HAAPE, 2531 Golf View Drive, Weston, FL (2026)

07/16/2026

🤝🧠 Building Confidence, Community, & Careers—Celebrating HAAPE Partner CHAMP 🧠🤝

Meaningful inclusion begins with opportunity, connection, & believing in every person's potential.

HAAPE is proud to spotlight our partner, CHAMP (Children's Health and Mentor Program), a Florida nonprofit dedicated to supporting individuals with autism & other developmental disabilities through FREE recreational activities, employment skill training, mentoring, & job referrals. Founded in 2019, CHAMP's mission is both simple & powerful: Help replace a disability check with a paycheck whenever possible.

CHAMP understands that employment success starts long before the 1st interview. Through sensory-friendly social events, life-skills programming, family mentoring, & workforce readiness training, participants build confidence, communication skills, independence, & lasting friendships in an inclusive, welcoming environment.

This community-1st approach has a lasting impact. By reducing social isolation, strengthening self-advocacy, supporting families, & preparing neurodivergent individuals for meaningful employment, CHAMP helps demonstrate what is possible when barriers are replaced with opportunity.

That mission closely aligns with HAAPE's commitment to expanding workforce pathways through advanced career training & employer partnerships. Together, our organizations are helping create an ecosystem where autistic & neurodivergent individuals are empowered to learn, grow, work, & thrive.

At HAAPE, we are grateful for partners like CHAMP who remind us that inclusion is built through community, collaboration, & a shared belief in every individual's potential.

07/14/2026

🤝💙 Strategic Leadership For Greater Opportunity—Welcoming Harjit Singh To Aspiritech's Advisory Board 💙🤝

Strong partnerships & visionary leadership help create lasting opportunities for autistic & neurodivergent professionals.

HAAPE proudly celebrates the appointment of Harjit Singh, Founder & CEO of Transacta Capital, to Aspiritech's Advisory Board. With more than a decade of experience advising founder-led & private equity-backed technology companies on strategic growth, mergers, & acquisitions, Harjit brings valuable expertise that can help expand the impact of one of North America's leading employers of autistic adults.

In announcing his new role, Harjit shared his enthusiasm for supporting Aspiritech's mission of combining technology excellence with meaningful employment opportunities for autistic individuals—a mission that closely aligns with HAAPE's own commitment to workforce development & economic inclusion.

As proud partners, HAAPE & Aspiritech have worked together to strengthen employment pathways through initiatives including the Aspiritech Academy, the Chicago Autistic Workforce Ecosystem, & collaborative efforts that prepare neurodivergent adults for meaningful careers in technology. Leadership additions like Harjit's help position organizations to grow sustainably, develop new partnerships, & create even more opportunities for autistic talent.

When mission-driven nonprofits are supported by experienced business leaders, innovation & inclusion can advance together. Strategic guidance strengthens organizational capacity, expands employer engagement, & ultimately helps more autistic adults build rewarding careers where their talents are recognized & valued.

At HAAPE, we congratulate Harjit Singh & the entire Aspiritech team. We look forward to continuing our shared work to build a more inclusive workforce where autistic & neurodivergent professionals can perform, excel, & thrive.

07/13/2026

🌍💙 Leading Change—Celebrating Dotun Akande's Impact On Autism Advocacy In Nigeria 💙🌍

Transformative advocacy often begins with one person determined to create change.

After her son was diagnosed with autism, Adedotun "Dotun" Fowora Akande left a career in banking to help build the support her family—& countless others—could not find. In 2006, she founded the Patrick Speech & Languages Centre (PSLC) in Lagos, widely recognized as Nigeria's pioneering autism-focused education & therapy center. The center later became Nigeria's 1st autism organization to earn certification through the International Board of Credentialing & Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES).

Since then, Dotun Akande has helped expand autism awareness, early intervention, parent education, inclusive schooling, & vocational opportunities throughout Nigeria. Through initiatives including the Talent in Autism Concert, educational films such as Demystifying Autism, & the work of the Pure Souls Learning Foundation, she has consistently highlighted the strengths, talents, & potential of autistic individuals while challenging stigma & misinformation.

Her advocacy reaches beyond individual services. By collaborating with educators, healthcare professionals, policymakers, & families, she has helped advance more inclusive practices & elevate autism as a national conversation—encouraging communities to focus on opportunity, dignity, & belonging rather than limitations.

At HAAPE, we celebrate leaders like Dotun Akande—whose vision reminds us that meaningful inclusion begins with listening, investing in people, & creating pathways where autistic & neurodivergent individuals can learn, work, contribute, & thrive.

Together, we can continue building communities where every person is empowered to perform, excel, & succeed.

07/09/2026

💛🌈 The Gold Stripe—Celebrating Neurodiversity Through The Disability Pride Flag 🌈💛

The modern Disability Pride Flag is more than a symbol—it tells the story of a diverse community united in the pursuit of equity, accessibility, & belonging. Redesigned in 2021 by disability advocate Ann Magill following community feedback, the flag's muted colors & accessible design reflect the importance of inclusion for people with a wide range of disabilities.

Among its 5 diagonal stripes, the gold stripe holds special meaning for many in the neurodivergent community. It represents neurodiversity, including autism, ADHD, intellectual disabilities, learning differences, & other cognitive variations, affirming that neurological differences are a natural part of human diversity.

Throughout Disability Pride Month, many advocates highlight the gold stripe to foster conversations about neurodivergent inclusion in schools, workplaces, healthcare, & community life. This visibility helps challenge outdated deficit-based narratives while promoting acceptance, accessibility, & equal opportunity.

The gold stripe also reminds us that many neurodivergent disabilities are invisible. By increasing understanding of sensory differences, executive functioning, communication styles, & diverse ways of learning & thinking, it encourages environments where individuals can succeed without masking who they are.

Just as importantly, the gold stripe reinforces solidarity across the broader disability community. It celebrates the shared belief that every person deserves dignity, self-determination, & meaningful opportunities to contribute their unique strengths.

At HAAPE, we proudly celebrate the gold stripe as a symbol of neurodiversity, inclusion, & the extraordinary talents autistic & neurodivergent individuals bring to our schools, workplaces, & communities.

07/08/2026

🎓🌟 Building Neuro-Inclusive Campuses—Advancing Belonging Through Higher Education 🌟🎓

As colleges & universities prepare for a new academic year, educators, researchers, & student-success leaders are expanding the Campus Neuro-Inclusion Movement—an effort to create learning environments where autistic & other neurodivergent students can thrive from enrollment through graduation.

Recent higher education research suggests autistic students are more prevalent on college campuses than previously recognized, underscoring the need for institutions to move beyond minimum legal accommodations & embrace proactive, campus-wide inclusion.

Initiatives such as Designing a Connected Campus encourage colleges to break down departmental silos & coordinate academic advising, disability resources, housing, wellness, & career services to better support every learner.

This shift is making a meaningful difference. Universities are increasingly adopting Universal Design for Learning (UDL), sensory-friendly study spaces, peer mentoring, flexible instructional practices, & more accessible orientation programs. These strategies help reduce unnecessary barriers, lessen the pressure many students feel to "mask" their differences, & foster stronger academic engagement & belonging.

The impact extends beyond graduation. By partnering with employers committed to neuro-inclusive hiring, colleges are helping autistic & neurodivergent students transition into meaningful careers where their strengths, perspectives, & talents are recognized & valued.

At HAAPE, we believe inclusion begins with opportunity. Building neuro-inclusive campuses helps create pathways to higher education, employment, independence, & lifelong success—ensuring every student has the support to perform, excel, & thrive.

07/06/2026

🚌♿ The Gang Of 19—A Protest That Helped Move Disability Rights Forward ♿🚌

On July 5–6, 1978, nineteen disability rights activists in Denver, Colorado, staged a peaceful protest that would become one of the defining moments in the modern disability rights movement. Known today as the Gang of 19, the activists placed themselves in front of inaccessible city buses, declaring a simple but powerful message: "We Will Ride!"

Their goal was equal access to public transportation, but their impact reached far beyond buses. The demonstration helped advance the growing movement for accessibility, self-determination, & civil rights that ultimately contributed to landmark protections like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

For autistic & other neurodivergent individuals, that legacy continues today. The same disability rights principles that fought for physical accessibility also support reasonable workplace accommodations, accessible education, sensory-inclusive environments, effective communication, & equal opportunity.

Perhaps the Gang of 19's greatest contribution was reinforcing a philosophy that remains central to disability & neurodiversity advocacy: People with disabilities must have a meaningful voice in decisions that affect their lives. That principle continues to shape self-advocacy, inclusive policies, & the ongoing movement toward communities designed for everyone.

At HAAPE, we honor pioneers whose courage helped redefine accessibility as a civil right—not a privilege. Their advocacy reminds us that lasting change begins when barriers are challenged, voices are heard, & every individual is empowered to perform, excel, & thrive.

07/01/2026

🌈♿ Disability Pride Month Begins—Celebrating Inclusion, Identity, & Neurodiversity ♿🌈

July 1 marks the beginning of Disability Pride Month—an annual celebration that honors the disability community, recognizes the ongoing impact of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), & champions a future built on accessibility, equity, & inclusion.

For autistic & other neurodivergent individuals, Disability Pride Month is more than a celebration—it is an opportunity to amplify lived experiences, challenge outdated deficit-based perspectives, & advocate for environments where every person can thrive.

The movement reminds us that disability is a natural part of human diversity. Rather than asking individuals to fit systems that were never designed with them in mind, Disability Pride Month encourages schools, employers, healthcare providers, & communities to remove barriers & create spaces where different ways of thinking, learning, communicating, & processing information are valued.

Its impact can be seen through growing workplace inclusion initiatives, stronger accessibility policies, greater recognition of invisible disabilities, & increased leadership by disabled & neurodivergent self-advocates. The updated Disability Pride Flag further reflects this progress, with its gold stripe representing neurodiversity & celebrating the unique strengths autistic, ADHD, dyslexic, dyspraxic, & other neurodivergent individuals bring to our communities.

At HAAPE, we proudly celebrate Disability Pride Month by reaffirming our commitment to expanding opportunities, advancing inclusion, & empowering autistic & neurodivergent individuals to perform, excel, & thrive. Together, we can continue building communities where every mind is respected, every voice is valued, & every person belongs.

06/29/2026

🌍🧠 Advancing Neurodiversity Through Global Collaboration 🧠🌍

Each year, international neurodiversity conferences held toward the end of June bring together researchers, educators, clinicians, employers, self-advocates, & community leaders to share evidence-based, strengths-focused approaches that support autistic & other neurodivergent people across every stage of life.

These gatherings do more than present research—they help translate knowledge into action. Discussions on inclusive education, sensory-friendly environments, workplace accessibility, mental health, assistive technology, & self-advocacy provide practical strategies that schools, healthcare systems, employers, & nonprofits can implement long after the conference concludes.

Just as importantly, today's conferences increasingly recognize that meaningful progress requires lived experience alongside scientific expertise. By elevating neurodivergent voices in research, policy, & professional practice, these events reinforce the principle that sustainable inclusion is built with neurodivergent people—not merely for them.

The impact extends well beyond academia. New collaborations strengthen inclusive teaching practices, improve workplace accommodations, encourage earlier access to appropriate supports, & inspire research that reflects the real priorities of autistic & neurodivergent communities.

At HAAPE, we celebrate every opportunity that connects research with real-world impact. When evidence, innovation, & lived experience come together, we move closer to a future where autistic & neurodivergent individuals have greater opportunities to learn, work, lead, perform, excel, & thrive.

06/25/2026

🌍♿ From Awareness To Action: RCWDA’s Global Summit For Disability & Neurodiversity Advocacy ♿🌍

On June 26–27, the Rotary Club of World Disability Advocacy (RCWDA) will host its free virtual Health Summit 2026, bringing together clinicians, policymakers, advocates, & disabled leaders from around the world to strengthen patient-centered, accessible care.

Why does this matter for autistic & neurodivergent people? Because healthcare systems have too often treated neurodivergence through a deficit lens—overlooking communication differences, sensory needs, autonomy, & lived expertise. RCWDA’s summit pushes back on that model by centering dignity, accessibility, & the principle “Nothing About Us Without Us.”

According to RCWDA, the club includes 75+ members across 30+ countries & 6 continents, & the summit itself is designed to expand accessibility, elevate disability-led leadership, & improve health systems worldwide. That kind of global reach matters. It helps move neurodiversity-affirming ideas beyond isolated conversations & into clinical practice, policy, & cross-border collaboration.

For autistic & neurodivergent communities, this work can translate into more respectful communication in healthcare settings, stronger recognition of AAC & other nontraditional communication methods, better sensory accessibility, & a growing expectation that disabled people should help shape the systems that serve them.

At HAAPE, we know that inclusion is strongest when autistic & neurodivergent voices are treated as expertise—not an afterthought. Events like RCWDA’s world summit help build a future where accessibility, autonomy, & equitable care are part of the standard, not the exception.

06/24/2026

🧠🤝 Assent As A Human Right: Advancing Ethical, Neurodiversity-Affirming Autism Care 🧠🤝

On Thursday, June 25, the annual Collaborative Autism Care Webinar Series will feature an especially important session: “Assent as a Human Right: Interdisciplinary Applications for Ethical, Compassionate Care.” Hosted by the Organization for Autism Research (OAR) in partnership with Endicott College & Eden II Programs, the free webinar will be presented by Dr. Noor Syed, an autism advocacy leader, researcher, & behavior analyst whose work centers autonomy, ethics, & neurodiversity-affirming practice.

Why does this matter? Because “assent” goes beyond legal consent. It means recognizing an autistic person’s ongoing willingness to participate in therapy, education, or support services—& honoring signs of discomfort, dissent, or withdrawal rather than labeling them “noncompliance.”

That shift has real impact.

Assent-based care helps protect autistic & neurodivergent people from coercive practices by reinforcing that “no” is valid communication. It also supports trauma-informed care by encouraging clinicians to pause, adapt, & collaborate when a learner shows distress. For non-speaking or minimally speaking individuals, it strengthens respect for total communication by treating body language, AAC use, & behavioral cues as meaningful expressions of autonomy.

Importantly, this work is not theoretical. OAR is currently funding community-informed research on assent-based ABA approaches, including how clinicians can better respond to assent withdrawal while improving communication outcomes & learner well-being.

At HAAPE, we believe ethical support must include dignity, choice, & self-advocacy. Events like this help move autism services away from compliance-1st models & closer to what every person deserves: compassionate care that respects voice, boundaries, & humanity.

HAAPE

07/16/2026

07/14/2026

07/13/2026

07/09/2026

07/08/2026

07/06/2026

07/01/2026

06/29/2026

06/25/2026

06/24/2026

Address

Telephone

Website

Alerts

Contact The Organization

Shortcuts

Share

Category

Listing takedown request