Autism Action Partnership


About Autism Action Partnership
For 16 years, Autism Action Partnership has provided programs and services to fill critical gaps in the autism community across the lifespan. Our mission is to improve the quality of life of persons on the autism spectrum and their families through education, advocacy, and support. In addition to working directly with individuals and families, we also work together with a variety of wonderful partners and businesses to help create a more inclusive community for those we serve. Our offerings reach the autism community across Nebraska (and a little of Southwestern Iowa too!).

Programs & Services Offered

Programs

  • A-Team: An after-school group for adolescents on the spectrum to practice skills, make friends, and have fun. Sessions are led by licensed providers. The 12-week cohorts are broken into two groups: the Junior Varsity group (ages 10-13) meets twice a week and the Varsity group (ages 14-17) meets once a week.

  • Project Lifesaver: Provides wearable technology to autistic individuals who have a propensity to wander or elope. Provides the Omaha Police Department with the technology and works closely as a partner of this program. AAP staff handles monthly battery changes and follow-up with families

  • Prosper Workforce Services (PWS): Direct service programming offered to businesses and autistic job seekers to match needs and talents in permanent employment positions.

    For Job Seekers, PWS provides assessment of skills and interests, resume and interview preparation, job readiness training, job shadowing/placement, onsite job coaching and support, and long-term advisement.

    For Employers, PWS provides worksite/job duty assessment, individualized screening of candidates, training for management/coworkers, specialized on boarding support, workplace accommodations (as needed), and inclusivity training and support.

  • Prosper Academy: An education and training program for autistic adults to gain independent living skills.

  • Prosper Community: Building connection through social and community-based opportunities for autistic adults.

Services

  • Making Memories: Exclusive events allow individuals with autism and their families to enjoy local area attractions in a sensory-friendly setting (at no cost to the families). These attractions include Werner Park, The Rose Theater, Omaha Children’s Museum, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, Omaha Symphony, American Midwest Ballet, Kiewit Luminarium and Omaha Community Playhouse.

  • COMPASS Training: Customized training sessions and consultation are offered to all organizations and businesses in our community who would like to improve the inclusivity of their business practices. This can include work with Human Resources departments, Leadership teams, Diversity & Inclusion groups, and teams to educate employees on autism, advance diversity and inclusion efforts in the workplace, and consult on how to create a more inclusive environment or space. COMPASS offers sensory kits to venues and community groups across the Omaha metro.

  • Art Experiences: Art programming for children and adults with autism to work with local artists and create art of their own (in partnership with local arts organization, Why Arts and other local artists). These events are coordinated and supervised by AAP staff members.

Additional Efforts

  • Autism Awareness: Numerous and diverse efforts increase the public’s understanding and acceptance of autism.

  • Volunteer Guild: Providing networking and social opportunities to parents, loved ones, and professionals who are connected to the autism community through volunteer work and/or social engagements.

  • Fostering Connections: Helping families build the supportive network necessary to ensure their loved one will thrive by providing connections to resources, services, and others who share their experiences.

Did You Know?

  • The CDC estimates that 1 in 36 children are diagnosed with autism.

  • Additionally, it’s estimated that 1 in 44 adults live with autism in the U.S., over 2% of the population.

  • Autism is more prevalent than juvenile diabetes, pediatric AIDS, leukemia and muscular dystrophy combined.

  • Autism affects all ethnic and socioeconomic groups; yet, minority groups tend to be diagnosed later and less often.

  • Two-thirds of children with autism have been bullied.

  • About half of the individuals affected by autism wander or bolt from safety, and drowning accounts for approximately 90% of deaths related to wandering incidents by those 14 and younger.

  • Approximately 70,000 young people with autism exit high school each year and more than 85%-90% of autistic young adults are unemployed or underemployed after high school.

  • Autism costs a family approximately $60,000 a year for special services and lost wages.

You Can Help

  • $25 provides the opportunity for a child or adult to attend our Summer Art Program.

  • $50 ensures a Sensory Kit is made available to families.

  • $100 provides a personal safety kit for Prosper Academy students as they navigate independent living.

  • $250 sponsors an A-Team participant for a 12-week cohort.

  • $350 buys a Project Lifesaver bracelet.

  • $500 allows COMPASS to conduct autism training for community members or employees.

  • $1,000 supports paid Work Experience for a Prosper Workforce Services participant.

  • $2,500 subsidizes tuition and board for Prosper Academy students learning to live independently.

Dollars at Work

  • 102 individuals with autism were protected with a Project Lifesaver bracelet, giving their families priceless peace of mind, a 56% increase from December 2022.

  • 120 adolescents enrolled in A-Team during its first two years.

  • 62 young adults and 50 employers were involved in the PWS Program.

  • Over 7,000 people participated in the Making Memories events in 2023.

  • 44 unique businesses and organizations trained on autism in 2023.

  • Over 200 individuals from local businesses were trained on how to support their employees with Autism Spectrum Disorder in 2023.

  • Prosper Academy, an independent living program for young adults with autism, launched a pilot program in August 2022 serving five students. Students reside in dorm-style living at St. John Paul II Newman Center and complete Learn4Independence coursework with the Prosper Academy Instructor at Metropolitan Community College.

  • Over 250 Sensory Kits available to guests at venues across Omaha which was an increase of 52% increase from 2022.

Contact Info
402-763-8830 | website | 10909 Mill Valley Road, Suite 205, Omaha, NE 68154