Sharon Leon
NFAR Teacher's Grant 2024 - 2025
- 01 July 2024
- Teachers Grants
-
NFAR Teacher's Grant Program (2024 - 2025 School Year)
Application Period is now Open!
Autism affects one in every 36 children in the United States, and a growing number of students each year in classrooms across San Diego County. Autism often affects the way a person receives and processes information. A person with autism may also have sensory issues that interfere with learning.
NFAR established a Program in 2005 that awards funding to educators to support the specialized academic needs of their students with autism. These awards give educators a vehicle for piloting different teaching tools, as well as funding for technology and programs that address key areas of concern for students with autism, such as social skills training, developing effective communication skills for verbal and non-verbal students, as well as reducing sensory and behavioral issues.
Restrictions:
- Educators include Autism Specialists, Classroom Teachers, Speech & Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, and Resource Teachers.
- Funds are to be used for educational programs within the greater San Diego area, Grades Pre-K – Transition and Specialized College Programs
- Educational programs, materials, and equipment requested must be for the benefit of current students that have specialized learning needs and include those with Autism Spectrum Disorders.
- NOTE: Educators can be awarded for up to three consecutive years in a row. Then, they must wait a year before applying again, This only applies to those that have been awarded funding.
Funding Details:
- Grant awards average $500, with requests up to $1,000.
- Minimum amount that can be requested is $250.
- A $1,000 award is for a single priced item or a focused initiative.
- Incomplete grant applications will not be accepted (includes incomplete budget details). Please provide product links.
- We do not accept multiple grants for the same classroom/ initiative.
Timing:
To assist educators and the students they serve, the NFAR Teachers' Grant application period will be as follows:.
NFAR Teacher’s Applications opens: Now Open
Applications are due: Sep 30
Teacher Awards Announced: Dec 10
NOTE: Once you are logged into Community Force, you will click on "NFAR Teacher Grant Fund 2024-25" to open application. Applications are due by 10 PM on September 30, 2023.
**** Link to application is now open. Applications are due by Sep 30th ****
Contact Information:
For questions about this application, please contact Grants Administrator at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
2024 NFAR Community Project Grant Awards!
- 28 June 2024
- Grant News
-
NFAR Community Project Grants
2024 Projects Awards
We're excited to announce the NFAR Community Project Grantees for 2024!
Each year, funds raised by the Race for Autism help to support autism programs and new initiatives in our community. Together, we have supported over 111 major initiatives, increasing the learning, social, training options for those with autism in San Diego.
The Awardees include:
| Organization Name | Project Title | Project Length Months | Grant Award | Description |
| Blissful Seeds Inc. | Blissful Seeds, Inc. | 12 | $3,795.90 | Blissful Seeds' innovative social enterprise program offers individuals with disabilities the opportunity to master creative skills while honing their business and customer service skills, all while earning a competitive wage Last year, NFAR funding helped advertise the opening of its brick-n-mortar storefront that led to very positive results. The increased exposure resulted in individuals with disabilities wanting to partner with Blissful Seeds as consigners, where artists can display their products while earning a profit for the sales. Current grant funding will be used towards the purchase of new equipment for art classes, thus expanding opportunities for their current contractors, as well as individuals with disabilities who are on their waitlist. |
| YMCA of San Diego County | 2024 Camp I CAN Transportation | 3 | $9,500.00 | Grant funding will be used towards transportation primarily for their Adaptive Youth Program, Camp I CAN. during the months of June, July and August 2024. Camp I CAN is for children and youth ages 7-17 who are on the Autism Spectrum. Based out of the Toby Wells YMCA. This camp will serve a pproximately 105 children and youth. Transportation assistance will include ADA-compliant buses to community-based activities and field trips for each camp, including locations such as Petco Park, YMCA Camp Surf, San Diego Zoo, Museum of Making Music, Balboa Park museums, Living Coast Discovery Center, Birch Aquarium and more. They will also share the transportation for a day with Camp AWARE, the adult program for participants 18 and up who are on the Autism spectrum. Campers are given an opportunity to learn new skills, make new friends, and feel included with general population campers. |
| Ride Above Disability Therapeutic Riding Center | Program Expansion, reduced fees for riders | 12 | $10,000.00 | Launched in 2014, Ride Above Disability Therapeutic Riding Center is a PATH (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship) member center that teachers recreational riding for children and adults of all ages with disabilities. Therapeutic riding provides benefits in the areas of health, education, sport and recreations and leisure. It also offers an extensive volunteer program and started a paid work internship programs with the high schools and offer an instructor in training program. Funding would be used to expand services to riders waiting to join the program by opening up more days and ride times, as well as bringing in and training new staff and certifications aiding the many riders with Autism on their current waitlist (50 on waitlist). |
| Casa de Mosaic Inc | Adapted/ Sensory Friendly Community Events for Adults with Autism | 12 | $4,000.00 | Casa de Mosaic is a newly established non profit to provide employment/training and social opportuntities for adults on the autism spectrum. The target population are adults who require extensive support due to social, behavorial and communication issues. Activities are designed to accomodate AAC users, who require 1:1 support and need sensory accomodations. Casa de Mosaic has partnered with the Public Library - College Rolando Branch to create a unique story time for adults on the autism spectrum. Grant funding will be used for internship support and materials for the libarry program, a monthly beach clean up and quarterly social opportunities . |
| Best Day Coffee Co. | Coffee Cart Business that Employs Individuals with Disabilities | 12 | $6,000.00 | Best Day Coffee is a start up company that wants to train and employ people with disabilities and pay them a competitive wage. With these funds, it would build out a mobile coffee bar that will have cold brew and lattes on tap so that the San Diego community can book it for events. Best Day Coffee's goal is to spread understanding and acceptance for an inclusive workforce that hires individuals with autism. |
NFAR Parent Group - July 2024
- 25 June 2024
- Mom's Group
-
NFAR PARENT GROUP
Wednesday, Jul 17, 2024
6:30 - 7:30 PM
** This meeting is on Zoom**
The group meets the 3rd Wednesday of the month, with a combination of Zoom and in-person meetings. It's an opportunity to learn from guest speakers, share resources, and enjoy connecting with other parents raising a neurodiverse child. All parents welcome!
Allison Jobin, Ph.D., BCBA-D
California State University, San Marcos Aspiring Scholars Program
The CSUSM Aspiring Scholars Program is a non-degree, four-year university program for students with intellectual disabilities seeking an inclusive college experience. Students participate in academic courses, vocational internships, independent living skills instruction, and campus wide social activities with the goal of competitive integrated employment.
Dr. Allison Jobin is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at California State University San Marcos and investigator at the Child and Adolescent Services Research Center (CASRC). She also serves as the Associate Director for the CSUSM Aspiring Scholars Program, an inclusive post-secondary education program for students with intellectual disabilities. With over 20 years of experience her work has focused on naturalistic developmental behavioral interventions, parent-mediated treatments, and the implementation of evidence-based approaches for autism within inclusive early childhood education programs..
Rachel Martinez, M.S., CRC,
College 2 Career (C2C) Program
The College 2 Career (C2C) program is a three-year program for students with intellectual disabilities or autism who want to pursue a college education within the San Diego Community College District as a pathway to employment. C2C provides educational coaching and employment services to support the student in their pursuit of academic training and competitive entry-level employment in their field of interest.
Through her intentional work with students, Rachel demonstrates her passion for supporting students with disabilities and helping create opportunities through higher education pathways. Rachel works as a Program Coordinator/Counselor for the SDCCD College 2 Career program serving students with intellectual disabilities and autism. She is committed to making positive impacts in the local and regional workforce by increasing diversity and inclusion through the employment and academic success of neurodivergent individuals. Rachel Martinez is a native of San Diego and an alumnus of San Diego State University where she received a B.S. in psychology and an M.S. in rehabilitation counseling.
Amy Radochonski
CLE (College Living Experience) San Diego
College Living Experience (CLE) is the industry’s leading provider of post-secondary support, including coaching for academics, social skills, independent living, career development, and executive function for neurodivergent young adults on a college or career path. College Living Experience (CLE) helps people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), NVLD, dyslexia and other disabilities gain the skills they need to become more self sufficient.
Xiomara Flores, MS and Amber Bagwell
National University
National University is a San Diego-based nonprofit founded in 1971. Our mission is to provide accessible, achievable higher education, offering flexible four and eight-week classes across over 190+ programs. Throughout your program, you’ll collaborate with professors and classmates to create a strong community within the online classroom.
Xiomara Flores has worked in higher education for over 8 years, helping students achieve their educational dreams. Her current role at National University is to help create strategic partnerships that allow companies to provide educational opportunities for their employees/members/associates to start or continue their education and make it more affordable. Over the years at NU, she has helped many students start and finish their educational journey, and she hopes to continue helping more people accomplish their educational goals.
Xiomara will be joined by Amber Bagwell. During Amber's undergraduate studies, she worked as a student assistant in the Office of Admissions and participated in the campus Ambassador program. These experiences allowed her to discover her passion for helping students and led her to pursue a career within the field of Accessibility Services after obtaining her Master’s degree in College Student Personnel Services and Administration and has worked in postsecondary accessibility departments for nearly 10 years.
HOW TO JOIN THE VIRTUAL MEETING:
- Please RSVP by no later than July 17 by 4:00 pm on Eventbrite
- On meeting day, we will send those that have RSVP'd an email with a link to join the meeting on Zoom. (Email sent by 10:00 am for early RSVPs and another at 5:00 pm.)
- Join the meeting on Zoom at 6:30 pm. The guest speaker will start shortly.
- All interested family members welcome!