Nonprofit Spotlight: Black Autism Support Society

BY ANGIE ARLINGTON

BASS (pronounced like BASE as in music), is a 501c3 tax exempt resource support agency that addresses the intersection of race and autism. Support is addressed through four pillars: Social Justice, Individual/Family, Education, and Spirituality.

“Our mission is to address support gaps and challenge the narrative in supporting autism in the black community. Our vision is to provide individuals and families in the black community as well as those who serve them the tools and connections needed to increase quality of life,” Founder Kimacka Randle explains.

“Autism diagnosis is delayed 2-3 years in brown and black communities. This delay is due to the following factors: disparities in healthcare, stigma in the black community, and lack of parent education. Currently we are continuing to raise awareness, build community, and normalize autism in black spaces. By doing so, we help to improve outcomes. Our annual Autism Family Fun Day and Community Healing Circles help to create community, combat the stigma, and connect families to resources. Our partnerships with other organizations to host parent training sessions also help to improve parent advocacy and overall outcomes.

Social Justice:

BASS supports research studies that examine the intersectionality of race and autism. We also work with local social justice organizations to engage first responders and ensure they are better equipped to deal with individuals living with autism.

Individual/Family:

We also hold Community Healing Circles for caregivers. The circles run approximately 10 weeks and provide a space where caregivers can process their experience caring for someone with autism and how that has impacted their emotional, mental, financial, physical, and spiritual wellbeing. Circles help us heal, release our grief, and embrace the journey while reconnecting with the core of who we are outside of autism. BASS holds an annual family fun day every year where we connect families with one another as well as with community resources. The family day is designed to normalize what it means to have autism in the black community while providing parents access to resources they may not know are available.

Education:

We also partner with other organizations such as SpedActs and TIIBA to host events and offer parent education. We have also partnered with educational institutions to host formal parent Individual Education Plan training sessions to ensure parents are well equipped to advocate for their children in educational settings.

Spirituality:

We work with faith-based communities to increase autism awareness in predominately black churches to ensure

families are included and to secure the overall health of the black church. Our founder has also been a guest lecturer/ presenter at a local seminary, addressing current and future clergy, ensuring they are aware of the importance of including neurodivergent congregants in the worship experience and sharing more helpful ways healing can be shared during the sermonic moment.

Supporting BASS:

“I can be contacted directly at krandle@blackautismsupport. com. You can also visit our website at www. blackautismsupport.com to sign up as a volunteer or for donation information. We are currently accepting sponsors and partners for our Autism Family Fun Day to be held in August.”