PLAYsafe community network for children with autism
Community project that promotes the safety inclusion and autonomy of people with ASD through coordinated actions between families community workers local authorities and emergency services The project offers practical workshops on personal safety sensory regulation and functional skills for people with ASD It also strengthens local support networks through participatory mapping of safe spaces and the creation of an informed and supportive neighborhood network with the goal of reducing risks and building more accessible and empathetic communitie
What is the primary issue area that your application will impact?
Community safety
In which areas of Los Angeles will you be directly working?
Other (below)
In what stage of innovation is this project, program, or initiative?
Research (initial work to identify and understand the problem)
What is your understanding of the issue that you are seeking to address?
Cities like Downey, Paramount, Signal Hill, Carson, Lakewood, Compton, Lynwood, Bellflower, South Gate, and Bell face structural exclusion by not officially being within Los Angeles's main administrative zones (such as East LA, South LA, Central LA, West LA, Northwest, or Northeast). This geographic ambiguity leaves them excluded from many public initiatives, funds, and services allocated according to these territorial divisions. As a result, these communities experience continued segregation, which is further intensified for people with disabilities such as autism, who face greater barriers to accessing localized support, information, and care networks
Describe the project, program, or initiative this grant will support to address the issue.
The proposed initiative, "SafeNet: Autism and Community in Action," will address the lack of inclusive services in underserved cities outside the jurisdictional boundaries of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Led by Strong Women Community—a nonprofit organization of mothers and promotoras with lived experience in autism—this year-long program will provide practical safety and life skills workshops for autistic individuals, training for neighbors and first responders, and community-based strategies for building safer, more informed environments.
The project includes:
Safety and sensory regulation workshops for families and individuals with autism
Culturally relevant training for police, EMTs, and firefighters on how to engage respectfully with autistic individuals
Participatory mapping of local safe spaces and resource gaps
Formation of neighborhood support networks guided by promotoras
Community events to promote inclusion and visibility
By bridging the gap between services and historically excluded communities, this initiative builds local capacity, enhances community response, and promotes equity for families affected by autism.
Describe how Los Angeles County will be different if your work is successful.
If our initiative is successful, Los Angeles County will be a more equitable, accessible, and safe place for people with autism, especially in communities that have historically been excluded from essential services for geographic or administrative reasons. Families in cities like Downey, Carson, Lynwood, and others will have access to local support networks, trained neighbors, and first responders who understand how to respond empathetically and effectively to situations related to autism.
Additionally, public spaces will be better prepared to welcome neurodivergent individuals, thanks to greater community awareness and practical safety and communication tools. The promotoras will have strengthened their leadership as agents of change and connections between health, emergency, and community systems, creating a sustainable network that reduces risks, strengthens ties, and promotes true inclusion at the regional level
Approximately how many people will be impacted by this project, program, or initiative?
Direct Impact: 300
Indirect Impact: 1,000