The Bucks County Autism Support Coalition strives to maximize the personal development of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder through awareness and advocacy, education and training.
The goals of Bucks County Autism Support Coalition are:
The BCASC has non profit status with both the federal and state as well as 501 (c)(3) status.
The Bucks County Autism Support Coalition (BCASC) is a nonprofit, volunteer organization, consisting of community and education professionals and parents who are dedicated to helping individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD’s) become welcome and productive members of the community in which they live.
With diagnoses of Autism Spectrum Disorders currently at 1 in 150 children, Autism is no longer the rare, unknown disability that it once was. Children and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders often look like everyone else, but their social disorder can create misunderstandings that may make it difficult for them to find jobs and make friends. You may feel uncertain as to how best to help people with Autism Spectrum Disorders be successful in your school, organization, club or business.
As part of the group’s mission of helping individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders, our organization offers free education seminars to community and business groups as well as sponsoring an annual Conference. Our annual Conference features keynote speakers who are prominent individuals in the Autism community, workshops, fundraising opportunities and vendors.
Our free education seminars will address the uncertainties associated with Autism Spectrum Disorders and answer any questions you may have. Presentations can be as brief as fifteen minutes with additional time for questions. Handouts will also be provided for your ease of reference.
We are confident that once you have learned about Autism, you will see that persons on the Autism Spectrum have personal qualities, talents and skills that enable them to be wonderful friends, co-workers, employees, students, etc.
We hope that you will take a moment to read about just a few of the many people who are valued, contributing members of our community…who also have Autism. Then please contact us with any questions you may have. We look forward to hearing from you and providing your organization with information so that you can help improve the quality of life of a person with Autism, while receiving the benefit of having a great co-worker, friend, customer, etc.
Michael (Age 19)
For three years, Michael has been a volunteer at Doylestown Hospital during the summer, working in the mailroom and helping distribute interoffice mail throughout the hospital.
When asked about Michael, Harry, his volunteer mentor stated, “Michael is a good worker and an asset to our mailroom. He follows directions well and has a good grasp on what needs to be done” … and he has Autism.
Colleen (Age 18)
Colleen started working at the age of 16 as a greeter at Chuck E Cheese. In addition to her regular duties, Colleen also worked at the prize counter. Colleen is now working weekends at a bowling alley. She was hired as a porter, and now she is a party planner. Her boss has said he wishes he had more like Colleen
working for him ...and she has Autism.
Braden (Age 16)
Braden is a high school student who volunteers regularly at the Log College Middle School library. He checks books in and out, returns them to the shelves, assists students in finding books, straightens shelves, and performs other miscellaneous tasks. Middle school librarian, Bridget Gil says, “Braden has been a great asset in the library this year and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed having him here. He has been dependable, helpful, creative and he has kept us laughing with his incredible sense of humor.” Braden has a keen eye for color and detail. He designed the BCASC logo and is currently designing a logo for another nonprofit organization. After high school, he plans to go to college to study graphic design...and he has Autism.
WE SUPPORT:
Great Individuals Who …
Mission Statement:
The BCASC strives to maximize the personal development of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder through awareness and advocacy, education and training.
Looking ahead and reflecting back, that is what this letter hopes to do. In reflecting on the three years the Bucks County Autism Support Coalition has been in existence is somewhat of a contradiction to me. Three years young for the length of time we have had to build memberships and community connections. The youngness still serves to ignite enthusiasm and cement the need for this organization. Three years old, what we have accomplished in this time; organization, events, funds, a solid mission and goals and hopefully a positive reputation within the community. I would no longer categorize us as “new”. The BCASC has a solid organizational structure. We have a solid financial base. Educational programs and fund raising events have been created, tested, and organized for success. Our accounting and government processes are finalized, utilizing wonderful resources for review and forward planning.
Now that we have established practices and procedures, as a board, we set out to strategic plan for the future. Meeting for two full days this summer, the BCASC board came together to celebrate our path and to look forward to where we want to go next. In these two days of strategic planning we revisited our mission statement and goals. The spirit in which the mission statement was created still stands. Our goals are still relevant to our programs and path. What was missing was a redefined focus. Although there is need in so many areas, we felt it important to focus on activities for post-21 in our community. This is an area of great need for Bucks County. This does not mean we will abandon other activities or practices. With this renewed focus, we will investigate organizations that support individuals on the spectrum in the adult world. This includes meeting with organizations that provide great opportunities for individuals in the adult world and facilitating these organizations in creating opportunities in Bucks County. Our goal has always been not recreating the wheel, but supporting those who have a great organization.
Strategic planning served to solidity those activities that were and continue to be a great success; the educational programs, the website, the conference, the 5K run, and the family fun activities. We have redefined our grant process. Three different types of grants will be given, start up grants, ongoing grants, and service grants. For more information, visit our website www.bcasc.org. Our new adventure will be investigating post-21 organizations and activities for the future.
As always, we run this organization on a few very broad shoulders. The members of the BCASC board put in countless hours, all dedicated to making this community a better place for individuals on the autism spectrum. We continue to need people! People who share this goal, people who have a passion and vision, and people who are willing to put some time into making our mission come to life. If you are interested in being part of our organization, we would love to have you!! Information on getting involved is on our website. We meet on the first Monday of every month as a board. The Education Committee meets on the third Thursday of every month. The Conference Committee is now gearing up for March and would love a large pool of workers. Jodi Schmon is actively seeking members to help with the Family Fun Committee. Any help that can be given is always appreciated.
On my final note, I could not reflect without feeling very grateful to those who have made this organization such a great experience. The BCASC board as a whole, collaborative and hard working, all volunteer, all working, giving their time and talents freely. Thank you! Eileen Ryan, our treasurer, organizing and a step ahead always. Thank you. Dustin Polis, Conference Chair, who will be leaving the board in January. We will miss your insight, but we are thrilled you will be staying on as Conference Chair. Thank you. Paul Rokuskie, Education/PR Chair. Paul does our website, our education committee, one of the facilitators of the parent forum, our “look” creator, and our annual report. He is the sender of information and the link between people communicating ideas. We would not be who we are without him! Thank you!!