2021 Local Impact Grant recipients

54 organizations across 28 states will receive grant funding

February 1, 2022

A group of people putting their hands into a circle together

Autism Speaks is proud to announce the recipients of this year’s Local Impact Grants. Our Local Impact Grants fund non-profit programs that provide autistic people with social and educational experiences, enhancing their lives today and accelerating a spectrum of solutions for tomorrow.

Grant recipients were chosen based on their ability to deliver a product or program that benefits the broader autism community beyond their local area. In addition, Autism Speaks prioritized programs that provide opportunities for people with varying levels of need and those in underserved communities.

All applicants were evaluated by a volunteer, location-based review committee consisting of people with autism, parents of autistics, educators, clinicians and other members of the autism community. The grant awardees were then chosen from the pool of top-rated finalists by the Autism Speaks leadership team.

This year, 54 organizations across 28 states will receive grant funding. Programs will serve an estimated 20,000 people with autism across the lifespan in the categories of education, recreation/community activities, young adult/adult services, sensory equipment/supportive technology and summer camp scholarships.

Thank you to our grant winners and every organization that submitted an application for this year’s Local Impact Grants. We appreciate your dedication to serve our community and look forward to seeing your programs come to life in the months ahead.

Autism Speaks 2021 Grant Recipients:

Autism Community Network	San Antonio	TX
Equine Rehabilitation Central Texas (also encompasses "Hearts Therapuetic Riding")	Leander	TX
Long Island Children's Museum	Garden City	NY
Integrate Autism Employment Advisors Inc.	New York	NY
Nassau Suffolk Services for the Autistic, Inc.	Commack	NY
Finger Lakes United Cerebral Palsy, Inc. dba Happiness House	Geneva	NY
Rising Above Bakery	Chestnut Ridge	NY
FOCUS Center for Autism	Canton	CT
Extraspecial Teas	Great Barrington	MA
The Groden Center	Providence	RI
YMCA of Greater Nashua	Nashua	NH
PHILLIPS Programs	Annandale	VA
Associates for Renewal in Education inc	Washington	DC
Make Studio Art Program, Inc.	Baltimore	MD
Portage Township Trustee	Portage	IN
Therapeutic Horseback Riding, Inc. (DBA Thorncroft Equestrian Center)	Malvern	PA
Autism Model Community School	Toledo	OH
Food for Good Thought	Columbus	OH
Special Equestrians	Warrington	PA
Art Therapy Studio	Cleveland	OH
Team GUTS	Beverly Hills	MI
Catholic Charities Bureau	Jacksonville	FL
Equine Assisted Therapies of South Florida	Coconut Creek	FL
JAFCO Children's Ability Center	Sunrise	FL
Portage Township Trustee	Portage	IN
Mercy Health Foundation St. Louis	Saint Louis	MO
Heartspring, Inc.	Wichita	KS
PAI	White Bear Lake	MN
Variety the Children's Charity of St. Louis	St. Louis	MO
River Valley Riders	Woodbury	MN
Easter Seals Metropolitan Chicago, Inc. (ESMC)	Chicago	IL
Special Gifts Theatre	Northbrook	IL
First Stage	Milwaukee	WI
Keshet	Northbook	IL
New Horizons In Autism, Inc.	Freehold	NJ
Spectrum360	Verona	NJ
Young Audiences New Jersey & Eastern Pennsylvania	Princeton	NJ
Mainspring Academy	Jacksonville	FL
Sea Turtle Adventures, Inc.	West Palm Beach	FL
Quest Inc.	orlando	FL
The Warren Center INc	Richardson	TX
Montrose Memorial Hospital	Montrose	CO
Autism Society of Southern Arizona	Tucson	AZ
The Center for Learning Unlimited	Torrance	CA
EEK Fitness, Inc.	Hemet	CA
United States Adaptive Recreation Center	Big Bear Lake	CA
Dignity Group	Ontario	CA
Designated Exceptional Services for Independence (D.E.S.I.)	East Los Angeles	CA
GHA Autism Supports	Albemarle	NC
Spectrum Autism Support Group, Inc.	Suwanee	GA
Nashville Dolphins	Nashville	TN
Anderson School District Five Educational Foundation	Anderson	SC
Autism Family Support of Rural Clackamas County (DBA Seeds of Peace)	Damascus	OR