Autism Community Alliance (ACA) is a Washington, DC metro area nonprofit founded in 2021 by parents of young adults with autism. ACA is passionately dedicated to offering specialized post-secondary options for the neurodivergent population, helping individuals thrive and expand their interests with tailored supports. What sets us apart is our focus on meeting everyone’s sensory needs, pivoting and adjusting activities to ensure inclusion and comfort for everyone.
Community engagement is at the heart of our mission, with our group out in the community daily. Each day’s activities are shared with campers and their families in advance to aid in preparation and reduce anxiety. We also encourage families to offer advice and suggestions for activities or locations to visit. Every day is full of laughter, and we take pride in practicing the art of “enjoying the process,” even if our cooking projects or art activities turn out less than perfect!
We currently have openings for “campers” who attend with a personal aide to help them during our 5-hour programming day. Having a 1:1 aide empowers campers to take part in activities of their choice while allowing for sensory and movement breaks as needed.
We accept private pay, funding from the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB) Self-Directed Services (SDS) Program and are excited to soon offer funding options through the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) as we complete our licensing to become a Community Coach Provider.
If you’re interested in applying for our program, please fill out our Google Form application for services. We look forward to welcoming you to the ACA community!
Check out our Facebook reel of some of our activities!
ACA activity schedule for 1/13/2025:
Our Philosophy
Autism Community Alliance’s (ACA) goal is to help individuals with autism, and related conditions, lead fulfilling lives and be engaged with the community.
Our emphasis is on improving communication and social skills. We have developed programming that addresses their sensory and behavioral needs. We invite families to collaborate and share ideas as we customize each participant’s programming.
