Cal Lutheran Cares Day 2023

The Autism and Communication Center (ACC) actively promotes practices supporting inclusive schools and communities based on presumed competence for autistic students and adults. ACC empowers individuals to choose and use alternative forms of communication to realize their educational and civic potential and become meaningfully included in school and community settings. By making your gift today to the ACC, you are directly supporting us to reach our primary goal of $40,000 and aim for our stretch goal of $50,000 towards the implementation of the following:

• Three ACC Grant Awards of up to $5,000 to school district teams across the U.S. to enroll in the research-based
• Communication for Education training program for educators to support the communication needs of nonspeaking autistic students in schools.
• Brand new ACC Summer Academy for children, teens, and adults to communicate, engage, and connect with others in the community.
• An annual $5,000 college scholarship to a CLU undergraduate student on the spectrum.
• Free monthly communication socials for minimally speaking people on the spectrum and their communication partners to build community and practice communication.
• Reduced cost 3-day communication camps facilitated by Julie Sando of Autistically Inclined at the CLU campus for families from all over the U.S.
• Sponsorship of Teva Community events that support students who type and spell to communicate surf and boating retreat in San Diego; overnight camp in Idyllwild, CA; Teva workshop in Prescott, AZ.
• Reduced cost of communication partner training to dozens of families provided by Katie Anawalt and Lenae Crandall.
• Spanish translation of the Communication for Education training program for under-served English learners and international audiences.
• Fall Speaker Series to deliver innovative ideas and proposals to national audiences that address the highest needs of autistic students and adults.

Your donation will enable ACC to continue offering educational, communication, and community inclusion resources—through training, workshops, conferences, and research—to students and the teachers, providers, caregivers, administrators, and families who support them. Thank you!