Breaking Barriers: Empowering Autism Awareness

Health Care Access

Expand existing project, program, or initiative

Special Needs Network (SNN) is a leading disability and social justice nonprofit. Our mission is to raise public awareness of developmental disabilities and to impact public policy, while providing education and resources to families, children, and adults. We recognize the intersectionality of individuals with disabilities and that their fight for disability rights is inextricably tied to the fight for racial justice and the civil rights of all people. Since our founding in 2005, we have provided services and resources to more than 50,000 families, built a powerful coalition of 500+ parent advocates, and are often a lead organization on key disabilities legislation.

CADD will address sub-par treatment of families of color by providing the skills to identify and to immediately access the highest quality treatment that rival the more affluent communities in Los Angeles. Families have to contend with a number of socioeconomic barriers which compound their diagnosis and access to high-quality care. Moreover, they often face many misconceptions, stigmas, and discriminatory practices that exist within governmental agencies, educational systems, and even amongst service providers. Our expert team partners with families in traditionally marginalized communities to help them overcome obstacles in obtaining diagnoses and accessing services. We educate and motivate parents to take the lead in their child's care so that each and every child in our community can grow and fulfill his or her greatest potential, regardless of ability.

This month SNN has opened our center, Autism and Developmental Disabilities (C.A.D.D.). This state-of-the-art clinic, located on the Martin Luther King Hospital campus in the heart of South Los Angeles. CADD will directly reach 5,000 young people and their families annually, providing them with accessible, culturally competent integrated health care. For the first time in this scope and in this region, medical and developmental services specifically targeted at low-income, minority children will be available under one roof.

Special Needs Network has achieved remarkable success in advocating for social justice and disability rights. Our organization is committed to raising awareness about the unique challenges faced by individuals with disabilities, particularly African Americans and others in the BIPOC community, and how race, gender, and class intersect with these experiences. By addressing structural racism, anti-Black bias, and other systemic disparities, we actively work to influence public policy and promote equity. Through our educational initiatives and resource provision, we bridge the gap between underserved communities and mainstream developmental disability organizations and governmental institutions that often overlook the specific needs of these communities.