Fixing problems, not people. Removing barriers, not behaviors.
Mission
AAGU is an Autistic-run nonprofit in Oregon with a mission to empower the community of Autistic adults by addressing systemic gaps and societal barriers. We engineer immediate solutions with available resources to fix problems faced by Autistic adults—especially those who fall through the cracks of existing systems.
AAGU does not aim to “fix” Autistic individuals or “help” us conform to societal expectations. Our initiatives are shaped by our own experiences as Autistic adults and informed by the voices, values, and priorities of our peers.
Key projects
- Healthcare Access Guides: Autistic-friendly guides for navigating Medicaid, unemployment, healthcare, and other essential systems. Guides to equip healthcare professionals with knowledge and strategies to better serve Autistic patients.
- Building Autistic Community: Establishing Autistic-friendly social spaces and co-working spaces that foster belonging and connection.
- Service Directories: Curating and maintaining up-to-date, searchable directories of local service providers and autism resources.
- Cross-Organization Collaboration: Bridging gaps between existing organizations to create a unified network of Autistic-friendly resources through conferences and meetings.
- Study and Research: Leading research efforts to identify and understand the enormous but uncounted population of Autistic adults in Oregon, particularly those identified as adults.
Contact
For more information contact Project Manager, Ariel Balter, info@aagu.org