AUTISM RESOURCE CENTER

Help FACT grow into our new STATE-OF-THE-ART AUTISM RESOURCE CENTER

FACT’s new Autism Resource Center is expected to open Early 2023!

FACT’s Autism Resource Center will be a state-of-the-art facility where FACT and other organizations provide a variety of complementary services to thousands of individuals with autism and similar disabilities in one single location in Hampton Roads. The new Center will be centrally located in Virginia Beach off I-264, making it easily accessible for families from around the region. By collaborating, cooperating, and cohabitating with an array of other nonprofits, FACT’s 21,900 square foot Autism Resource Center will provide an amazing opportunity to create a supportive, loving, and nurturing environment for these individuals and their families throughout their lifetime.

WHAT WILL IT INCLUDE?

FACT’s new Autism Resource Center will include:

  • a gym for sports and recreational programs (approximately 1,900 sq. ft.),
  • the biggest sensory room in Hampton Roads (approximately 1,900 sq. ft.) designed as a fun, naturalistic play area to help individuals with sensory processing issues learn to regulate their brain’s potential negative reactions to external stimuli by developing coping skills for these experiences using vestibular and kinesthetic inputs, and
  • the Friendship Hall (an approximately 5,000 sq. ft. multipurpose room) where FACT will host our summer camp; various after-school and weekend leisure, arts, educational, and life skills programs; and larger conferences/events for organizations serving individuals with autism and similar disabilities
FACT Gym
FACT Sensory Gym
Updated Friendship Hall Rendering

WHO WILL IT SERVE?

1 in 44 children are now diagnosed with autism and the need for resources for these individuals is continuously growing. Many therapy providers, as well as our own programs and summer camps, have long waitlists for services. In 2020, there were 4,533 individuals with autism enrolled in public schools throughout Hampton Roads. The new Autism Resource Center is necessary to allow our organization, as well as others, to expand services and programs for families without limitations.

FACT’s programs benefit individuals with autism ages 6 to 40 years old. In 2021, FACT served 247 individuals through our social and recreational programs. The new Autism Resource Center will allow for FACT to broaden our target population through strategic partnerships with other organizations and nonprofits that serve individuals with autism under the age of 6, over the age of 40, and individuals with other disabilities. This will allow FACT's Autism Resource Center to benefit these individuals and their families throughout their lifespan by meeting their needs, such as:

  • social and recreational programs,
  • speech, occupational, and physical therapies,
  • sensory gym rentals for ABA therapies,
  • life skill classes,
  • providing meaningful employment for individuals with autism,
  • educational programs,
  • parent trainings and support groups,
  • psychotherapy for individuals with autism, and
  • creating a place where individuals with autism and neurotypical members of the community can come together to increase awareness and acceptance, as well as foster community integration.
Swimming 3
Aaron and Brian
Emma 3

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

In an effort to serve as many individuals as possible, areas of the Autism Resource Center will be shared with those who serve individuals with autism and similar disabilities, including:

  • renting out areas of the Center to other organizations and nonprofits when FACT is not utilizing them, including the gym, sensory room, and Friendship Hall, and
  • subleasing most of the first floor to other organizations and nonprofits that support individuals with autism and similar disabilities, as well as their families, through trainings, social and recreational programs, as well as occupational therapy, speech therapy, and physical therapy. These organizations will work collaboratively with FACT and the communities they serve.

FACT’s Autism Resource Center will also make an impact in the community by partnering with other organizations to create jobs for individuals with autism and similar disabilities at the Autism Resource Center.

We estimate that renovations for our new Autism Resource Center will be completed in early 2023. Once the Center is open, individuals with autism and similar disabilities will be able to receive a large number of services in one, central location for decades to come. FACT plans to raise $3 million to make this Autism Resource Center a reality and become a staple of the Hampton Roads community for decades to come! Your generous contribution will provide the gift of acceptance and inclusion for thousands of individuals with autism over the next three decades.

LEARN MORE!

Contact us to learn more about how you can get involved and support our new Autism Resource Center.

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