STERLING HEIGHTS
Year after year the Mayor & the c
The City of Sterling Heights proves it is All In For Autism through:
- Posting supportive FB messages about World Autism Day
- Lighting it up Blue & Red for Autism Awareness Month
- Partnering with Special needs orgs, including a continued partnership with the MISD
- Providing funding to Autism Support organizations
- Establishing a city-wide Anti Discrimination Ordinance
- Passing a Resolution Declaring the month of April, annually as “Autism Acceptance Month”
“Resolutions like this are not the end of the conversation, it’s the start of the conversation.” We are saying this “is part of what makes us unique, part of what distinguishes our lived experiences, & by acknowledging and celebrating these things we are making our great city even better” (Michael Mazor, commUnity Alliance)
- Having an on-going Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employee Council
- Employing a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer & a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist
- Providing a quality Adaptive Parks & Recreation, with Inclusive programs
- Addressing Accessibility on its website & within its public programs & parks
- Posting their Visioning Statement Guiding Principles – 2030 goals, which include breaking through the barriers of prejudice & forming an inclusive community
- Celebrating “acceptance of all people through education, exposure and events” through the commUnity Alliance, of which inclusion is a leading principal
- Holding the following yearly events:
1. Disability Awareness Workshop to build an inclusive city through allowing residents to experience the challenges those with a disability must face daily. 10 different modules provide an experience with challenges in vision, hearing, mobility, & cognitive impairments.
2. “Human Library – Unjudge Someone” to have conversations they would not normally have with Other-abled individuals
Motor City Rockers
- Players produced short videos supporting Autism Acceptance month
- Support the community through donations to Autism Charity groups
- Invest in inclusion by helping fund the creation of sensory rooms in local schools
- Hold a yearly Autism Awareness Night
- Assure their facility is accessible
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- Created an inclusive baking program where disabled individuals feel safe and enjoy a welcoming environment
- Shared Autism Acceptance month FB posts
- Supports the community through a partnership with the AS-Greater Detroit
- Donates In-Kinds to ASGD
- Provides volunteers for ASGD events & programs
- Advocate for Autism Acceptance: Local Board spread awareness about Autism and advocate for acceptance and inclusion
- Has staff with experience supporting disabilities
Harvest Time Christian Fellowship Foodbank
- Volunteers have experience supporting Special Needs & Emergency family needs
- Assure their facility is accessible to all
- Have donated in-kinds to ASGD & other special needs organizations
- Provide space for outreach activities to ASGD & 501c3 organizations
- Support the community with faith based programing and yearly holiday and sports activities
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- Created a recreation & wellness program where disabled individuals feel safe and enjoy a welcoming environment
- Shares Autism Acceptance month FB posts
- Has staff with experience supporting disabilities
- Advocate for the ASD community in the state by identifying and filling the void that exists for special needs community in the area of inclusive fitness
- Support the special needs community by offering summer camps & fitness options on a year-round basis
Cartier’s Comfort Center
- Owners have personal experience with ASD
- Support the community with a recreation space & assure their facility is accessible to all
- Promote Autism Acceptance month with a yearly free family fun day walk-n-talk event
- Supports the community through a partnership with the AS-Greater Detroit, collaborating on projects & events
- Donates In-Kinds to ASGD
- Advocate for Autism Acceptance: Attend local city council meetings and speak up for the special needs population
- Has staff with experience supporting disabilities
- Provide space for outreach activities to ASGD & 501c3 organizations
- Provides volunteers for ASGD events & programs
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Laura Suprenant Photography (Portraits of Persons with Disabilities)
- Created space where disabled individuals feel safe and enjoy a welcoming environment
- Supports Autism Acceptance
- Has staff with experience supporting disabilities
- Advocate for the ASD community by advancing ASD Acceptance through her studio and portraits
- Aims to change the perception of PWD starting with the people themselves
- Support the special needs community by offering free and professional photograph sessions to fight isolation, increase acceptance & inclusion, and normalize disabilities
Women of Warren
- Provide volunteers for ASGD events & programs
- Purpose is to empower, support & promote understanding and inclusion
- Provide a welcoming and safe space for all; this inclusive group welcomes everyone
with respect and dignity - Donate to the Autism Society & sponsor a bed at the youth-led Therapeutic Garden project
- Support the community through their yearly Toy Drive to provide Christmas gifts to local families in need
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Knights of Columbus, FATHER KRAMER COUNCIL # 2835
- Create inclusive events where disabled individuals feel safe and enjoy a welcoming environment
- Help meet basic needs in the community by hosting food drops
- Advocate for Autism acceptance: Local Board and members spread awareness about Autism and advocate for acceptance and inclusion
- Nationally are partnered with the Special Olympics & provide scholarships for students pursuing a master’s degree designed for teachers of people with intellectual disabilities
- Support the disability community through national programs like the Coats for Kids & local fundraisers
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- Help local individuals, organizations and other non-profits
- Support the community through emergency donations for fires, medical bills, & funeral expenses
- Help meet basic needs in the community by running a much needed hygiene pantry
- Advocates for Autism acceptance: Owner & staff spread awareness about Autism and advocate for acceptance and inclusion
- Assure their events are accessible
City of Westland
Michael P. Londeau, the 9th Mayor of Westland, is a lifelong supporter of the Autism community. He is joined by
The City of Westland proves it is All In For Autism through:
- Using an Autism Awareness Month Banner on FB
- Posting supportive FB messages about World Autism Day
- Making “All in for Autism” videos in support of the Autism community
- Creating a vignette for public TV with the Autism Society of Greater Detroit
- Lighting it up Blue for Autism Awareness Month
- An official Diversity Equity and Inclusion
Department within its government - A city Statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Establishing a city-wide Non-discrimination Ordinance
- Connecting organizations and individuals that are in need of resources with their Compassionate City Resolution
- Passing a Resolution Declaring Racism as a Public Health Crisis
- Not 1, but 2 city commissions that address concerns of the disability community: Disability Advocacy Committee and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission
- Addressing Accessibility issues involving any city functions, programs or services, including the City website, through their Accessibility Coordinator
- Addressing Wandering issues through their 911 Registry
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- Created an inclusive work environment: Workplace is a safe and welcoming environment
- Actively encourages individuals with special needs to apply for openings
- Supports individuals with special needs during Bingo games
- Has staff with experience supporting disabilities
- Advocates for Autism acceptance: Owner & staff spread awareness about Autism and advocate for acceptance and inclusion
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UAW, Local # 375
- Host an Autism Acceptance Day in their employment building
- Create an inclusive work environment where disabled individuals feel safe and supported
- Donate to the Autism Society and other ASD Non-profits
- Support the disability community through fundraisers
- Have a nondiscrimination policy
