Incorporating inclusion efforts doesn’t have to be difficult.

We’ll show you the way!

COMPASS is Autism Action Partnership’s way of guiding others along their journey toward inclusion. It’s a package of support services to help businesses, organizations and community groups interested in becoming more inclusive and sensory accessible, especially to autistic individuals and their families. There is no blueprint for inclusive practices and no one right way to do this work. We recognize that community spaces offer a myriad of activities and services in a wide variety of physical environments/settings. More importantly, we know that everyone is at a different place on their journey toward inclusion. We are here to help guide the way!

COMPASS includes training, technical assistance, and consultation services that are customized to your needs. COMPASS training will provide knowledge about autism, an understanding of how autism presents in community settings, tips for successful interactions, and best practices for becoming more inclusive and sensory accessible. COMPASS technical assistance provides templates and tools to put inclusive practices into place. Some examples include social narratives, sensory maps, visual schedules, and sensory kits. COMPASS consultation provides customized and ongoing guidance during implementation and beyond.

Those interested in COMPASS services can choose from a variety of options, from attending a training session, collaborating on a single technical assistance project, to becoming a full COMPASS Partner.

To inquire about training or learn more about becoming a COMPASS Partner, click the button below. We look forward to hearing from you!

Learn more

Training Options

This session is for anyone interested in learning more about autism, including what it is, what it isn’t, and how it relates to the larger conversation on neurodiversity. The session can be tailored to child or adult audiences.
Attendees will:
1. Learn facts and characteristics associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
2. Appreciate the unique strengths and challenges experienced by each individual
3. Learn tips for interacting with individuals with ASD and their families
This session is for anyone interested in learning more about autism and becoming an ally to the autism community in their personal or professional lives.
Attendees will:
1. Learn facts and characteristics associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder
2. Learn from the perspectives of self-advocates and/or their families
3. Learn how you can join AAP as an Autism Ally
This session is for anyone interested in learning how to make their community spaces or offerings more accessible to individuals and families affected by autism. This session can be customized for each specific venue or experience.
Attendees will:
1. Learn facts and characteristics associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
2. Explore how individuals with autism and their families experience community events and activities
3. Learn tips for interacting with individuals with ASD and their families
4. Learn best practices for creating inclusive spaces and sensory accessible experiences
This session is for anyone providing learning or activity-based programming for neurodivergent individuals. The session helps activity leaders understand the experiences of autistic participants and provides strategies for and examples of structured, supportive, yet flexible session plans to encourage maximum engagement.
Attendees will:
1. Learn facts and characteristics associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder
2. Understand how autism might affect experiences in your setting
3. Learn best practices for engaging autistic individuals in programming
This session is for employers interested in advancing diversity and inclusion efforts in their workplace. This session is appropriate for human resource professionals, company leaders, and direct supervisors. Customized sessions can be created for employers who hire Prosper Workforce Services talent.
Attendees will:
1. Learn characteristics associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder with an emphasis on how they might present in the workplace
2. Appreciate the unique strengths and value add of autistic employees, including the ability to fill critical gaps in the workforce
3. Explore profitability and productivity benefits to employers that hire diverse employees
4. Learn best practices for creating an inclusive work culture and supporting neurodiverse employees
This session is for First Responders interested in learning how to support individuals with autism and their families during emergency situations. There is an option to include information specific to understanding and responding to severe behavior.
Attendees will:
1. Learn facts and characteristics associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder
2. Understand how autism might present during emergency situations
3. Learn best practices for supporting and caring for individuals with autism and their families in emergency situations
This session provides dental or healthcare professionals with an understanding of how Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) impacts experiences in dental/medical settings and offers best practices to improve comfort and outcomes for patients with autism and other neurodivergent conditions.
Attendees will:
1. Review facts and characteristics related to ASD
2. Learn how ASD might present itself during a dental or health care visit
3. Learn strategies to improve comfort and outcomes for patients with ASD

Request a Training

Unlock Understanding with our Virtual
“Intro to Autism” Course!

This introductory course is available on-demand for both English and Spanish audiences.

Tell Me More!

COMPASS Partners: Committed to Inclusion

As a COMPASS partner, you are Committed to Inclusion.

It is the mission of Autism Action Partnership to improve the quality of life of persons on the Autism Spectrum and their families. In order for us to achieve our mission, we must reach those that host and engage with autistic individuals in the community. It is imperative for us to find partners who embrace the idea of inclusion so that individuals with autism and their families feel a sense of belonging and can thrive in all the places they live, work, learn, and play. COMPASS Partners collaborate with Autism Action Partnership to transform sensory and social community spaces into welcoming, enriching environments that individuals of all abilities can enjoy.
One child in 36 is now diagnosed with autism (CDC, 2023) and, according to the Autism Society of America, with the average family size of four people, this translates to close to 12 million people nationwide that are impacted by autism.
Not only is it the right thing to do, focusing on inclusion makes good business sense, AAP will help make sure it is worth your while!
- Inclusive practices often benefit all guests/patrons (in addition to those with autism or similar conditions)
- Increased autism community consumer base—nearly 12 million nationwide
- Increased non-autism community consumer base who appreciate businesses that are socially responsible and community-minded
- Certificate and digital documentation to display onsite and online
- Formal acknowledgement in local media and by AAP
- Free marketing for your business/organization within AAP’s wide network of individuals and families
- Make an organization wide commitment to inclusion--from leadership to direct service staff
- Offer training to leadership, staff and volunteers on autism and inclusion practices
- Publicize commitment to inclusion and sensory accessibility to autism and non-autism community
- Implement inclusive practices and tools that improve predictability and comfort of visits
- Utilize feedback loops to gather feedback on inclusion and accessibility
- Continually assess efforts using COMPASS Partner Inclusion Checklist, with regular touchpoints and support from AAP’s COMPASS team

Become a COMPASS partner

Disclaimer
Autism Action Partnership assumes no liability or risk associated listing businesses or organizations that are COMPASS Partners. COMPASS Partners are offered training, technical assistance, and consultation to meet the self-perceived needs of those businesses/organizations. COMPASS Partners learn about best practices and are offered support to implement and continually assess them in their own spaces. COMPASS is NOT a compliance-based program. More importantly, since no two people will experience a physical, social or sensory space in the same way, Autism Action Partnership encourages consumers to determine for themselves whether an environment is conducive to the specific needs of the individual.

Testimonials

Omaha Community Playhouse

“AAP’s training was eye-opening and inspiring, offering practical guidance to bridge knowledge gaps and implement inclusive practices.
Their Autism Ally class was excellent, and I loved their inclusion of self-advocates, which reflects their true commitment to meaningful inclusion.
Plus, their facilitators are amazing!”
-Katy Kepler, Director of Mobile Theater at Omaha Community Playhouse
Omaha Symphony

“We are proud to be chosen as Autism Action Partnership’s first COMPASS Partner. We cherish our Nebraska Autism community, and we are dedicated to giving these families fun and enriching experiences. It is at the forefront of our mission to create an inclusive and welcoming environment for anyone who wants to engage with music, and we look forward to building upon our work together.”
-Jennifer Boomgaarden Daoud, President & CEO of Omaha Symphony