Nearly ten years ago, a handful of families in Clarington, pooled our energy and resources to create a social club for autistic adults.

We each chipped in $100, divided the workload, recruited a volunteer board, incorporated as a charity and began to fundraise. We rented the pool and gym at the Newcastle Rec Centre for weekly meet ups.

What a relief! We were out of the house, active and connected. This was a unique and special kind of respite where moms, dads and siblings could share a social experience alongside the autistic adult in their life.

Over the years, more and more individuals and families with new interests living across Durham Region and then Peterborough joined in. So we worked to offer sports, arts, recreation and leisure activities seven days a week at community locations across the region -- something for everyone, so that we could each share an hour or two with peers and friends at least once a week.

Through our fundraising efforts we were able to add a couple of part time staff and the growth continued.

In January 2020, we opened our autism hub for drop ins, and as a dedicated space for us to hold some of our programs. It happened in the nick of time so that through COVID, we had a safe space for adapted programs and from which we could run virtual programs.

These past ten years have flown by. The original founding families are aging and will soon be passing the torch.

So, it's timely for our charity to look ahead, for the next 3-5 years of our Strategic Plan, and beyond that looking ten years down the road.

Where will you be? How can Autism Home Base best serve you and your family? Will it remain volunteer-driven? or should it become a fee for service?

Your thoughts and recommendations will be of great value for our planning. Please take a few minutes and complete this survey.

Many thanks!!

The Autism Home Base Board