Our first year of launching the Teighlor McGee Grassroots Mini Grant Program was extremely competitive. Applicants were innovative and interested in making real change in their communities, which made it hard to narrow down the finalists. We at the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network (ASAN) have the honor of announcing the following six recipients across both categories of mini grants!

Self-advocates Transforming Equitable Policy (STEP) Mini Grants:

Project: Trans Autistic Haven

Who: Larry Maleya

Trans Autistic Haven is a community-led organization focused on supporting LGBTQIA+ individuals, especially autistic and transgender people. Through the Creative Wellness Initiative, they create safe spaces for healing and empowerment while offering resources and advocacy. The group also extends its support to LGBTQIA+ asylum seekers in Zambia, working to foster resilience and build a more inclusive community. This project will provide trans and autistic refugees in Zambia with advocacy skills, legal assistance, and other forms of support.

Project: Supernova Parenting Summit

Who: Natasha Nelson

Supernova Parenting is a National US-Based and Neuro-Affirming nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering caregivers of families of color facing mental health disorders, neurodivergence, and intellectual developmental disabilities by improving their quality of life and wellbeing through education, resources, and support. The Summit is a transformative two-day virtual gathering where families of color with neurodivergence come together to celebrate their unique journeys and learn from professional educators, mental health counselors, self-advocates, and parent peer specialists or color. Through engaging workshops, insightful discussions, self-advocate panels, professional interviews, and heartfelt connections, attendees will gain valuable tools and resources to navigate the joys and challenges of raising neurodiverse children consciously.

Project: Queer Disability Aid

Who: Umi Khokar

A volunteer-run mutual aid group based in NYC, focused on getting accessible and accommodating aid to folks at the intersection of queerness and disability. It was started by Umi (she/they) in 2024 as a Lex post asking folx if they needed help with chores. Since then, it’s grown into a grassroots effort aiding disabled queers all over the city. Services offered include, but are not limited to- cleaning, cooking, patient advocacy, filing for government assistance, support groups, and distributing COVID tests and other PPE supplies. Our group has rehomed several mobility aids, helping people regain some agency in their daily lives.  In just eight months Queer Disability Aid has over a hundred volunteers and has fulfilled over 80 requests! It’s clear that there is a need in the community for on the ground, tangible help for queer disabled folx. The team is very excited about our future growth and providing different forms of aid to even more people.

Project: Proud Parents

Who: Lu Freitas

Proud Parents’ mission is to be leaders for parents with disabilities to have the help they want and need so their families can stay together, and to fight against discrimination and unfair practices. Lu will be heading a project which will educate and train people who work with parents with disabilities, as well as continue providing support and resources to parents with disabilities.

Affiliates in Action (AiA) Mini Grants:

Affiliate: Autistas de México

Who: Yadira Rojas

Autistas de México is an amazing NGO based in Mexico City which works to challenge the pathological medical model. They influence the way autism is approached by public institutions by training health care professionals and civil servants. Autistas de México’s ultimate goal is human rights and a dignified life for all autistic people in Mexico.

Affiliate: Radiant

Who: Robin Gow

Under Eastern PA Trans Equity Project, Radiant is a community group by and for neurodivergent LGBTQIA2+ people. This project will be headed by Robin, who is excited that its safety and self-defense classes will provide a space for autistic and neurodivergent people – especially queer, trans, and BIPOC autistic and neurodivergent people – to access this information for us and by us to feel empowered and more connected to each other as we navigate the world.

The next Teighlor McGee Grassroots Mini Grant cycle begins in May 2025 – keep an eye out for our webinars and announcement of the application window opening!

Autistic Self Advocacy Network

PO Box 66122
Washington, DC 20035

 

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