Mission
From the desk of the Executive Director
Autism New Jersey drives statewide change and creates connections through compassionate support, expert guidance, and a deep commitment to an autism-friendly New Jersey.
Vision
A New Jersey where people with autism thrive in their daily lives within fully supportive communities.
Dear Autism New Jersey Community,
I’ve always believed in the power of connection — that when we come together and share information, talent, and resources, we become collectively stronger. I’ve worked for and led Autism New Jersey for 25 years now, and this year, more than any other year in our history, exemplified that power of connection. In a year marked by uncertainty and shifting federal priorities, I’ve never been more certain in our staff and our broader community. We were able to find clarity amid confusion and offer sound, up-to-date guidance to families and lawmakers alike.
Values
WE ARE: • COMPASSIONATE : We approach everyone with empathy. We strive to understand the unique and sometimes painful experiences of those we serve. • HOPEFUL : We are realistic optimists and problem-solvers. We envision a better future and design practical ways to get there. • COLLABORATIVE : We believe in the strength of partnerships. We work together to create a more supportive statewide community. • INNOVATIVE : We are guided by evidence and research. We challenge the norms, seek new solutions, and explore better ways to serve our communities. • RESOLUTE : We advocate for people with autism and their families. We won’t stop until they succeed.
To celebrate this power of connection, I’m pleased to unveil our new logo. It’s inspired by a few important themes: individuality, interconnection, and ripple effects. Individuality refers to the unique strengths, challenges, personalities, and needs of each person on the autism spectrum. Interconnections highlight the importance of partnership and collaboration in achieving progress for the autism community. Ripples represent how small actions can lead to transformation across the spectrum, across the lifespan, and across the state. As we approach our 60th anniversary this fall, we refined our vision and doubled-down on our goal to make New Jersey the most autism-friendly state in the nation — and you are invited to join us. Whether you connect with us through our helpline, read our monthly e-news, participate in our ambassador or fundraising efforts, utilize our professional trainings, meet us at our annual conference, or participate on one of our advisory boards, you are a vital part of what makes Autism New Jersey so strong.
5 Highlights from Fiscal Year 2025
• Our agency served more than 217,000 people and their families through our 800.4. AUTISM Helpline and website.
• We distributed our autism-friendly practices for law enforcement publication to all municipal and county members of law enforcement across the state. • We hosted our first-ever “Complex Causes of Autism” webinar series and our 868 participants responded with great interest and enthusiasm! • Our 42nd Annual Conference was a success, drawing more than 1,400 attendees to Atlantic City. • We spearheaded a new law that requires criminal background checks for behavior analyst licensure applicants. The Power of Connection
As you peruse these pages, please remember that every success, every milestone was possible because of partners and supporters like you.
Thank you.
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