from individual dealings with a professional or organization. The inclusion of any organization does not imply endorsement, and omission does not imply disapproval. The Autism Society Inland Empire may add or remove organizations from this list at its discretion.
