New Family Resources Available Through Multicultural Grant Work
AuSM is excited to share new resources created as part of our Family to Family Grant, supported by the State of Minnesota Department of Human Services Disability Services Division. These resources are designed to meet the diverse needs of families in our community, providing culturally relevant, multilingual support for those navigating an autism diagnosis.
Expanding Partnerships for Greater Impact
Since 2022, AuSM has partnered with the Somali Parent Autism Network (SPAN) and the Multicultural Autism Action Network (MAAN) to create meaningful programs and resources. This year, we are thrilled to welcome three new partners as part of new grant work: Centro Tyrone Guzman, Maangaar Global, and SEWA-AIFW.
Our Partners
Centro Tyrone Guzman, the oldest and largest Minneapolis-based multi-service Latine organization, provides services and programming for early childhood, adults, mothers, grandmothers/elders in the community, and youth. In partnership with AuSM, Centro is building resources and groups related to autism and developmental disability diagnosis and services for Spanish-speaking parents. For more information, contact: infocenter@centromn.org.
Maangaar Global is an organization that serves the Somali community by providing consultations, support groups, and training to equip parents with the tools needed to support their children. Maangaar is a newer organization and is particularly unique because of their name. The word “maangaar” is the new and progressive Somali word for autism. The direct translation of the word is “unique mind.” Part of Maangaar’s mission is to dismantle the stigma of autism in the Somali community. Making this word part of their everyday vocabulary is a part of making maangaar mainstream and dismantling the existing ableism. For more information, contact a.musa@maangaarglobal.org.
Multicultural Autism Action Network (MAAN)
Providing one-to-one family consultations to multicultural communities, MAAN has mostly worked with the Somali and Oromo communities but also works with the Native community, Latine community, and the African American community. MAAN is a resource for individuals in need of hands-on support with system navigation and individuals seeking parent or professional training. MAAN also co-hosts an annual family-camp with AuSM and are leaders in immigrant community advocacy. For more information, contact info@maanmn.org.
SEWA-AIFW is a non-profit organization created to bring total family wellness to the South Asian community. SEWA started as an organization that spread awareness on domestic violence and senior health, with a crisis hotline supporting community members. In partnership with AuSM, SEWA is advancing a program called SAPNA, which is centered around neurodiversity and provides peer-to-peer support, resources, and community connection for families. A SAPNA support group is offered to parents of children with disabilities to connect and build community with one another. SEWA also has various inclusive programs for women, men, elders, and children from South Asian communities. For more information, contact info@sewa-aifw.org.
Somali Parent Autism Network (SPAN)
Focused on one-to-one family consultation and Somali community building, SPAN is a resource for those who need support with system navigation, especially for those who require dialogue support in the Somali language. In addition to direct consultation, SPAN launched their Sensory Friendly Sunday program in Summer 2024. SPAN has joined up with experienced local advocates to provide inclusive children’s programming, giving parents a chance to connect with other parents, and to engage with SPAN staff while their children are supervised. For more information, contact info@somaliautism.org.
Each of these organizations brings deep cultural understanding and unique expertise to their work. Together, we’re offering support groups, educational programs, and resources that reflect the rich diversity of our community.
New Resources Available Now
As part of this initiative, we’ve developed a growing collection of one-pagers and guides to empower families with practical knowledge and tools. These resources are particularly helpful for those who are:
- New to an autism diagnosis.
- Looking for guidance on navigating services and providers.
- Facing persistent barriers to accessing support.
Here are some of the resources currently available:
- What Is Autism
- Autism Myths and Facts
- What Is Neurodiversity?
- What is a Disability?
- Medical Diagnosis vs. Educational Identification
- Autism Providers and What They Do
- Finding the Right Provider for You
- Autism and Elopement
- Autistic Children Are Different Not Less: Managing Stigma as a Parent of an Autistic Child
Building a Community of Support
In addition to these written resources, we’re working with our partners to create videos and informational guides in multiple languages. These tools will address key topics to help families feel confident and informed as they support their autistic loved ones.
We invite you to explore these resources and check back regularly for updates as we make translations and create short videos to support all communities.
📖 Visit AuSM’s Family to Family Grant Resources Page to learn more and download the materials.