Arc Tank 5.0 Program Book

Creating positive disruption to services for those with intellectual/developmental disabilities or autism

The Changing Lives ™ Fund established by Steven P. Rosenthal

Lithuania

Nigeria

Switzerland

St. Barthelemy

Germany

5 Ye a r s | 1 3 C o u n t r i e s | 4 2 S t a t e s | 2 6 5 C o m m u n i t i e s | 4 8 2 B o l d I d e a s

Switzerland

Australia

Canada

Israel

I N N O VAT I O N F R O M A C R O S S T H E G L O B E

Uganda

United Kingdom

Vietnam

Steven P. Rosenthal

Steven P. Rosenthal is a businessman and philanthropist in the Boston area. Both his professional and philanthropic efforts are motivated by his lifelong passion for solving complex problems and making a positive impact though his work, grounded in the Jewish tradition of Tikkun Olam to repair the world.

Steve is founder and chairman of West Shore, LLC, a fast-growing, entrepreneurial, and vertically integrated multifamily real estate company with assets in excess of 3.5 billion. Since founding the company in 2016, Steve’s leadership has driven the company’s discipline investment strategy and commitment to excellence by leveraging his extensive experience in management to provide investors with meaningful returns and residents a high-quality lifestyle.

Prior to West Shore, Steve was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Northland Investment Corporation, which grew under his leadership into a vertically integrated, $3.5 billion diversified real estate company with a 23,000-unit market rate multifamily portfolio. As Northland’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Steve directed all aspects of Northland’s multifamily, development, and commercial portfolios, including capital formation, investments, and operations, as well as Northland’s strategic direction. Rosenthal also served as the Co-Managing Partner at Mintz,

Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky, and Popeo P.C., a national 500-lawyer Boston-based law firm.

Throughout his career, Rosenthal has earned a respected reputation as a disruptive leader who positively impacts the projects he contributes to.

A firm believer in supporting his community, Steve is an active philanthropist in the Boston area. He is credited with founding and developing the Arc Tank and the Changing Lives Fund at Northeast Arc. Steve is a proud supporter of organizations that work to empower individuals with developmental, intellectual, and physical disabilities. He focuses his energy on efforts that aim to include, empower, and foster inclusivity for individuals with disabilities in their communities.

Steve believes strongly in the notion that every member of the community has something special to offer and works to ensure more opportunities are created for more people.

Outside of his work with Northeast Arc, Steve also has or has had leadership roles with: Robert I. Lappin Foundation American Israel Public Affairs Committee Ruderman Family Foundation The Loomis Chaffe School Massachusetts Convention Center Authority Harvard Alumni Association The Downtown Crossing Partnership

Jo Ann Simons Jo Ann Simons has over 40 years of experience in the intellectual and developmental disabilities field. Her progressive initiatives have included the creation of the ArcTank, closing several sheltered workshops and transitioning the focus from sheltered employment to community job placement, innovative school to work programs, inclusive community living, and creating new environments to serve people using retail malls.

Jo Ann was named the CEO of the Northeast Arc in January 2016. The Northeast Arc has approximately 1,100 employees and positively impacts the lives of more than 10,000 individuals in nearly 200 communities across Massachusetts.

Northeast Arc’s latest initiative embodies Jo Ann’s spirit of bold invention. Under her leadership, Northeast Arc has created a new resource—the Center for Linking Lives—in 26,000 square feet of highly visible retail space in the heart of the Liberty Tree Mall in Danvers, Mass. The Center serves as a vibrant gathering place, where individuals with disabilities can reach their full potential, and learn to lead fulfilling lives alongside their peers. Northeast Arc most recently demonstrated the scalability of this concept by bringing it to a smaller space in the Square One Mall in Saugus.

Jo Ann was previously the President/CEO of the Cardinal Cushing Centers, Inc. where she had brought with her 15 years of leading the Arc of East Middlesex as its Executive Director. In addition, she had been the Deputy Facility Director of the Fernald Developmental Center in Waltham; Director of Policy Initiatives and Acting Director of Family Support Services for the Massachusetts Department of Disability Services; Director of the Community Division of the North Shore Arc; and mother of Jon, an independent man with Down syndrome.

In 2016 and 2023, Jo Ann was named one of Boston’s Power 50 by the Boston Business Journal and Northeast Arc has been named as one of top women led businesses in Massachusetts from 2014 to 2023. Northeast Arc rose to #3 in the list of Top 100 Women Led Businesses in Massachusetts compiled

by The Women’s Edge and Boston Globe.

Currently a member of the Governor’s Commission on Persons with I/DD and the Autism Commission, Jo Ann also served on Governor’s Maura Healy and Charlie Baker’s Transition Committees on Health Care. She currently serves on the board of the Point32 Health Foundation and of the North Shore Chamber of Commerce.She is past Chair of the National Down Syndrome Society and past President of the National Down Syndrome Congress. She is the former Chair of LIFE, Inc. of Cape Cod, and of Century Bank. She is the author of the Down Syndrome Transition Handbook (Woodbine House 2010).

In addition she created Footprints for the Future, a personal planning tool that provides a place for families and professionals to record specific and personal information as part of their future and estate planning.

Jo Ann has a BA from Wheaton College of Massachusetts and a MSW from the University of Connecticut. Her speaking engagements include presentations to professionals and parents and siblings of children with intellectual disabilities throughout the United States. Her international presentations include Dublin, Belfast, Guatemala City, and Nagano.

FIRST ROUND REVIEWERS Lisa Collins | The Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism Christine Dixon | Someone Else’s Child Max Friedman | GiveButter Sarah Mae Gibbons | Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc Amy Helgeson | Multiple, Inc Sarah Jackson | Sarah J. Consulting Jennifer Killeen | Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services Molly Levit | Remarkable Corinne Lippie | Essex County Community Foundation Kathleen Machete | Essex County Community Foundation Jennifer Mallet | LevelUp Automation Jennifer Matthews | L’Arche Boston North Jennifer Mayo | Essex County Community Foundation Alissa McFall | Cephable Gregory North | Globe North Cynthia O’Donnell | Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services Tim O’Sullivan | Globe North Nick Randall | The Tower Foundation Robert Schultz | Babson College Erin Stewart | Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc Kati Sweeney | NAFI Amy Weinstock | Umass Chan Medical School

THANKS TO OUR FRIENDS Our thanks to the following people, for their time and talent leading up to and at today’s event:

Latoyia Edwards Emcee

Latoyia Edwards is an Emmy Award-winning anchor on NBC10 Boston and NECN. She was recently named one of Boston Magazine’s Most Influential Bostonians. She is a multi-talented journalist moderating political debates, field-anchoring live news events, securing exclusive one-on-one interviews and emceeing countless charity events each year. She joined the NBC10 Boston and NECN family as a morning reporter, arriving from WWLP-22 in Springfield, Massachusetts, where she had been a weekday anchor. During her tenure, she has enjoyed success serving as a health reporter, weekend anchor, evening news anchor, before landing In her favorite role as morning news anchor alongside Raul Martinez and Matt Noyes.

Latoyia celebrates her hometown roots as a native of Boston’s Dorchester neighborhood. She is a graduate of Boston Public Schools, including the exam school Boston Latin Academy. She graduated magna cum laude from Emerson College with a degree in broadcast journalism. She began her career as a news writer for WBZ 1030 AM radio and later reported for the Fox affiliate WICZ-TV 40 in Binghamton, New York. She first anchored television for MediaOne cable news network, while also reporting as the morning drive news anchor for WILD 1090 AM. Additionally, she has instructed courses for the Connecticut School of Broadcasting. She also represented Massachusetts in the Miss USA pageant. Latoyia and her husband are so grateful to raise their family in Massachusetts.

One of her greatest joys is volunteering with youth groups and other charities She greatly enjoys volunteering with youth groups like Girls Inc of Lynn, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston, Worcester and Greater Lowell, Save the Children, EV KIDS and the Boston Arts Academy. One of her proudest moments was earning an honorary doctorate from Endicott University for her contributions to the field of journalism.

Margaret Ake

Presentation Mentor Margaret Ake is an instructor for the Corporate Learning Division of Harvard Business Publishing, a subsidiary of the Harvard Business School.

She is also a partner at Herter Associates, a corporate training firm that offers customized courses for financial analysts and relationship managers at commercial and investment banks worldwide.

Margaret joined Herter Associates and Harvard Business School after a 14-year career in teaching at Endicott College in Beverly, MA. At Endicott College, she taught a variety of courses in the general business curriculum including: Finance, Accounting, Organizational Behavior, Business Writing, and Strategy. Margaret also taught a series of corporate financial training seminars delivered through the Graduate and Professional School. She directed the Case Writing Program and has had eight business education case studies published in a variety of business journals. She also has experience from her time as a Research Analyst for Fidelity Investments.

In addition to her work with Northeast Arc, Margaret regularly travels internationally with Operation Smile working as a medical records, statistical reporting, and data outcomes volunteer.

Margaret’s relationship with Northeast Arc began 33 years ago, when her son was served by the agency’s Early Intervention program; he is now a high school special education teacher. For more than 20 years, Margaret was a valued member of the planning committee for Northeast Arc’s annual golf tournament, the Mike Frangos Commodore Invitational. In 2018, Margaret received the 6th Annual Mike Frangos Award for her outstanding support of the tournament.

Bonnie Leavitt

Presentation Mentor Bonnie Leavitt is a Vice President on the Product Management team at EBSCO Information Services. EBSCO is the leading provider of research databases, e-journal and e-package subscription management, book collection development and acquisition management, and a major provider of library technology, e-books and clinical decision solutions for universities, colleges, hospitals, corporations, government, K12 schools and public libraries worldwide.

Bonnie joined EBSCO in 2010 after graduating with a degree in Business Administration from Endicott College. At EBSCO she is responsible for managing the development, roll out and roadmap of the new user interface for EBSCOhost, the primary interface sold to the customers. This includes overseeing a team of product managers and working closely with customers and Sales teams to collect feedback to inform future development.

Bonnie also works with third-party partners on software integrations via the interface and APIs and has focused on modern authentication options that make it easier for users to log-in for a seamless research experience. Prior to working on the product management team, Bonnie led sales efforts for the Software as a Service (SaaS) suite of products EBSCO sells worldwide.

In addition to her undergraduate degree, Bonnie holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Fitchburg State College.

PA N E L O F E X P E R T S Our thanks to the following business and community leaders for lending their time and expertise today to identify the winning ideas at the Arc Tank 5.0 competition:

Nora Moreno Cargie

Nora Moreno Cargie is president of the Point32Health Foundation and vice president of corporate citizenship for Point32Health. In this dual role, she helps shape strategies to support nonprofit organizations working to address systemic disparities and eliminate barriers to access.

Previously, Nora was director of global corporate citizenship for The Boeing Company, vice president of communications and development for the Illinois Action for Children, deputy communications director for Barack Obama’s 2004 U.S. Senate campaign, and deputy commissioner for the Mayor’s Office of Workforce Development in Chicago.

Nora currently serves on the board of the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy, the Executive Forum for Boston College’s Center for Corporate Citizenship, the Elder Stakeholders Group of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs and as a mentor for Conexión, a Latine mid-career professional development program.

YW Boston inducted Nora into the Academy of Women Achievers earlier this year. Amplify Latinx has selected her as one of the ALX100 for 2023. In 2022, the National Council on Aging recognized Nora with the Trailblazer Change Agent Award for “centering social justice and racial equity in all her work.”

Nora earned a Bachelor’s degree from Columbia College and a Master’s in Management from NorthPark University, both in Chicago, Illinois.

The Caning Company

Expertly caning chairs for 60 years Located in ArcWorks Community Art Center, 22 Foster St. Peabody caning@ne-arc.org 978-924-5050

Ralph James

Ralph James retired from Harvard Business School in 2017 and currently spends his time on philanthropic ventures and volunteer roles with organizations like Harvard Graduate School of Education, the Radcliffe Institute of Advanced Studies, the Harvard Divinity School, the Joslin Diabetes Center and the International Quilt Museum.

He previously held both Strategic Advisor and Executive Director of University Affairs roles at Harvard Business School. He also had been responsible for External Relations and Executive Education activities for HBS.

James attended the College of Wooster in Ohio and received his BA in religious studies from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1977.

He received his MBA from Harvard in 1982. Over the next 15 years, he held several different positions at HBS in the areas of executive education, MBA admissions, and major gift fundraising, finally serving as Associate Dean and Senior Executive Officer under Deans McArthur and Clark.

In 1996, James left HBS to join the First Marblehead Corporation, as Chief Marketing Officer, becoming Chief Operating Officer in 1998 and President in 2000, prior to the company going public in 2003 (NYSE: FMD). In 2005, James stepped down from his position as Vice Chairman to return to HBS.

James Keith

James Day Keith is a 25-year-old adult with Down syndrome whose passion and zest for life has brought so much joy to those around him. He is a college student at Northern Essex Community College where he is pursuing his college degree. He works part-time at Windrush Farm in North Andover and spends time volunteering in his community, for Meals on Wheels and at a Guinea Pig Sanctuary.

He is an avid athlete and teammate with Special Olympics Massachusetts, participating in many sports, including soccer, basketball, skiing, and powerlifting. James has traveled throughout the United States as a player on the Revolution Unified Soccer team. James is an ambassador for the Special Olympics sharing his story with various schools and organizations and he is especially proud of his family’s induction to the Special Olympics Massachusetts Hall of Fame in 2017.

He is a member of Best Buddies and loves his friends from the Merrimack College Chapter. His skills on the parquet led him to the opportunity of a lifetime: a starring role in the feature film CHAMPIONS with Woody Harrelson! The storyline was perfect for James: a Special Olympics basketball team that teaches an arrogant coach a thing or two about friendship and success. James has been blessed with many opportunities to share his story with numerous organizations across New England.

Matthew Kennedy

Matt Kennedy is a senior adviser at Laurel Strategies and a founder of Kennedy Merchant Partners (KMP) and has worked in more than 20 countries on six continents. Previously, Matt served in senior roles in the Obama Administration at the Department of Commerce, Department of the Treasury and the White House. As the director of the Office of Strategic Partnerships at Commerce, Matt worked closely with the Overseas Private Investment Corporation and Export-Import Bank of the United States to develop innovative public-private partnerships with leading trade organizations and several Fortune 500 businesses. These partnerships have enabled more than 5,000 small businesses to learn about overseas markets and begin exporting.

Prior to his service in government, Matt managed Sen. Edward M. Kennedy’s 2006 reelection campaign and the MoneySite, a nonprofit financial services initiative that leverages tax preparation as a vehicle to create personal financial plans for low-income households.

Matt graduated from Stanford University with a B.S. in Management Science and Engineering, where he was also captain of the lacrosse team. He holds an MBA from Harvard University. He sits on the board of the John F. Kennedy Library and the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights.

Shirley Leung

Shirley is an award-winning columnist at the Boston Globe, who has written on everything from business to gender issues in the workplace. She is host of a new Globe Opinion podcast “Say More,” Listen on Apple, Spotify, and globe.com/saymore.

Shirley is also a contributor to GBH’s “Boston Public Radio,” and has served as the Globe’s business editor and interim editorial page editor. Prior to the Globe, Shirley was a reporter at The Wall Street Journal. A graduate of Princeton University, Shirley started her career at The Baltimore Sun. She has two young sons on the autism spectrum.

The Center for Linking Lives

An inclusive and vibrant gathering place at the Liberty Tree Mall in Danvers where individuals with disabilities can reach their full potential, and learn to lead fulfilling lives alongside their peers.

Visit ne-arc.org/linkinglives to learn more about this innovative space.

Marylou Sudders

Sudders is currently a senior policy advisor at Smith, Costello & Crawford, a Massachusetts based consulting and legal practice and a trustee of a child and youth charitable foundation. She provides strategic advice to a broad scope of national and international small and mid-cap public corporations, and medium to large non-profit healthcare organizations. She also was appointed to the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine’s Committee to Improve Access to Behavioral Health Care Services through Medicaid and Medicare.

Most recently, she served as Massachusetts Secretary of Health and Human Services for the entirety of Governor Charlie Baker’s eight-year term. During her tenure, Massachusetts achieved and maintained the highest or amongst the highest in numerous national state rankings including as overall healthiest state, for prenatal and maternal care access, for mental health care and access, in child well-being, as age friendly, and for long term services and supports for older adults and individuals with disabilities.

Previously, she served as President & CEO of a large, non-profit direct services organization, Massachusetts Commissioner of Mental Health, and chaired the health and mental health program as an associate professor at Boston College’s School of Social Work, a top ten social work school.

Sudders holds a master’s degree and a bachelor’s degree with honors from Boston University, and three honorary doctorates, including one from her alma mater. She is the recipient of numerous civic, social work, and professional honors.

David Chang Moderator

David is GM, Expert Network at Hunt Club and a Founding Member at TBD Angels. As an entrepreneur, he has held operating roles at 6 internet/mobile startups that raised $150m and acquired for $750m, and he has invested in 100 companies as an angel investor. He was previously the CEO of Gradifi (E*TRADE), EIR at Harvard Business School, and Director of the Babson Summer Venture Program.

David played product and marketing roles at 5 other Boston-based startups. He led PayPal Boston, co-founded the Start Tank innovation space, and held roles at Tripadvisor (IAC), m-Qube (Verisign), edocs (Siebel), SnapMyLife (Exclaim Mobility), and Goldman Sachs.

As a leader in the entrepreneurship community, he evangelizes startups, talent, and the Boston tech ecosystem. Awards include The Boston Globe’s Tech Power Players 50, Boston Business Journal’s Power 50: Most Influential Bostonians, BostInno’s 50 on Fire: Education Winner / Investment Winner / Tech Finalist, Finalist for NEVY Angel of the Year and Startup Boston Community Builder of the Year. ​ avid holds a BS with Distinction in Computer Science from Cornell University and an MBA from D Harvard Business School.

NFflyte: An all-in-one practical life skill app for autistic adults LEADERS & PRESENTERS Stacey Ledbetter NFlyte Stacey.ledbetter@nflyte.com

23 Hopetown Road Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 Requested funding amount: $175,000

B R I E F I N T R O D U C T O R Y S TAT E M E N T O F I D E A

NFlyte is an all-in-one practical life skills app to empower autistic adults to live a more independent life with the continued remote support of their families and inclusive post-secondary programs. Autistic adults use the mobile app to create customized visual schedules, keep track of shopping lists, create and share recipes with the NFlyte community and store documents. Parents and program admins log into a web-based dashboard to add tasks remotely and see how the mobile user is progressing through the day. Autism doesn’t end after 21 and NFlyte is designed specifically for the transition-to-adulthood so autistic adults and their families can have the confidence to achieve the dream of independence.

E L I G I B I L I T Y F O R A R C TA N K

Autism doesn’t end after 21. In fact, 80% of all autistic individuals are adults and the number is growing as over 100,000 autistic students leave high school each year in the U.S. and encounter the “services cliff”. Thankfully, there has been tremendous growth in post-secondary education programs supporting the transition-to-adulthood. NFlyte elevates the efficiency of post-secondary programs supporting autistic young adults to learn independent living skills through an all-in-one life skills platform. NFlyte makes remote support seamless and quantifies successes.

NFlyte is a mobile app for the autistic young adult and a web-based admin portal for caregivers and programs. Autistic adults use the mobile app to create customized visual schedules, keep track of shopping lists, create and share recipes with the NFlyte community, and store documents. Programs and families log into a web-based dashboard to add tasks remotely and see how the mobile user is progressing through the day. Programs can remotely support all students with a simple dashboard view to efficiently assign tasks to one or many students, track completed task success, upload recipes to share and collaborate on shopping lists. NFlyte gives postsecondary the ability to quantify skills learning progress over time, identify students needing more support, and create better collaboration among the entire support team. The mobile app empowers autistic adults to have more independence while having the security of remote support. NFlyte is designed to make the dream of independence into a reality.

IDD Advocate Corps

LEADER & PRESENTER Hoangmai Pham Institute for Exceptional Care achristi@ie-care.org

200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Suite 500 Washington DC 20006 Requested Amount: $95,507

B R I E F I N T R O D U C T O R Y S TAT E M E N T O F I D E A

People with IDD are often excluded when designing strategies to improve their health, despite being experts in knowing what changes would be most helpful for them. IDD Advocate Corps is an advocacy initiative developed by the Institute for Exceptional Care (IEC) that focuses on building a dynamic community to empower and grow disability leaders within healthcare organizations.

The overall goal of IDD Advocate Corps is for people with IDD and healthcare professionals to develop a vision of a healthcare system that works for people with disabilities and co-design tangible action steps to move organizations toward that vision. The Advocate Corps leverages the genius of lived experience and the influence of healthcare insiders to navigate bureaucracy within the system to drive change.

E L I G I B I L I T Y F O R A R C TA N K

IDD Advocate Corps is innovative by partnering IDD self-advocates with healthcare professionals to advocate for changes from within the healthcare system. The IDD Advocate Corps has identified key drivers in the healthcare system that lead to poor health and established an alternative vision for the healthcare industry that supports the needs of persons with intellectual/developmental disabilities (PWIDD), the nonIDD population, and alleviates clinician burden.

The healthcare system we envision is person-centered; values a patient’s lived experience and encourages clinicians and patients to develop treatment plans together. It does not see PWIDD as “less than”; it recognizes inherent human value and incentivizes and reimburses clinicians for working with their patients to achieve their goals. Advocate Corps members will define tangible steps for various “sectors’’ of the healthcare system to improve care for PWIDD and achieve our vision. “Sectors’’ are areas that heavily influence the healthcare system and include clinical education associations, insurance companies, clinical societies, government agencies, healthcare facilities, and research organizations.

By bringing together self-advocates and healthcare professionals to advocate from within healthcare, we can more quickly accelerate the pace of change across sectors and within influential organizations. By 2025 we aim to equip 200 advocates with the necessary training, resources, and support to work within their communities, organizations, and healthcare sectors to drive change that will make healthcare better and safer for PWIDD, impacting millions of people.

Ask Grandma: A Culturally Responsive Early Developmental Support App LEADER & PRESENTER Joshuaa Allison-Burbank Johns Hopkins School of Public Health Center for Indigenous Health Jalliso8@jhu.edu

Field Administrative Headquarters 8205 Spain Road, NE Suite 210 Alburquerque, NM 87109 Requested funding amount: $85,066

B R I E F I N T R O D U C T O R Y S TAT E M E N T O F I D E A

Native American populations experience the highest rate of disability but have the least access to developmental and education support services to address their needs. Given the legacy of policies and practices which resulted in disproportionate rates of child removal over many generations, Indigenous families face extra barriers to services and supports related to fear, communication barriers and cultural differences. Our project, led by a team of Indigenous leaders, will customize, and adapt an evidence-based home visiting curriculum which support early childhood development called Family Spirit – Language is Medicine, for enhanced use with Indigenous families of young children with disabilities and/or neurodevelopmental differences.

E L I G I B I L I T Y F O R A R C TA N K

Our idea is unique because it meaningfully creates the first responsive digital resource designed to help prevent progression of early developmental delays in American Indian children, beginning by testing a prototype with Indigenous caregiver-child dyads in the Northeast. It is disruptive because it targets a highly underserved population that experiences persistently high rates of need, while having among the most limited access to effective and comfortable supports and services.

Our product combines evidence-based practices with an Indigenous relational worldview that values intergenerational connections and inclusion to address unmet family needs. Imagine an indigenous first-time parent who does not have access to their cultural teachings, nor do they feel comfortable confiding in a physician about suspicions their child is “behind.” Instead, they can connect with resources, including trained home visitors from their own tribal community; and if they cannot meet in person, the caregiver can connect with the information through their phone app.

Our app, to be developed in partnership with a Native-owned digital consultancy, will allow the caregiver to “Ask Grandma” and receive custom support and practical interventions to try first with their child.

Using community input and expert consultation, our project will revise portions of our Family Spirit – Language is Medicine curriculum to reflect the needs and concerns of families with young children with developmental differences.

Inclusive Tech Care Collaborative LEADERS & PRESENTERS Justin Amoyal Impruvon Health justin@impruvonhealth.com 10900 University Blvd.

Katherine G. Johnson Hall Manassas, VA 20110 Requested funding amount: $200,000

B R I E F I N T R O D U C T O R Y S TAT E M E N T O F I D E A

Industry-wide challenges make it nearly impossible for Residential Providers serving individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) to operate and drive the outcomes this population deserves. Together, Impruvon Health, IntellectAbility, StationMD, and SimplyHome believe we have the technology and expertise to integrate our solutions built with and for individuals with IDD and the teams that support them into an affordable, drop-in toolbox for IDD Residential Providers and the individuals they serve.

Our collaboration aims to introduce a connected technology platform to identify healthcare risks, and provide a continuum of care through remote patient monitoring, Assistive Technology and 24-7 on-demand medical professionals, set to revolutionize the healthcare experience.

E L I G I B I L I T Y F O R A R C TA N K

This proposed joint solution equips healthcare providers with the tools required to offer the best possible care, irrespective of geographical location, tech-savviness, team make-up, or level of care. This solution has the potential to dismantle the entrenched barriers that currently limit healthcare equity for IDD individuals nationwide and immediately impact outcomes and independence for individuals with IDD and the lives of those dedicated to supporting them throughout the continuum.

Our existing network of those we serve exceeds 150k people, which is only a small fraction of those we intend to. This 150k consists not only of individuals with IDD but also the incredible teams who work, day and night, to deliver the support required by this population to live and thrive as they deserve. While the total potential population whose lives would be changed is not clear due to a lack of available data, in 2019, the Residential Information System (https://risp.umn.edu) (RISP), stated 849k long-term support service recipients with IDD lived with a family member and 553k lived in other settings. The solution we are proposing would have an immediate impact on the 553K individuals living in ‘other settings,’ while inevitably impacting the 849K in the future.

Our solution is a direct response to existing barriers hindering positive health outcomes in this population and the lack of Value Based Payment options for provider agencies to deliver exceptional care across the nation.

Lynn Disability Network ‘The Lynnebago’ LEADERS & PRESENTERS Lisa Tulipani Lynn Disability Network lisamtulipani@gmail.com

Lynn, MA 01904 Requested funding amount: $63,000

B R I E F I N T R O D U C T O R Y S TAT E M E N T O F I D E A

In our community of Lynn, Massachusetts, and all over the world, disabled individuals and their families face significant barriers to fully participate in public events. Three barriers prominent in Lynn, MA are lack of access to universal toileting solutions, sensory inclusive/respite areas, and lack of accommodations for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) users. To address these specific barriers, Lynn Disability Network has designed the “Lynnebago” - a new mobile public amenity incorporating a universally accessible bathroom/changing space, a sensory sanctuary, and inclusive multilingual communication technologies. This municipal pilot program allows for disabled community members to FULLY participate in public events throughout the city by providing accommodations to meet their most basic needs.

E L I G I B I L I T Y F O R A R C TA N K

The City of Lynn offers endless opportunities for its community to gather and celebrate life. Lynn Disability Network applauds our city for offering so much for its people, however community members with disabilities are noticeably absent from these events. Due to ongoing issues with accessibility, infrastructure, and systemic ableism, disabled community members are not able to freely participate in public life. These same challenges apply to municipalities nationwide.

To fully include our disability community in all that Lynn, MA has to offer, we present The Lynnebago: our mobile solution intentionally designed to create a welcoming, inclusive haven at municipal events.

Lynnebago provides a universally designed space for all to address their toileting needs with safety and dignity, a sensory sanctuary for those who need time and space for self regulation and respite, and multilingual AAC technology/braille panels/SL infographics to bridge communication gaps. Lynnebago’s design centers the needs of individuals with various disabilities and communication methods, creating a welcoming space for all within our diverse, multilingual city. Per the 2022 census, Lynn MA is home to approximately 100, 800 people. At least 10% (10,000) of Lynn’s residents identify as disabled. 75% of Lynn residents primarily communicate in Spanish with multiple languages and cultures ever emerging.

The Lynnebago’s reach will know no limits, as the goal of this pilot is not only to provide direct service to the residents of Lynn, but to scale our successes and best practices for municipalities nationwide to adapt and implement. By funding “The Lynnebago” pilot program, Arc Tank sends a clear message to the disability community throughout the United States: we honor your humanity by taking meaningful action to include you and invite you to be fully present in public life.

Floreo: virtual reality to teach social, communication, behavioral, and life LEADER & PRESENTER Vijay Ravindran Floreo awards@floreovr.com

2 Wisconsin Circle Suite 700 Chevy Chase, MD 20812 Requested funding amount: $90,654.81

B R I E F I N T R O D U C T O R Y S TAT E M E N T O F I D E A

Sexuality is fundamental to the human experience, and education on this topic is vital for everyone, regardless of cognitive or developmental capacities. For individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, comprehensive sexuality education addresses a profound and often-overlooked need.

Statistically, individuals with ID/D are 7 times more likely to be sexually abused and exploited compared to neurotypical counterparts. Holistic sexuality education equips them with the knowledge and tools to recognize, resist, and report inappropriate or exploitative situations.

Addressing this need with targeted resources not only fosters a safer, more informed environment for this community but also upholds fundamental human rights and lives filled with dignity, respect, and fulfillment.

E L I G I B I L I T Y F O R A R C TA N K

Our novel approach aims to rewrite the norms in sexuality education, making it more inclusive and universally accessible. Integrating VR allows us to offer immersive, enriching learning environments, simplifying complex concepts, and making learning more relatable and approachable for individuals with ID/D. Compared to conventional teaching methods, using VR makes learning more interactive and engaging.

Our lessons will focus on critical skills like caring for your body, decision-making, consent, and privacy awareness. Our holistic focus ensures the comprehensive empowerment of individuals, allowing them to make informed and safe decisions regarding their bodies, lives, and sexuality. Our initiative disrupts societal misconceptions and stigmas, shaping a more inclusive perspective on the rights and capacities of individuals with ID/D. Our goal is to transform the lives of individuals with ID/D by providing them with the knowledge, understanding, and skills necessary to navigate their world safely and confidently. The potential impact of this project is extensive, affecting not just individuals with ID/D but also their families, caregivers, educators, and society as a whole, cultivating a climate of inclusivity, acceptance, and respect. Our goal is to directly impact thousands of individuals with ID/D and indirectly influence millions more by driving societal change and reshaping perspectives to create a more equitable and inclusive environment for all.

Cephable - AI-powered accessible controls for everyone LEADER & PRESENTER Alex Dunn Cephable alex@cephable.com

29 Chestnut St. Wilmington, MA 01887 Requested funding amount: $175,000

B R I E F I N T R O D U C T O R Y S TAT E M E N T O F I D E A

Cephable is dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with disabilities by expanding our AI-powered assistive platform. We’re on a mission to introduce innovative control methods, such as computer vision-based finger and arm movements, as well as seamless integrations with third-party applications and hardware on top of our existing adaptive voice controls, face expressions, virtual buttons, and more.

Our primary goal is to provide free and adaptive access to digital technology, thereby revolutionizing the digital experiences of millions living with disabilities.

E L I G I B I L I T Y F O R A R C TA N K

Cephable’s uniqueness lies in its commitment to inclusivity and its potential to disrupt the traditional landscape of digital accessibility and assistive technology. We’re addressing the issue of the “disability tax” head-on by offering a diverse array of control methods that can be seamlessly integrated with existing hardware.

This approach directly reduces the financial burden on individuals with disabilities, as they often face substantial costs associated with specialized assistive technology. By making our platform compatible with everyday hardware, we’re eliminating the need for costly proprietary devices and software. This, in turn, democratizes access to digital technology and levels the playing field, ensuring that individuals with disabilities can participate fully in the digital world without the added financial strain.

Our goal is to make digital accessibility an integral and cost-effective part of the tech ecosystem. We want to empower individuals with disabilities by providing them with the tools they need while ensuring that access is affordable and equitable. Cephable’s vision is to reshape the future of digital inclusion by eradicating the “disability tax” put on individuals and instead work with businesses to integrate these controls into their applications, games, and platforms to reach and support more customers with disabilities.

H O L D I N G TA N K The following submissions were placed in the Holding Tank, to be shared here so that attendees at the competition could pursue or learn more about them by contacting the lead applicant.

AbleVu – The YELP of Accessibility Information for People of All Abilities Able Eyes Meegan Winters meegan@ableeyes.org

People with physical and/or invisible disabilities and their families, unfortunately, do not have the same types of community and travel opportunities as those without. When a person or loved one is planning to visit a new business or city, it often is halted due to the anxiety of the unknown. Is it wheelchair accessible? Is there a quiet area away from loud noises? How can the staff help if I need special accommodations?

AbleVu is the “Know Before You Go” platform that allows users to explore businesses, the environment, and accommodations beforehand. Creating new opportunities and experiences for people of all abilities is the mission of AbleVu. The simple explanation; The YELP of accessibility information. Users can search for businesses (for free) with AbleVu profiles before visiting.

Adaptable, inclusive health and wellness for the I/DD Community!

TruFit Adaptive Fitness Adam White Adam@gettrufit.com

The I/DD population has one of the highest rates of lifestyle related health problems in the US. Obesity rates are approaching 40%. Adult onset of diabetes and cardiovascular disease are incredibly high. These are all lifestyle related health problems. TruFit aims to change that by providing a technology based, incentivized and customizable health and wellness program. The mobile and web-based app offers users the opportunity to be a part of a community focused specifically on their health and wellness needs. It is gamified and allows users to earn rewards by exercising and incorporates a social network that allows organizations in the I/DD community to form their own fitness clubs to bring the fitness community to a local level.

AKALAKA

Victoria Nneji hi@akalaka.org Our healthcare system depends on people caring for family and friends to sustain care at home and in the community. These care partners are twice as likely as the general population to experience depression, and with compounding care responsibilities, heightened levels of anxiety. The US Department of Health & Human Services has made reducing the prevalence of anxiety and depression among care partners of people with disabilities a public health priority with targets to accomplish by 2030. Therefore, the overall goal of AKALAKA’s Personalized Education & Networking System (PENS) for Life_TM project is to help people caring for family and friends improve wellbeing for their loved ones and themselves.

All Children Learn

John Boyle john@allchildrenlearn.com A fair and appropriate education is a civil right, just like voting and free speech. Yet each year, more than two million children with learning differences aren’t afforded this basic right. For the parents and caretakers of those children, navigating the system to find a free and appropriate education is confusing, unorganized, and difficult. However, there are specialized schools and providers using scientifically proven, evidence-based methodologies to intervene. Intervention often means the difference between entrepreneurship or prison, independence or dependence.

All Children Learn is fixing the inefficiency in the market and allows those schools and providers to index themselves in an organized and easy-to-find way for those parents and caretakers, in a simple-to-use app.

Alliza

Shoval Liel shoval@allizawork.com Alliza is a groundbreaking force in the employment arena, offering ongoing support and fostering a supportive community, a solution that currently does not exist. Unlike competitors providing only placement services, we don’t just connect autistic adults to jobs; we provide comprehensive training, therapy, and mentorship, ongoing support that continues long after they are placed into the workforce. We cultivate an environment where they thrive. This all-encompassing approach minimizes turnover and maximizes integration into society. Our platform directly addresses the challenges autistic adults face in the job market and was built with our experts to address their needs and meet the special regulations of people with autism. Aliza doesn’t just advocate for autistic talent; we connect them with forward-thinking companies, altering both individual lives and corporate dynamics. We bridge the talent-demand gap, transforming companies into diverse, inclusive spaces. Alliza reshapes societal perceptions of autism in the workforce, fostering a more accepting employment landscape. Beyond a mere platform, Alliza creates a supportive community where individuals, their families, and colleagues can create lasting friendships. Innovatively, we are developing AI solutions for real-time assistance, empowering users to tackle workplace challenges confidently.

Aloha Community

Aloha Autism Association Helen Hatzis helenhatzis@gmail.com Our idea, the Aloha Community, seeks to address the urgent crisis in developmental disabilities programming and housing in Ontario. By providing comprehensive, customizable support and training programs, we empower individuals with developmental disabilities to develop independence, social skills, life skills, and self-advocacy. Our innovative three-tiered approach is unique and replicable, offering a holistic solution that can change the lives of thousands. To make this vision a reality, we need government support.

Aloud ai: A Mental Health Platform for Caregivers of People with Autism Shannon Stauff shannon@bealoud.com

Aloud AI is designed specifically to provide support to caregivers of individuals with autism, an overlooked population. With over 6M children and adults living with autism, millions of caregivers will benefit from aid in their mental, emotional, and logistical lives. Central to the experience is the innovative conversational AI Chatbot. The Chatbot is a constant companion, offering words of encouragement and validation. Informed by insights from other caregivers, the support feels authentic and relatable. The Chatbot is a trusted guide and steadfast presence throughout the journey with Aloud AI. A second crucial element of the platform is the Care Ecosystem, a hub for all the independent care providers involved in an individual’s life. Knowing every

aspect of a person’s life with autism is interconnected, makes it essential to foster connection and shared understanding. The Care Ecosystem is controlled by the caregiver and personalized to include physicians, clinical providers, family caregivers, educators, and community partners. By sharing treatment plans, lived experiences, and coping mechanisms, the collective group can review and contribute to the individual’s progress over time. Aloud AI places a strong emphasis on evaluating and learning from Meaningful Interactions, pivotal moments when caregiver support is critical. Using generative AI technology, the chatbot delivers timely and relevant support using evidence-based data to promote stability and calm in what otherwise might be an overwhelming moment. This support mitigates pain and avoids lows.

Always Uniquely Me: Bringing a Novel App to Healthcare Self-Advocacy Institute for Exceptional Care Lauren Erickson achrist@ie.-care.org

People with IDD face challenges communicating in healthcare settings that can lead to bad decisions by clinicians, especially those who are not confident about serving people with IDD (PWIDD). Led by the Institute for Exceptional Care, the goal of this project is to boost self-determination and empower PWIDD at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) with the Always Uniquely Me App. This new tool will help them share with their clinical teams the most important information about them. PWIDD control what information enters the app, including personalized tips on how clinicians can work with them. The App also empowers clinicians by humanizing PWIDD and steering clinicians to the best approaches for serving that person.

Animi: App for Alexithymia Boleslav Kerous bolek@animiapp.com

Alexithymia - the inability to identify, regulate, communicate, and understand emotions - is the most neglected emotional health problem affecting 800M people worldwide (1 in 10 people). Over 50 years of research has shown that the number is so large partly because up to 50% of people with various mental disorders or conditions like ASD, ADHD, anxiety, depression, OCD, or PTSD are also alexithymic. Alexithymia worsens stress, empathy, relationships, leads to addictions, worse outcomes of therapy, contributes to increased suicide ideation and behavior, Animi is the first app dedicated to directly improving alexithymia. The ultimate goal is to become an insurance-reimbursed digital therapeutic app and enable 800M people to lead healthier lives and relationships by treating alexithymia.

ASPIE: Empowering adults with disabilities to be self-sufficient Jerry Buckwalter fourbuck@comcast.net

There are limited pathways to self-sufficiency for adults with disabilities. ASPIE is an organization creating supplemental income for a portion of that population. There are few opportunities for people who can’t function well in mainstream environments but have creative talent and skills. And many adults with challenges, particularly those on the autistic spectrum, have those artistic capabilities.

Our approach helps these artisans financially through donations for their artwork and craftwork. The model has successfully used the online ASPIE Gallery (https://www.aspieartists.com/) and a local in-person gallery to offer access to our clients’ products. We now need to scale to reach a larger number of artists who can use our approach to improve their ability to thrive independently.

Autism Talent Ecosystem Gustaf Nordback gnordback@gmail.com

Globally there is a massive autism employment gap. Less than 25% of autistic people are in any form of meaningful employment, and finding a job is one of the most difficult challenges to navigate for an autistic person. The societal impact of autistic talent not participating in the workforce is huge, when considering productivity loss and unemployment support costs. The aggregate cost for supporting autistic adults out of the workforce in the UK and the US is c. $200bn / year.

Our idea is to create a workforce accelerator with a community element, targeting first time job seekers in the US and the UK. A community of corporate partners will both hire the autistic candidates directly into apprenticeships or permanent jobs and get access to neurodivergence inclusion training.

Autism Travel Club and Autism Traveler App AutismTravel.club Becky Large becky@autismtravel.club

People and families with autism need to feel understood and supported rather than judged and safe, supportive, autism-friendly opportunities to enjoy fun and playful activities and experiences (dining out, travel, movies, events, etc.). Businesses know that understanding and supporting families with autism is the right thing to do and upholds brand reputation. They value business, market growth and access to a loyal and growing niche market that, without their support, may be opting out of buying their products, services, and experiences. Knowing that a most autism families feel isolated, we have created an ingenious program to serve families and provide positive social and economic impact to communities and businesses.

The Autism Travel Club program has been cultivated over more than a decade. The program provides online training for hospitality industry and essential workers and provides certification to businesses. The app allows people to create personalized travel profiles, find autism certified businesses, and receive services and discounts.

AUTIStant: The App for Law Enforcement Encountering Autistic Individuals Diana Orem dianaorem@gmail.com

Autistic people deserve to be a part of their community without fear that their natural (harmless) behavior will lead to their harm. Unfortunately, autistic individuals are often mislabeled as suspicious for being themselves and engaging in stimming, using their assistive devices, or simply looking or sounding different.

In extreme cases, autistic individuals have been killed, sometimes at the hands of law enforcement. These tragic events could be minimized, however, if police received the right training and had the proper resources to handle these encounters.

Autistant is an app designed specifically to assist law enforcement. It puts all the most critical tips and tools they need at their fingertips so that they are ready when they have an encounter with an autistic person.

Awetistic Artists e-Commerce Platform The Winders Group Rebekah Paul rebekah@thewindersgroup.com

In the art world, autistic artists often can’t showcase or monetize their unique talents, missing potential income and depriving society of their distinct perspectives. “Awetistic Artists” is our solution: an online marketplace tailored for them. This e-commerce platform empowers these artists to display and sell their creations. Our mission is to celebrate their talent and provide tangible income opportunities, enriching the art scene for all.

Behavior Buddy™: Smart Positive Behavioral Support Guiding Technologies John Nosek John.nosek@guildingtechnologies.com

This project will focus on development of Behavior Buddy™, smart positive behavioral support (PBS) technology for challenging behavior. Students with disabilities who exhibit challenging behavior are at heightened risk for academic failure due to their behavior and are three times more likely to drop out of school than their peers without disabilities. Challenging behavior is a significant stressor for parents and teachers who consistently report that classroom behavior problems are a major source of burnout in the profession. Current interventions for challenging behavior are human resource intensive and fidelity of implementation is an ongoing problem. This project seeks to develop an innovative and comprehensive smart technology solution to address challenging behavior.

BehaviorFlow

Dan McFadden dan@behaviorflow.com The BehaviorFlow application revolutionizes the way autistic students, teachers, and their families use Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) to improve outcomes and achieve goals. On the surface, BehaviorFlow is a full-featured app built for ABA, but at our core we are a collection of beliefs. We believe that every student deserves a chance to meet their loftiest goals. We believe that every teacher deserves the support and tools that they need to do their job well. We believe that every family deserves education solutions which offer inclusion and hope. We seek to deliver on those beliefs by marrying science-backed education with modernday technology to meet more goals, improve skill acquisition, and improve outcomes for autistic students and the communities that support them.

BIP Visualized

ABA Visualized Morgan van Diepen morgan@bipvisualized.com BIP Visualized is an innovative, data-driven solution addressing the crucial need for enhancing the development & dissemination of Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs). Extensive research has highlighted the proven positive impact of BIPs in supporting neurodiverse learners, but it has also revealed persistent barriers hindering their effective use. Traditionally, behavior experts invest significant time in writing technical text plans, resulting in low stakeholder engagement, poor understanding, & limited impact. With BIP Visualized, we’re transforming this process, empowering behavior experts to create interactive, visual, step-by-step plans. This paradigm shift not only enhances engagement, understanding, & retention, but also boosts confidence levels within the team.

Brain Development Coach in your Pocket Kim Pomares kim@mendability.com

According to U.S. Department of Education and the Behavior Analyst Certification Board, of 3,108 counties, about 54 percent do not have a single BCBA. And even among counties that do, the ratio of autistic children to therapists varies dramatically — from fewer than 18 up to 328 children per therapist. The statistics seem to be the same when looking at occupational therapists or SLPs. We want to address this huge gap and give access to clinically validated therapy at a very low cost to everyone, especially in underserved areas.

Brand Ambassador for Accessibility Tools Should be People Who Use Them Confident Smiles LLC Alice Stone alice@sipify.me

Confident Smiles is a woman-owned company that creates products that make everyday tasks simpler and improve daily life. Its first product, Sipify, is an innovative flow-limiting straw that cools hot liquids and allows people to control their sip size. The convenience of a straw reduces coffee stains and spilling; the sip size control helps people with swallowing issues due to chronic conditions, or acute conditions such as oral cancer treatment. We think the best way to get Sipify into the hands of people who need it most is by developing a network of paid ambassadors who will outreach to institutions, facilities, non-profits, and advocacy groups to increase awareness of the product and drive sales and business relationship opportunities.

Bridging Gaps: A Unified Database for Profound Autism Services Profound Autism Alliance Kimberly Dick Kimberly.dick@profoundautism.org

Launched in 2023, The Profound Autism Alliance, co-founded by Judith Ursitti, is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of individuals with profound autism. The challenges faced by these individuals and their families can be isolating, resulting in significant stress. Safety concerns, such as a higher risk of abuse, highlight the urgent need for action. However, the demand for disability services exceeds available resources, exacerbating disparities. To address these issues, the alliance seeks a grant to establish a comprehensive resource database for specialized care and programs.

In stark contrast to conventional autism provider databases, our model is meticulously crafted to focus on addressing the specific needs of individuals with profound autism – a group often overlooked by broader autism support organizations.

Brief Facial Micro Movement Screening to Track Neurodevelopmental Disorders Dr. Elizabeth Torres Etorres@silassolutions.com

With 1/36 children of school age affected by autism spectrum disorders (ASD), and a ratio of ~4:1 males to females, there are no proper treatments tailored to females. Furthermore, current tools are ill-equipped to track effectiveness of treatments, or to simply track longitudinal neurodevelopmental progress in ASD. Autism science informed by current clinical tools is consequently also biased towards males. These tools require on the order of 45-60 minutes to administer to conclude with a diagnosis that misses females and/or delays their detection.

Our research on motor issues in ASD differentiating females from males, inspired an app that can detect atypical females’ facial micro-motions. This app can also detect differences in ASD-apraxia and separate apraxia in males vs. females. We can provide a reliable, objective and very brief (5second/assay) screener to detect neurological disorders present in ASD with specificity to females. Our app measures facial micromotions invisible to the naked eye, yet automatically detectable by our algorithms. Because we use broadly available smartphones and tablets, our app can be scaled and used in rural areas, poor, underserved

Building and Supporting the Neurodiversity Talent Pipeline Autism Community Ventures PBC Maureen Dunne, PhD maureen@autismcommunityventures.org

Far too many neurodivergent people are still falling through the cracks. Approximately 30-40% of neurodivergent adults and up to 85% autistic people remain unemployed. The Transition2Success Project, a college completion and talent pipeline wraparound support program that bridges service gaps, aims to

cultivate opportunity pathways. The National Longitudinal Transition Study-2 reported a 38.8% average college degree completion for autistic students. Data collected from the Transition2Success project showed a significantly higher completion rate with customized wraparound support (91.2%). The proposed project incorporates innovative features, allowing students to stick with their support team while exploring career pathways.

Building radically inclusive, fully accessible, deeply affordable housing The Kelsey Caroline Bas caroine@thekelsey.org

Around 27% of adults in the US are disabled, yet less than 5% of the nation’s housing stock is accessible.

Disproportionately impacted by the housing crisis, the 61 million disabled adults in the US continue to be overlooked. Whether a young autistic man living with aging parents, a woman with cerebral palsy experiencing housing insecurity, or a trans and disabled individual requiring support staff to live on their own, our housing solutions are designed to support diverse access needs and to do so in fully integrated, inclusive communities. The first national organization explicitly focused on housing and disability, The Kelsey is the only national organization addressing disability-forward housing by paring deep, direct impact with transformative, sector-wide scale. The Kelsey co-develops and operates housing communities while leading advocacy and field-building efforts to create market conditions so inclusive housing becomes the norm.

Building Up Disability Inclusion in Competency in the Recreation Community Needham Recreation/MRPA Katie Dupont kdupont@massrpa.org

Research has shown that children with disabilities engage in less physical activity compared to their typically developing peers. Recreation participation can lead to improved physical health, personal development, and growth. Inclusive settings provide increased opportunities for belonging and authentic friendships to occur.

Often recreation programs do not have the tools or confidence to fully include community members with disabilities, or resort to creating segregated classes as the default when asked to be more inclusive. It’s time to disrupt recreational program service delivery. Comprehensive training allows an organization to overcome hurdles toward being authentically inclusive and support community members with disabilities to successfully participate.

C4A Academy: Giving a Voice to the Voiceless Communication 4 All Elizabeth Bonker elizabeth@commition4ALL.org

One in three people with autism cannot use speech to communicate; globally that adds up to over 30 million children and adults who suffer in silence. Launched in 2022, Communication 4 ALL (C4A) seeks to ensure that all nonspeakers with autism have access to communication and education. C4A Founder and Executive Director Elizabeth Bonker has nonspeaking autism and was taught at an early age how to point to letters on a letterboard and now types to communicate. She is one of a few thousand nonspeakers who have had this opportunity. But that’s about to change. Through the C4A Academy, nonspeakers with autism—anywhere in the world—will be able access internet-based instructional videos, free of charge. C4A will launch the Academy on December 1 with 10 inaugural videos and robust support.

CareFlick

Abhishek Mohanty abhishek@careflick.com Rising autism diagnoses and an aging population amplify caregiving challenges. Many primary caregivers, often untrained family members, face information gaps, emotional strain, and financial pressures, made worse by a shortage of professional support. At CareFlick we use AI to transform caregiving. Our app focuses on these primary caregivers, offering personalised resources and support at scale. Key to our approach is Yana, an AI-companion for caregivers. Yana offers advice, connects caregivers to peers and experts, and provides curated educational content. CareFlick aims not just to support but revolutionize caregiving, ensuring no caregiver feels isolated.

Cognilum

JelikaLite Katya Sverdlov katya@jelikalite.com Autism rates keep rising worldwide, the costs are skyrocketing, yet currently there are no FDA approved pharmacological or device treatments that target its core symptoms. JelikaLite is developing Cognilum -– a transformational neuromodulation platform combining non-invasive wearable brain stimulation medical device with machine learning personalization, rapidly improving children’s speech, responsiveness, and socialization. To date - we built a functioning prototype, conducted 3 successful clinical studies with children, received FDA breakthrough device designation, received National Science Foundation grant, have patents and have global commercialization partners. Our vision is to provide non-invasive, personalized, and effective treatment to children affected by neurological disorders.

Controlling Real Objects Using Thought for the Disabled University of Calgary Dion Kelly dkelly@possneuro.com

Possibility Neurotechnologies is revolutionizing the assistive technologies sector through a novel, inclusive and empowering solution – the Think2Switch. This transformative technology leverages brain-computer interface (BCI), a system that enables direct communication between a brain and an external device. Our product targets the needs of individuals who are “locked-in” their bodies due to severe physical disabilities, often with normal cognitive abilities but without the means to meaningfully interact with the world.

Decoding Human Neurobiology to Transform Drug Discovery for Autism The Rockefeller University Hourinaz Behesti hourinaz@hebbianbio.com

We are building a platform to improve target and biomarker discovery for central nervous system disorders, with a primary focus on autism and related neurodevelopmental disorders. Our platform is the first of its kind to bypass the need for a genetic diagnosis, which in most idiopathic cases of autism (~85%) and other complex conditions, is a challenge. The potential application is enormous; autism alone affects 50M children worldwide and is growing yearly by 4.4%. There are currently no approved drugs on the market for autism.

Our proprietary platform combines state-of-the art human neuronal modeling, proteomics, and machine learning. Our differentiator is our process that combines a novel computational approach and a unique biological insight of a layer of human biology that is untapped

DiVE (formerly Diversity Intelligence) Yuval Tal yuvaltvedar@gmail.com

People with disabilities and autism have an unfair disadvantage when it comes to employment. According to UN data, only 25% of people with disabilities are employed, in comparison to 51% of the general population.

When looking at neurodivergent people (autism, ADHD, dyslexia, etc.), the unemployment rate is even higher, three times the rate for people with disability, and eight times the rate for people without disability. The sad reality is that even when they are employed people with disabilities still feel misunderstood, and generally don’t feel truly included in their workplace.

Our goal at DiVE, is to increase the employment rates of people with disabilities and autism, and help employers create the most inclusive work environment, to make all employees as productive as possible.

Eleplan: Utilizing Generative AI to Securely Customize Family Care Planning Eleplan Amanda Lukof amanda@eleplan.com

Families affected by special needs are occupied with the daily fires of everyday life...Getting their loved one to school, managing their IEP, recruiting a new job coach, researching housing options, deciding what therapies are best for their child, and what combination of those therapies is actually working. There is rarely time to plan for the future, and what’s left is an overwhelming sense of fear around the question that keeps every parent up at night: What happens when I am no longer here? How will successor caregivers know how to take care of my child?

Eleplan delivers peace of mind to families by creating customizable plans for caregivers, present and future. Our goal is to create order from chaos, certainty from fear, and empower families to care and plan proactively.

Eloquia

Adi Kondepudi Akondep1@jh.edu The idea aims to address the need for a digital platform that empowers individuals with speech impediments to improve their speech fluency and enhance their communication skills. The overall goal of this project is to create a machine learning-powered platform, called Eloquia, that allows users to submit speech recordings for analysis, receive personalized insights, and track their speech improvement over time. This platform not only assists individuals in understanding their unique speech challenges but also provides valuable support for speech therapists, ultimately leading to increased confidence and improved communication for those with speech impediments.

EZ-Read

Leigh Stewardson Leigh765@me.com EZ-Read is an innovative mobile app designed to enhance reading comprehension and cater to varying literacy levels. Key features include: 1. Adaptive Reading Level: Transform any text, from e-books and online articles to textbooks, into a customized reading experience. Adjust the reading level to suit your needs.

2.Visual Support: Experience content like never before with integrated illustrations and images that clarify complex concepts and reinforce understanding.

3. Interactive Formatting: Interact with the text through dynamic formatting that breaks down information into bite-sized chunks. 4.Language Learning Mode: Learn a new language with confidence using EZRead’s language learning mode.

Farm Model: GROW OPPORTUNITIES & Shatter Misconceptions About Disabilities Homesteads for Hope, Inc Heather Burroughs heather@homesteadsforhope.org

The pandemic devastated many organizations serving people with I/DD. Systems already strained are now crumbling, forcing 1000s of people onto waitlists for housing and programs. It is estimated that 70% of adults with I/DD have no choice but to live with their aging parents and 80% do not earn a livable paycheck. Their families are heartsick thinking about what will happen to their loved ones when they pass away.

Our intentional community grows opportunities for all abilities with a focus on people who’ve transitioned out of school. With respect and encouragement, we help them shatter misconceptions. “Nature’s Classroom” is a supportive setting where our Apprentices grow skills and relationships that help them cultivate a life of purpose, which for some, equates to paid employment.

FrenalyticsEDU: Automate Personalized Learning & Data Collection for K-12 Matt Giovanniello matt@frenalytics.com

Authentic individualized learning isn’t actually happening in class, often because educators don’t have time or resources to differentiate lessons, especially for the 19 million students that require special education (SpEd) and/or English Language (ELL) services. Coupled with an inability to conduct proper progress monitoring in a timely manner, this is precluding K-12 teachers from implementing IEP & ELP goals, accommodations, and modifications with fidelity & at scale. Special Education and ELL students are failing academically and socially – the difference between documented services and those actually administered have never been more stark.

Our patented software, FrenalyticsEDU, is an all-in-one personalized learning and progress monitoring software being designed with educators, for educators to help strengthen IEPs, increase student retention, streamline progress monitoring, encourage family involvement, and improve reporting capabilities on progress and proficiency across SpEd and ELL populations.

Gamify Therapies for Kids with Developmental Disabilities and Special Needs Recover Health Tad Svendrys tad@recovr.health

The treatment of motor skills in a school environment is challenging on many levels. There is currently a severe shortage of qualified school-based therapists in the US. The pandemic exacerbated the need for school therapists as so many children fell further behind—especially those with more significant disabilities.

In addition to personnel shortages, the overall cost of educating students with disabilities is skyrocketing.

Recover Health offers a unique, cost-effective solution with fun, child-friendly virtual activities that can be targeted to address specific motor deficits and can be administered by a therapist or even done independently. The incorporation of gamification, colorful graphics and adjustable levels of difficulty make the platform an ideal too for pediatric therapy intervention.

Global Autism Initiative Heidi Kershaw HLKershaw@gmail.com

The mission of the Global Autism Coalition (GAC) is to secure the safety, livelihood, and success of the global autistic community by educating, destigmatizing, providing technological resources, and infrastructural support to those living in underdeveloped nation-states around the world. Through strategic partnerships, the humanitarian crisis that surrounds the autism community can be addressed in a sustainable and impactful way.

Happy Ladders Early Intervention Platform for Parents Amy Jacobs-Schroeder amy@happyladders.com

The CDC recently reported that 25% of children aged 3–17 are diagnosed with a developmental disability.

Early interventions are limited in access and scalability due to their reliance on 1:1 models with professional therapists. Because of this and other challenges such as work or family constraints, physical location, and language, it’s not uncommon for children with developmental disabilities to go without Early Intervention services or be put on waiting lists for access to services. Our goal is to ensure every family can access Early Intervention Therapy by expanding accessibility by partnering with additional organizations, translating the platform into multiple languages, and optimizing parent engagement.

Happy Ladders is a Parent-Led early Intervention Platform for iOS, Android and Web that requires only a device and internet access. Because of this, the ability to reach families who may otherwise go without services, even for short periods, is unparalleled.

Hey Batter Batter !!!!

Robotsport Technologies Salvatore LoDuca asal@robosporttechnologies.com Robosport Technologies was born out of the quest to expand the human nervous system, create better mind-body connectivity, enhance longer term learning and memory retention and aid in providing more fluid, flexible and reactive skeletal-muscular motion. We accomplish this, by combining established scientific principles such as opposite side (contralateral) and randomized (contextual interference) training with stateof-the-art technology in a manner that is engaging, interactive, non-invasive, and non-pharmaceutical.

Hey Batter Batter is a Robotic Baseball Batting Tee (RBT) that shifts the training paradigm from repetition to randomization and unilateral to bilateral training. Initially developed for athletes, the RBT can be applicable for all age groups with neuro motor disabilities, cognitive challenges, autism, Downs Syndrome, and potentially early stage dementia.

IEP&ME

Coretta Martin coretta@iepandme.com Since the inception of IDEA in 1975, students with disabilities have been served by individual education plans (IEPs) that are written by special educators, implemented by educators, and agreed upon by a team of adults.

The large majority of students with IEPs do not have access to the information on their IEPs, and therefore they do not have the opportunity to advocate for themselves in the classroom.

IEP&Me intends to create the first software platform for students with disabilities to access and interact with their IEPs and engage directly with the IEP process. Providing this access, in a similar way that they can access their classwork, sets them up for success in self-advocacy and self-determination.

Inclusive Advocate Training With Us Workshops, LLC Pauline Bosma pauline@wearemass.org

We believe that the only way to truly include and support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the community is by learning directly from us about our lives and perspectives. Our goal is to launch our training company owned and operated by self-advocates with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We offer training, led by a diverse community of self-advocate trainers, about inclusion of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in all aspects of society. We offer an expansive menu of

engaging and interactive in-service training and professional development workshops, online or in-person, for organizations, agencies, and businesses across the United States that want to include and support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities

Invisible Strengths

Invisible Strengths Mariah Barber mariah@invisiblestrengths.com We believe that the future of public health work is inclusive and accessible. There is massive untapped potential in the disabled community – that’s why we help marginalized jobseekers find roles where they can thrive, and help employers access a wide pool of highly competent applicants. Invisible Strengths is designed specifically for those with invisible disabilities, and the BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ disability communities, but is open to all. 1 in 4 Americans live with a disability, and on average they’re twice as likely to be jobless than people without disabilities – but the experience of disability is very different along identity lines.

Our goal is connecting disabled jobseekers with supportive work environments, and a diverse pipeline of candidates for employers.

Just Bee: Connecting Autistic & Neurodiverse Families with their Communities Layla Luna justbethechange@gmail.com

The Just Bee platform will revolutionize daily life for individuals with Autism and their families. By centralizing reviews of accessible businesses, the Just Bee app will make inclusivity easy to find and hard to ignore. This platform will not only simplify day-to-day activities but also drive societal change, urging and empowering business to be more inclusive. This app will also be a tool for first responders, providing a database to ensure the safety of individuals with Autism in the community during an emergency situation.

Kaboose – Find Your Tribe through your Special Interests Michelle Ridsdale michelle@kaboose.app

Our vision is for Kaboose to be a global community platform that is a single place for Autistics to safely build their tribe of support, leveraging their special interests. Kaboose is a community app that provides a safe space for autistics and those who identify as neurodiverse to find and interact with friends safely. Users create their profile, nominating special interests, age and location which allows us to match people based on the criteria set, from there they can create tribes based on their shared interests. On signup, we verify identity and obtain parental/guardian consent for younger members. To prevent cyberbullying, we’ll be integrating with Utopia, which provides AI based chat moderation. Initially we will build a thriving social community and expand from there.

Kids Stay Awesome Sidra Alvi Alvi.sidra@gmail.com

Kids Stay Awesome is a dynamic organization that empowers neurodivergent children. We offer after-school inclusive programs that utilize evidence-based strategies to foster social-emotional growth and awareness.

Our mission is to bridge communication gaps between neurotypical and neurodivergent children aged 2 to 8.

Our approach is to amplify each child’s unique strengths, which leads to enrichment and acceptance, aiming for a profound mindset shift for all students. Website: www.kidsstayawesome.com

Life Skills Through Recreation Jess Talbot 19jt96@gmail.com

The goal of this project is to empower teens and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (idd) to live a quality, well-rounded life, as independently as possible. Many adults with IDD rely completely on their family or staff in all areas of life. This project is based on the idea that people with IDD should have as much autonomy and be as involved in their community as possible. This project will teach life skills such as cooking, community safety, social skills, wellness skills, etc. in a group setting. A center that provides fun activities and skill groups, will allow these individuals will have a safe community of their peers to learn important skills, gain confidence, and ultimately live a fuller healthier life.

Lorestry – Parent-Led Develoopmental Progression Monitoring Alea Diagnostics, Inc Linda Craib linda@aleadiagnostics.com

Alea Diagnostics created the infant mental health/development MONITORING category with Lorestry. We engage parents in life storytelling and the collection of developmental milestone observations and baby feelings, firsts, and language including video/image/note capture. We map these observations to a global, machine-readable health language called SNOMED-CT (NIH/NLM/NHS).

Our goal is to optimize precision developmental care. Monitoring social-emotional milestones supports early identification of children with autism, but only have 0-1 evidence-based reference norms according to the CDC/AAP (2022). This project will refine social-emotional milestone cutoffs for care team conversations/B-3 referrals based on observations and reporting of parents using Lorestry for data collection.

MyGoodLife.ai – A health guidance system that drives patient engagement McClennan Group Jeannette McClennan jeannette@mcclennangroup.com

Payor/providers are financially invested in our wellness and carry our health data - but have yet to unlock its power. MyGoodLife is a patient engagement tool that uses non-clinical datapoints to understand the “whole person” - so that your health plan talks to you like an individual, not just another member.

In our pilot study (100K users), we proved that highly targeted messaging can significantly close gaps in care (25% more mammograms, 10% more medication adherence, 45% more statin use). That’s because knowing the simple stuff, like whether you value spirituality, are a sports fan, or are a grandparent getting healthier for a family event is more than just “nice to have”. It is key to identifying intrinsic motivations for trustworthy communications that drive self-care. We believe the missing ingredient is trust. MyGoodLife.ai integrates anywhere in the healthcare continuum, to meet patients hwere conversations are already happening.

ND Connect

Eliana Bravos eliana@ndconnect.app Research shows that there is a neurodivergent mentoring gap. In one large study, 70% of neurodivergent people reported not having access to a mentor when they needed one, which was 3x greater than the rate neurotypical people reported (Mentoring Canada, 2022). This is a problem because the world undoubtedly advantages people who have social networks. From navigating college and trying to get internships, through finding work, to advancing in your career, one of the most important factors for success is social capital and who you know. That’s why we’re building ND Connect - a mentorship and peer support platform for

neurodivergent people to connect, network authentically, and ultimately find a pod of people that will champion them.

Neurodiversity MicorBuild for Managers Elizabeth Green liz@linktalent.org

Neurodivergent individuals are expected to live and thrive in a world not designed for them. Comprising greater than 20% of the workforce, the unique cognitive abilities and gifts of neurodivergent populations are underutilized by industries desperate for talent (Mahto et al., 2023). This is most notable in the cybersecurity industry, which has 3.4 million vacant jobs, amounting to a critical threat to national security.

Link Consulting works with companies to build neurodiversity-inclusive cultures, which includes normalizing Universal Design for career development and upskilling. Cybersecurity is the first industry engaging with Link’s disruptive approach to neuroinclusion and a model for other industries to follow.

Past-Present-Future: AI-Powered Analysis of Autism Treatment Saulius Fomenko Saulius.fomenko@gmail.com

In the field of autism treatment, there is a pressing need for personalized, data-driven strategies that take into account the influence of various factors over time. Our project, ‘Past-Present-Future: AI-Powered Analysis of Autism Treatment’, addresses this need by leveraging unique historical data from Dr. Audrius Plioplys’s work with children with autism from 1980-2000. By comparing this data with current cases, we aim to identify trends and changes over time, uncovering the impact of factors such as exposure to heavy metals, environmental toxins, GMOs, chemically-enhanced food, artificial milk, food allergies and intolerances, and gut dysbiosis on autism. The overall goal of our project is to use these insights to develop more effective, personalized treatment strategies for children.

Phoeb-X, Inc

David Ruttenberg david@pheob-x.com Phoeb-X aims to solve a singular and unaddressed problem: 90% of autistic adults report that sensory issues cause barriers to their daily lives including functioning at school, work, and in social situations. To address this significant problem, Phoeb-X is developing life-changing wearables and software for those with autism, ADHD, and other neurodiverse diagnoses. These deliverables help people increase their comfort, attention, performance, and autonomy while reducing their sensory sensitivity, distractibility, anxiety, and fatigue in the contexts of education, employment, and social venues.

PigPug Health: AI-Driven Breakthrough for Children’s Health Vitali Karpeichyk vitali@pigpug.co

In a world where neurological disorders like ADHD and ASD are becoming increasingly prevalent among children, PigPug Health is pioneering a transformative solution. Our mission is to address the pressing need for accessible and effective neurotherapy tailored specifically to pediatric patients.

PigPug Health is more than just a technological advancement; it’s a lifeline for parents and a path to brighter futures for children. By harnessing the power of artificial intelligence, our innovative approach empowers families to unlock the full potential of their kids’ developing minds. The ultimate goal of the PigPug Health project is to revolutionize pediatric neurohealth, offering personalized neurofeedback that enhances focus, social skills, and overall well-being in children.

Preparing Neurodiverse Students to Soar into the Drone Industry Neurodiversity Works Nicole Corder nicole@neurodiversityworks.org

Neurodiverse individuals often face barriers to entry in conventional career paths due to a lack of understanding, accommodations, and specialized educational programs that align with their unique learning styles and talents. Furthermore, innovative industries like unmanned aerial systems (drones) are rapidly expanding but are often inaccessible to those without specialized training.

Our overarching goal is to address this gap by introducing neurodiverse students to the burgeoning field of drone technology through our comprehensive “Drone Career Workshop.” Key to our initiative is the educational component, specifically designed to create awareness among neurodiverse students that such career opportunities exist and are within their reach.

Rayo- AI-Powered Browser for Web Accessibility Dung Tran dung@therayo.com

Rayo addresses the pressing need for web accessibility, particularly for individuals with disabilities. The overall goal of Rayo is to make websites barrier-free and enhance the web browsing experience for people with various forms of disabilities. This includes improving access for those with visual impairments, physical limitations, cognitive and learning challenges, as well as speech and auditory impairments.

Rayo aims to ensure that everyone, regardless of their abilities, can enjoy a hassle-free, fast, and enjoyable online experience. By doing so, Rayo intends to empower individuals with disabilities, enhance job opportunities, and foster inclusivity on the internet.

RoboCoach and TNDS USA Replica Pilot Technology North Corporation Ling Huang Ling.huang@technologynorth.net

According to 2023 CDC report, 3% of adults are on the autism spectrum, over 90% are unemployed or underemployed. To address this, Technology North developed groundbreaking assistive technology RoboCoach to remove barriers. It introduced the comprehensive autism employment program TNDS, leveraging the distinct strengths of those on the autism spectrum, attention to detail and profound focus, offering document digitization as a service to public, transforming the prevailing narrative from despair to hope for ASD individuals and their families. With a 4-year successful and self-sustained track record, scale to 17 ASD employees, generated close to 1M in revenue. TN is ready and poised to replicate this success in USA, making the required changes for further national rollout and scalability.

Rootines – Data and analytics for pediatric complex chronic conditions ASD.ai LLC Tamera Jackson tj@asd.ai

Rootines is a data and analytics platform for pediatric complex chronic conditions. We have our platform which consists of an app and a web-based platform for clinical use - completed. The platform marries remote patient monitoring with patient (or caregiver) reported outcomes and allows sharing amongst the care team.

We would like to integrate computer vision into our platform which would be a novel implementation - we are not aware of anyone leveraging this technology currently. Computer vision would be implemented via camera though the cameras would not be recording images. Rather, the software would be gathering identification of clients/patients through facial recognition and would pull biometric data like heart rate, heart rate variability and more.

SayKid: An educational toy to build social skills through interactive play DeLonn Crosby delonn@saykid.com

More than 1 million children under the age of 10 have Autism in the US. Although Autism is a spectrum disorder, Autistic children often have poorly developed social skills and/or difficulty expressing language.

These skills form early in life through back-and-forth interaction (not pushing buttons or staring at screens).

As a result, the most-practical technological solutions (iPads/phones) aren’t practical at the age when it matters most. Although technological (social robots) and non-technological interventions (behavioral therapy) exist, they are cost-prohibitive for many families.

By combining voice technology with tangible play, SayKid will develop a low-cost, play-based intervention to help Autistic children build and practice social skills in a developmentally appropriate way.

Sense-ational You

Julia DeNey Julia.deney@shopsenseationalyou.com Sense-ational You is a children’s clothing brand focused on meeting the functional and aesthetic needs of children with autism and Sensory Processing Disorder. We go beyond the simply tagless clothing in the market, creating styles that increase independence and offer built-in sensory tools that help children regulate.

This is done through adaptive features such as magnetic closures, compression linings, sound reducing hoods, built-in fidgets and more. We strive to spread autism acceptance and inclusion through fashion. Clothing offers the opportunity to teach neurotypical children on the needs of others. Adaptive fashion also allows us to meet neurodivergent children’s needs in discrete and convenient ways.

Smart Rosters: Improving Accessible Education for All with Machine Learning Education Modified, Inc. Melissa Corto melissa@educationmodified.com

Students with disabilities (SWD) are marginalized in K12 education and not granted the same opportunities in life after school. Only 75% of SWD graduate with a traditional high school diploma and only 55% go to a postsecondary school. This is partly because the data teachers need to accommodate SWD is buried in legacy compliance systems and hampered by paper-based processes. Many teachers don’t know which students have special needs, their specific disability classification or their legally-mandated accommodations. This results in poor student outcomes.

The goal of EdMod Smart Rosters, powered by machine learning, is to remove the manual burden of combing through data buried in IEPs, and instead present digestible data at teachers’ fingertips that sets their students up for success.

Smart Steps Mobile

Dr. Cindy Fisher Cindyfisher9600@gmail.com After high school, persons with cognitive disabilities are not supported in the same way that they were in public schools. Many find themselves on waiting lists or staying home rather than pursuing their goals.

The Smart Steps Mobile app provides just-in-time support with decision-making in everyday situations such as a late ride to work or a lost item. It includes features that address individual needs, such as a read aloud button, social scripting, tips and suggestions, a map button, a help button, personal contacts, and a profile screen.

The goal of this project is to gather efficacy data through Project SEARCH sites, to enhance the current technology by adding a web application as a platform, to streamline workflows, and to meet industry requirements for data security and privacy.

SocialWise VR: Emotional Agility Without the Emotional Risk Social Wise VR Nicole Lockerman nlockerman@socialwisevr.om

SocialWise VR (SWVR) is an innovative virtual reality curriculum that enhances emotional intelligence and social skills for neurodiverse young adults, particularly those with ASD. SWVR offers an authentic, risk-free environment for individuals to practice novel interactions specific to social skills, transition to college, and employment training. There is a critical need for a modernized curriculum to address the unique challenges neurodiverse adults face. SWVR fills this gap by being the primary teaching platform for ND young adults, especially those with autism, while navigating life transitions. SWVR will partner with 50 colleges and employment specialists to give exclusive access to the SWVR platform. These partnerships will enable us to gather valuable data on pain points with life transitions.

SPED Business Microenterprise Curriculum Celebrate EDU Jenny Anderson jenny@celebrateEDU.org

Currently, 81% of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities are unemployed and one of the main barriers preventing them from gaining employment is the lack of education and training they receive. Young adults in school or transition require work-based learning experiences, but there are few options available.

Without training or work experience, it is very difficult for an individual with a disability to obtain skills for the future.

The Celebrate EDU microenterprise curriculum is built for classrooms, providing all the tools needed to start or expand a business. Students working at a micro-business learn problem-solving, financial literacy, and job readiness. They develop durable and transferable skills that will help them throughout their lives.

SymbolStory – Narrative Communication Danit Weinberg danit@symbolstory.app

17% of children are diagnosed with a developmental disability. That’s 1 in 6 children! Children with communication challenges deal with challenges in predicting and navigating the social world. They need intensive and daily care, which can be time-consuming and costly for parents and health providers. With technological advancements, we have an opportunity to develop augmentative tools to support the wellbeing of 374M children around the world in a more inclusive way.

SymbolStory is transforming clinical and proven methodologies into simple and affordable tools using advanced technology. Our vision is to empower 274M children to navigate social situations confidently and successfully. Our first Go-to product is a personalized Social Stories software (Evidenced-Based-Practice tool)

Tatum Robotics: Assistive Technology for the DeafBlind Community Samantha Johnson sjohnson@tatumrobotics.com

DeafBlind people cannot communicate independently. Without the help of interpreters, friends, or support providers, they cannot read a book, call family, or browse the internet.

Tatum Robotics is developing robotic systems that translate English into tactile American Sign Language (ASL).

Specifically, we are creating an anthropomorphic signing system that includes a fingerspelling hand/wrist that can be integrated into a humanoid arm to achieve complex signs and sentences. Tatum devices can make eBooks, email, and texting accessible to DeafBlind people independently and in their preferred language for the first time. Importantly, Tatum devices would grant DeafBlind people access without sacrificing privacy and independence, revolutionizing the daily lives of this underserved population.

The 10% Community Todd Field ceo@thetenpercent.io

Our idea, “The 10% Community,” addresses a critical need in our society: the lack of accessible and inclusive platforms for individuals living with disabilities. Our goal is to create a thriving online community where people with disabilities can connect, share experiences, access valuable resources, and build meaningful relationships.

This platform aims to bridge the gap in understanding and support for those facing the unique challenges that disabilities bring, fostering a stronger and more supportive society.

The Armory: Weapons for Life

Autistic Self-Reliance Support Network & ITI Assistive Technologies, Inc Shannan Palma shannan@autisticselfreliance.org ITI Assistive Technologies is developing the Armory, a suite of assistive apps for autistic adults designed by autistic people. The Armory addresses lack of: research on the Autistic lifespan after age 18; services for Autistic adults; and solutions that flex to suit a dynamic disability.

In 2021, the autism treatment market was valued at $4.1 billion.

In 2017, only 6% of research funding went towards services and 2% went to researching the Autistic lifespan.

There are an estimated 6.8 million autistic children and adults in the US alone. Over 5 million of them are adults. Do the math.

Our solution: develop assistive apps designed for those most impacted; use app revenues to fund direct services; and let users own their data and opt in to research projects to find effective supports for Autistic adults.

The Full Circle Depot

Community Autism Resources Lori DeCrescenzo Loridecrescenzo@community-autism-resources.com Our dream is to create a space where the definition of community is brought to life. A place where everything comes full circle. Where a community comes together and serves each other. Welcome to the “Full Circle Depot” - right off the train tracks in Taunton adjacent to our offices. A space encouraging autistic adults to learn important employment skills, practice social interactions, and help the families we support struggling financially to obtain some necessities (clothing) and specialized items pertaining to Autism (books and sensory items). A spot where autistic artists can showcase their talents. An environment where all are welcome, and no contribution is too small because all are important. A place allowing one person’s challenges to be another person’s opportunity to help.

The RoadMap Webinar Series: Planning Futures of Purpose and Independence Parallel International Consultants Dana Zavatkay dana@parallelintl.com

In the United States, the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that the unemployment rate for adults on the autism spectrum is as high as 85%, compared to a national unemployment rate of just 3.8%. The current methods that exist to mitigate the staggering difference between groups has not moved the needle in decades and have shaped an awkward system where education and the idea of transition to the workforce is robust, but actual solutions are scarce. This “cliff” of support at the conclusion of public education leaves the individual underprepared for life, frequently unemployed, and looking towards a future that lacks purpose and dignity. The goal of our project is to take an existing successful transition planning process, The RoadMap

Lab™, that has been implemented on an individual level, and make it more accessible via an online self-paced webinar series.

THREAD-the-Game by Haystack Haystack Hub Shelly Tanner shelly@haystackhub.com

Employment is a significant factor contributing to identity and quality of life and yet barriers such as: discriminatory recruitment practices, lack of workplace support, poor awareness within workplace still exist.

Job seekers with a disability experience double the unemployment rate of those without. Compared to their peers with other types of disabilities, young adults with autism show the lowest rate of employment.

Approximately 99% of young adults in the U.S. will work at some point between ages 21-25 yet for those with autism the rate is only around 42%, taking longer than their peers.

This project will facilitate access to meaningful matched jobs for those not fitting the current recruitment process, through a video game built for the (sensory, communication & social) needs of autistic job seekers.

Thrive with ARTIE

Zamora Olin zamora@thrivewithartie.com Over 80% of adults with autism are unemployed and over 60% of teens with autism don’t transition into college or find employment directly after high school. With rising costs, this negatively impacts their ability to create a sustainable life and maintain independence in later years.

Thrive with ARTIE is a groundbreaking project that aims to utilize Assistive Rehabilitative Training and Virtual Learning Simulations to improve the overall quality of life for individuals with autism. The overall goal of this project is to use technology to: (1) reduce the unemployment rate of adults with autism, (2) improve the transition to adulthood of teens with autism, (3) improve the quality of life of adults and teens with autism, and (4) foster independence in later adult years.

ThriveIEP

Elizabeth McWhorter elizabeth@thriveiep.com ThriveIEP is changing how parents and educators manage the special education process. There are currently 7M+ children in special education in the US – likely less than half the actual number in need. Guardians engage with schools through the creation of an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or 504 Plan. This work is complex, time-consuming, opaque, and requires parents to successfully overcome a very steep learning curve. This results in high levels of dissatisfaction (25.5% of parents were wholly unsatisfied in one U of Oklahoma survey), and poor results for children.

ThriveIEP helps guardians navigate the many barriers in this journey, empowering them with a robust platform that provides AI-driven insights, information, and assistance - ultimately improving education outcomes for kids.

Titan ATS: The First Anti-Bias Applicant Tracking System Katherine McCord kmccord@tiitanmanagementusa.com

Titan ATS has the first fully inclusive, anti-bias, and accessible application process. We are addressing the inaccessibility of this process and the bias that people, such as those with disabilities, face that prevent them from getting the opportunities they should.

Training and Rehabilitation Center for People with Acquired Brain Injuries MAB Community Services, Inc. Shaun Kinsella ccataldo@mabcommunity.org

When people experience an acquired brain injury (ABI) through an accident or disease, they often find themselves on a complicated recovery journey with disjointed and disparate service providers providing physical, medical, and vocational rehabilitation. Depending on their community living environment they may also lose access to their social networks and lose the ability to develop new ones.

MAB Community Services has opened a new Training and Rehabilitation Center (TRC) to break down the administrative and therapeutic silos that cause disjointed care. This new, unique model provides one-stop services to treat the person holistically, to promote community, individual agency, and fight isolation. The TRC’s goal is to assist people with ABIs regain independence in their lives.

Transforming Lives of Children by the Gift of Ability Wide Therapy rinat@widetherapy.com

Children with special needs encounter significant challenges that shape their lives. Their independence and wellbeing rely heavily on overcoming these hurdles. Wide is a groundbreaking, patent pending digital therapy that empowers children, from age of 2, to overcome their personal challenge, and drive the changes that will lead to their independence and self-sufficiency. Wide helps children built the skill sets and abilities each child needs.

Unified Health and Performance Brendan Aylward brendan@unifiedhp.com

In a 2013 report commissioned by the Massachusetts Office of Disability and Health, the lack of accessible gyms made the list of top 10 problems for the disabled community. This population deserves access to the same high-quality fitness opportunities as their peers, yet they aren’t afforded it. We will change that.

Unified Health and Performance is an inclusive fitness center that serves more than 300 clients, about a quarter of whom have ID and/or PD. During the last eight years, we have educated hundreds of professionals around the world and built a business model that can be replicated outside of Massachusetts. In 2024 we will open our second location in our pursuit of creating environments nationwide for individuals with disabilities to live healthier and more fulfilling lives.

Utilizing Meerkat Village to Transform Care & Improve Outcomes Meerkat Village Crystal Morrison cmorrisson@meerkatvillage.com

This project tackles a critical issue in disability support: the need for streamlined care coordination and collaboration among care providers, informal caregivers, and community supports. Meerkat Village (MV) is a tech platform that addresses this issue with a virtual village. Building on our successful pilot usability study, the goal of this project is to understand and improve the usability of MV to enhance its positive impact on individuals with disabilities and their caregivers. This project will gather feedback from diverse stakeholders, such as professional care providers, educators, and extended family members, to gain a holistic understanding of MV’s usability. We will also develop tailored multimedia knowledge translation materials that offer guidance and clarity for all users.

VIZQ Revolution: The Future of Speech Therapy Alex Elias alex@vizq.ai

Our project addresses the critical need for accessible and convenient Speech Language Therapy (SLT) services for children aged 3–17, including those with speech disorders, language impairments, and autism. Currently, 6.5 million children are underserved or lack access to adequate SLT, leading to long-term socio-economic consequences.

VIZQ.AI utilizes AI and VR technology to provide an affordable and effective solution, supplementing the work of SLT professionals. By offering engaging 1:1 therapy that simulates real-world scenarios, we aim to empower students to reach their full potential in speech and language development, bridging the gap in care accessibility and affordability.

Voc-Tech Abilities 2-Year Pilot

Partners for Youth with Disabilities (PYD) Teresita Ramos development@pyd.org Many Voc/Tech programs only serve a small subset of students who are able to enter the workforce independently. Students with more severe disabilities require additional hands-on training, and because of these hurdles, programs often fall back to a model of disability exclusion, rather than increasing training and capacity for educators and programming for these students.

In this pilot, we will use our 26 years of experience working in high schools to develop career readiness program in three local vocational schools. It is critically important for our Voc-Tech schools/programs to give students with disabilities comprehensive career readiness transition services that meet their needs and support them in successfully entering the workforce. Building inclusive pathways with Voc-Tech schools/ programs is paramount in setting students up to find meaningful and sustainable employment that leads to economic security.

Waves of Change: The Gnome Surf Nantasket Experience Gnome, Inc Christopher Antao gnomecreate@gmail.com

Gnome Surf is an absolute trailblazer and the fastest growing surf therapy organization worldwide for the third consecutive year, a distinguished recognition by the International Surf Therapy Organization (ISTO).

Gnome Surf’s 2024 expansion to Nantasket Beach marks the next wave of inclusive surf therapy! Our Outreach Program has cultivated a growing number of exciting partnerships throughout the Boston area, including with BMC Autism Center, Raising Hart, Boston Children’s Hospital, Higashi School, and more.

The goal of this project is to expand our surf therapy services to Nantasket Beach, making it a haven for transformative connections and healing experiences for youth of all abilities.

WheelPad L3C

Julie Lineberger julie@wheelpad.com Our goal is to provide accessible housing solutions. WheelPad L3C promotes independence for people with mobility challenges through accessible, affordable prefab home attachments and information resources to help service providers, individuals, and families to identify their most appropriate accessible homestay options. Built in our factory, they can be delivered and set up within two weeks of permitting. Our overall goal is to provide more independent accessible housing, as well as provide families the ability to make their own home accessible so that a family member with mobility issues can live at home.

Changing lives, one cup at a time MON-WED 7 A.M – 2 P.M. THURS-FRI 7 A.M. – 4 P.M. SAT-SUN 8 A.M. – 2 P.M.

coffee and tea bar X breakfast and lunch specialty foods X art exhibits X free wi-fi

Exclusively selling items made by people with disabilities or autism.

Supporting 150 individual artists, small businesses, and social enterprises from around the world.

Located inside Liberty Tree Mall, Danvers (near AMC Theatres)

Thursday, May 30, 2024 Stay tuned for more details!

Presenting Sponsors

ne-arc.org/gala

The Northeast Arc was founded in 1954 by families of children with developmental disabilities—families who wanted to raise their sons and daughters as full members of their communities, mostly in cities and towns north of Boston.

Those families were truly pioneers. They, and their successors over the decades, challenged the conventional wisdom that said their children could not be educated, would not live to become adults and could not lead satisfying lives. Working together, these families created support systems—from nursery schools to employment programs—that enabled their children to attend public schools, develop friendships, live where they wanted to live, and earn a paycheck.

Gradually, those support systems expanded to include a broader range of intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities and autism. Today, through the joint efforts of a skilled professional staff and a large volunteer corps,we positively impact the lives of 10,000 people with disabilities and their families in nearly 200 Massachusetts communities.

Northeast Arc offers a wide variety of services covering the full spectrum of an individual’s life—from early intervention following birth to end-of-life care. Our programs include: • Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), including center-based ABA • Autism coaching and resources • Day habilitation • Early intervention • Employment supports and skills training • Home health care • Independent and supported in-home living • Personal care management • Referrals and advocacy • Social/recreational programming • Support groups

follow us! @NortheastArc P l e a s e s h a re yo u r ex p e r i e n c e to d ay b y u s i n g # a rc ta n k a n d # c h a n g i n g l i v e s