Autism Independent Living Association

To relieve poverty by providing food and other basic necessities of life through subsidies to individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder who are in need. We are not currently providing food or other basic necessities at this time but plan to once we have our housing developed. Our housing development will be below market affordable housing and we may also be able to offer subsidies for autistic adults. We also hope to address food insecurity through gift certificates collective cooking and a collective food cooperative. We currently have a 12 unit apartment that we are looking at retrofitting for our first development and could potentially have that by the end of 2025. To relieve conditions associated with disability by providing specially adapted residential accommodation incidental facilities and support to individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Our housing will address the low income challenges that are common to autistic adults. We also reduce the social isolation that happens for autistic adults through our Health Wellness and Social Committee and Movie Club. The committee plans monthly social and learning activities that all of our members are welcome to attend. To advance education by providing life skills training to individuals who self-identify as having Autism Spectrum Disorder and the public. Supports provided through our 3 training programs: 1 for autistic board members 1 for general members and also our Resident Council Training program. Our board members are learning leadership skills business skills grant writing skills public speaking marketing and presentation skills. Our general members are learning healthy living skills independent living skills self awareness and self advocacy skills event planning fundraising and marketing skills. Our council members are learning conflict resolution skills effective communications skills problem solving skills tenancy rights and responsibilities and how to be an effective council and how to be responsive to landlord and other tenant needs. To undertake activities ancillary and incidental to the above charitable purposes. Our members are also learning social media and marketing skills presentation and public speaking skills organizational and time management skills through helping out on various initiatives and activities we have. We also work with other organizations that offer training and supports to autistic adults.

In mid 2024 we started our new social enterprise our CAREmels program. This is small batch hand made caramels that are sold to the public through our members through our events and in 2025 at local artisan markets in Edmonton. We are hoping to expand this program to include training in entrepreneurship business management and product management. We hope to use this program to help fund some of our housing costs and to offer food gift certificates or subsidized utilities to our residents. We have also received grant funding to create a resident council toolkit that will be used to onboard new council members provide a start up kit to other interested organizations and offer a video library of training videos. We also received grant funding to create Financial Literacy Training Videos that will be available to our members as well as members of the general public. Training will be provided in household budgeting making your food dollar stretch how to save for larger purchases how to apply for credit how to prevent financial fraud etc. We have also received funding to develop a marketing and media strategy and will hire a consultant to train board members on social media and marketing. This will also help them with transferable skill development.