Our Why
ACA was launched to fill a critical gap in services to Autistic young people and their families. ACA participants are young people aged 7-14, diagnosed with Autism levels 1, 2 and 3 under the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) diagnostic criteria, their parents/carers and siblings. Many participants have coexisting disabilities including Intellectual Disability, Global Developmental Delay and ADHD.
The camps are funded by the NDIS (through individual participants plans), Carer organisations, Foundations and grants and a modest out-of-pocket contribution from participants.
Our first location opened in the Tweed/Byron region of NSW in January 2020 … a second location opened on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland in December 2020, a third location in Victoria in December 2021. We plan to open more camp locations in Australia and are designing a new teens and young adults program, before expanding into International programs. Hundreds of Autistic young people and their families are already benefitting from our programs.
ACA’s experiential learning camp program helps form an initial engagement for many isolated Autistic young people and works as a stepping-stone to mainstream inclusive social and community participation. We recognise neurodiversity as a way of thinking that supports our young people to grow into confident and happy adults. Our vision is self-reliance, independence, social connection and community inclusion for Autistic young people and their families.
Our camp program takes an authentic strengths-based approach to the health and wellbeing of Autistic young people and their families. At camp, we celebrate neurodiversity, embrace difference and nurture individuality. We want our young people to develop confidence and independence, increase their social connection, develop new and lasting friendships and celebrate their Autistic identity. We want our parents/carers and siblings to build increased resilience, enhance their social networks and have a greater ability to maintain informal supports for their young people.
Our commitment to embracing neurodivergence is in everything that we do. We are Autistic-led - we pride ourselves on having significant neurodivergent representation at every level of the organisation, are informed by lived experience and engage in positive lived-experience role modelling. We listen, engage and uplift Autistic voices, constantly evaluating and improving to be the best we can be for all Autistic and neurodivergent people. We support, listen to and learn from both individuals representing the global Autism voice, and individuals from marginalised and under-represented intersectional groups within our Autistic community. We partner with like-minded organisations who understand the incredible value of neurodivergence in the workplace.
We are passionate about driving life changing outcomes for Autistic people around mental health and wellbeing, employability, economic participation, education, and ultimately life expectancy.
We are leaders in the evolution of a balanced and respectful relationship between Autistic young people, their families and all Australians.