AUTISTIC RESILIENCE NETWORK
Applicants Selected for Support in 2025
Amy
Help Amy access the resources she needs to live independently.
Amy is 32 and has struggled with challenges from autism for most of her life. She was informally diagnosed in childhood, but her family was not able to pursue formal testing and planned to support Amy themselves. However, her parents are now moving out of the country and Amy finds herself unable to access accommodations and the supports she needs for independent living without a formal autism diagnosis.
She struggles with chronic underemployment and difficulty completing her academic goals because she has not been able to access accommodations and services. She is resourceful and resilient and wants to develop a career, become more self-sufficient, and give back to the community, but she needs the access to services that a formal diagnosis will provide to work towards her goals.
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Ask: $2,500 to pay for a neuropsychological evaluation.
Cami
Give Cami a support group that empowers her.
Cami’s father passed away when she was 16. It’s been tough finding a way forward. She’s 22 now and working at a local business that’s struggling, resulting in her hours being cut to about twenty per week. She lives with her mom and brother but they are coming to terms with the reality that they can’t afford the family home anymore without her dad.
Her autism diagnosis explained a lot about how she experiences the world, including how hard it is to socialize. She’s been able to pull together funds for some autism-focused support, but needs consistent, longer term support to help her find stable ground.
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Ask: $600 for a full year (24 sessions) of an autism-focused support group (thanks to a generous discount by the organizer).
Edwin
Get Edwin the dental work he needs.
Edwin spent 35 years doing precision hardwood floor work—the kind of craftsmanship that requires patience and attention to detail. Now 62, his body can't handle that work anymore, so he's receiving packages at a warehouse. The pay doesn't stretch far enough. He's behind on his power bill, his phone bill, and he's watching a tire go bald while doing the math on whether he can wait another month to replace it.
He was diagnosed with autism a few years ago, which explained some things he'd always known about himself. He still carves wood when he can and he likes to bake banana bread for his coworkers. Right now he needs dental work - an $800 crown. On a warehouse salary with bills already piling up, that's not happening without help. The dentist already pulled two teeth this month, and getting this crown is necessary to keep things from getting worse
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Ask: $800 for a dental crown.
Joshua
Give Joshua the chance to remain active through recovery.
Joshua’s mom shared this request for her son:
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“Miracle Joshua, born extremely preterm at 23 weeks and weighing a mere 1lb 5 oz, continues to defy the less than 50% chance of his survival at birth, to live out his vibrant, larger than life persona with style and pizzazz. Now a 21 year old, exceptional young man, he refuses to be limited by his diagnosis of autism, intellectual disabilities and legal blindness.
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A committed member of his faith community, the heartbeat of his family, Joshua spreads joy and hope to those who know him. An avid worshipper, a musician, a singer, a piano player, an athlete, focusing on his passion of basketball and his fitness training: Joshua uses his gifts and talents to encourage others.
Joshua enjoys physical activities, even competing and weighing medals in equestrian events in the Special Olympics. However, due to the need for additional eye surgery, he can no longer participate in the sport he loves.
Joshua is requesting an adult tricycle with a helmet and safety light, so that he can return to a safer form of physical activity once he recovers from his surgery. He has never had a chance to learn to ride a bike, but his brothers enjoy cycling and this gift would give him the opportunity to spend positive family recreation time as well as regain the active physical lifestyle and enhance his independence. He would not be allowed to drive, as other young adults of his age group, so this gift would increase his mobility, as he's a young man on the move, spreading joy with his coming and going.”
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Ask: $400 for an adult tricycle, helmet, and safety light.
Jill
Help Jill get back on her feet after illness.
Jill is a 66-year-old woman who is an artist, writer, and community art teacher. She got COVID-19 for the first time in August 2025. Due to her illness, she was unable to work for one month. She resumed her part-time job in October and landed a second part-time job to try to make ends meet, all while still recovering from COVID-19. She was diagnosed with autism and ADHD late in life. She is asking for help with rent for the month that she could not work. She has survived 3 floods in North Dakota over the last few years and this funding would help her to move towards more financial self-sufficiency.
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Ask: $1000 for a month's rent.
Kaia
Help Kaia with her medical expenses.
Kaïa is a 34-year-old woman who was diagnosed with autism and ADHD later in life. She has also lived with chronic pain for the past 15 years. Both her neurodivergence and pain make it challenging for her to work and care for herself without support. Her burnout and chronic pain leave her with low energy. Her full-time social media manager position was reduced to part-time work over a year ago. She has been severely underemployed since then. She recently secured a second job with a nonprofit.
She is seeking funding for a medical bill due to a recent heart arrhythmia caused by the stress of an especially difficult year. She has a high insurance deductible that she cannot meet. She is also requesting help to purchase a small HEPA air purifier for her bathroom due to a neighbor's smoking. The smell causes her great sensory distress.
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Ask: $453 for a doctor's bill and a HEPA air purifier.
Rose
Keep Rose warm this winter.
Rose is 55 and lives off the grid on a small parcel of land in an old camper in Maine. She’s on disability, is autistic, and struggles interacting with people, though she has been able to find a good community of friends in her area. She can’t afford to heat the camper consistently, especially given how cold it gets where she lives, so has to spend parts of the winter couch surfing with friends. She doesn't have a well, so drives into town to get water.
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She’s asking for help purchasing a sleeping bag that’s warm enough for where she lives, an extra propane tank- both of which would make it easier to be home when it gets really cold- and also containers to put water in. Having more containers for water would reduce the number of times she has to drive to town for water, which would reduce her gas costs and the need to drive in dangerous weather. Being able to stay home during really cold months will help her feel more settled and less depressed, as constantly going from one friend's place to another is wearing, though she is very grateful it's an option!
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Ask: $500 to provide a winter-rated sleeping bag, a propane tank, containers for water, and a $150 gift card for other supplies.
Ty
Fuel the passion that keeps him going.
A series of cascading events led to Ty and his wife becoming homeless. Ty slipped on concrete at work in 2019, injuring his back and wrist. He continued working warehouse jobs for several years before discovering the injury had left him with a permanent physical disability. Soon after, he lost a close family member to cancer. While dealing with the passing, a challenging roommate situation led to him and his wife becoming homeless.
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After a year at a shelter, he's recently moved into housing that will be stable for at least a year. He's working on IT certifications through Vocational Rehabilitation. Still, the path to financial stability is slow while he's managing his autism, ADHD, depression, and chronic pain.
Music is what sustains him through this difficult period. Ty has been DJing for ten years, and recently performed two three-hour sets at an event for 30-50 people, receiving great feedback and even an inquiry about a wedding gig. "When I'm mixing, I'm more myself. I'm able to express myself," he says.
While he faces years of uncertainty with his permanent back injury and long-term IT training, music gives him purpose and connection. He's requesting help with a mixer to continue creating and performing - not enough to solve his housing situation or fix his back, but enough to keep alive what feeds his spirit while he rebuilds his life
Ask: $400 for an audio mixer.