Autism Society Central Virginia

11/01/2026

We are excited to announce that applications for Winter Holiday Assistance open Monday, November 2 at 9:30 AM! Learn more about the program and find important eligibility information and details here (this is also the page where you will find the application on Monday!) ➡ https://ascv.org/holidaygivingtree/

✨Making spirits bright since 2020, our annual Holiday Giving Tree program supports our local autism community by providing financial assistance for holidays meals and gifts, easing financial burden so that our families can focus on the things that matter most. Every family deserves a special holiday season filled with peace, joy and time to connect with their loved ones. 💛

We highly encourage eligible individuals and families to apply early as our applications fill quickly!

10/31/2026

A little Halloween magic and a whole lot of community! 🎃🧡

We kicked off the Halloween fun a little early with our Trunk-or-Treat & Safety Fair last weekend. From creative costumes and candy-filled trunks to fun activities and visits with first responders, it was an afternoon full of smiles, laughter, and connection.

And what made the day even more special? It was our very first member event at the ASCV's future Community Hub! We loved seeing this space already bringing our community together.

A big thank-you to the volunteers, community partners, and families who made the afternoon so much fun!

Happy Halloween from all of us at ASCV! 👻🍬

10/29/2026

Our next session of LEAP starts in one week! Hosted in partnership with Partnership for People with Disabilities, the Leadership for Empowerment & Abuse Prevention (LEAP) program, is a 4-week specialized training program designed for adults ages 18+ with intellectual and developmental disabilities. LEAP provides a supportive, interactive learning environment focused on safety, self-advocacy, and relationship skills.

Participants will learn about:
📌What it means to trust someone—and how to decide who can be trusted
📌Healthy, unhealthy, and confusing relationships
📌Asking permission before touching
📌Different ways to say “no”
📌Recognizing feelings and physical signs of being uncomfortable
📌and more!

Learn more and register today ➡https://bit.ly/47IG2Cj

10/29/2026

ONE WEEK until the mustaches start growing! 🥸

ASCV’s Stubble Squad is back for our third year of M4K Richmond 🪒 Here’s part of last year’s crew at kickoff - and, yes, even Waddles gets in on the mustache action!

For one month, we’re putting our razors down and asking our friends to put up with our mustaches, all to raise $25,000 for ASCV’s youth programs. M4K’s matching support helps those dollars go further. 💛

Glorious ’stache? Great. A few hopeful whiskers? We’ll take ’em. Fake mustache? You’re in, too. Who’s joining us this year?

Sign up today, recruit a friend, and meet us at Shave Day on November 4, from 6–9 p.m. at Topgolf Richmond!

Join the Stubble Squad: https://m4krichmond.org

10/27/2026

Breakfast for dinner made for a delicious evening at this month’s Cooking & Conversations! Participants prepared cinnamon rolls, pancakes, hash browns, and fruit salad while practicing cooking skills and connecting with one another.

The evening was made even sweeter by freshly baked brownies from Spectrum Creations By Aryana. Even our friends from the Richmond Police Department stopped by for a treat!

A special thank-you to our partner, Grace & Holy Trinity Church, Richmond VA, for hosting us and providing a welcoming space to cook, connect, and share a meal.

We look forward to gathering around the table again on November 11th for Friendsgiving! Learn more and register today: https://bit.ly/4etNa9h

10/26/2026

Building money skills and confidence! Our Financial Literacy Program brought adults together to explore practical tools for managing money, from tracking spending and setting savings goals to understanding debit and credit and recognizing scams.

Through hands-on activities, conversations, and a bank visit, participants connected what they learned to everyday financial decisions.

Thank you to Marc Elim from Wells Fargo Financial Advisors for sharing his time and expertise and helping make financial education accessible to our members. We’re proud of everyone who participated and took steps toward their financial goals!

10/25/2026

Our teens teamed up for virtual adventures at this month’s meet-up at Pelagos VR! They tackled escape rooms as ninjas and dragon slayers, defeated zombies together in the high-action arena, and explored virtual museums.

This was our final outing at Pelagos VR for the year, and we are so grateful for their partnership. Thank you to the Pelagos team for creating opportunities for all of our participants to try new experiences, connect with one another, and have fun together. We appreciate your continued support of the ASCV community!

10/25/2026

10/24/2026

Our Self-Advocate meet-up at Great Big Game Show brought some friendly competition to a fun evening together! Participants split into two teams and took on a variety of host-led mini-games, sharing laughs and cheering each other on along the way.

Thank you to The Great Big Game Show team for welcoming us and creating such a memorable experience. We loved the chance to connect, work together, and step into the game show spotlight!

10/14/2026

We have exciting news! ASCV has received a Healthy Communities Action Team grant from the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth - VFHY! 💚

We’ve brought together a team of caregivers, community partners, wellness professionals, and ASCV staff who share a goal: making it easier for autistic youth and their families to explore healthy habits in ways that work for them.

Together, we’re already creating more opportunities for movement, cooking, and wellness while addressing barriers to participation. We want everyone to have the tools, encouragement, and support to discover their strengths and lead healthy, fulfilling lives.

Meet the team:

• Isabel Badeau: Occupational Therapist & Group Fitness Instructor
• Suzanne Burns: COO, Heart Havens & Adaptive Yoga Teacher
• Staci Carr, PhD: Assistant Professor, VCU
• Jennifer Dickerson: Occupational Therapist, Hanover County Public Schools
• Rachel Garmon-Williams: Personal Trainer & Adaptive Exercise Coach
• Jon Greene: Director of Teen & Adult Programs, ASCV & HCAT Coordinator
• William Hamilton: Personal Trainer & FitAbility Volunteer
• Lauren Hurson: Director of Programs, ASCV
• Sherry Klauer: Clinical Social Worker, Fitness Coach & Yoga Teacher
• Nyesha Nicholas: Parent, Educational Advocate & Consultant
• Michaela Richmond: Youth Programs Manager, ASCV
• Crystal Stokes: Community-Based Services & Inclusive Programming

Thank you to the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth for helping make this possible, and to our team members for sharing their time, experience, and ideas!

We have exciting things planned for 2027 and look forward to sharing what’s ahead. Stay tuned!