Nonprofit Spotlight: Autism Community Connection

By Angie Arlington

Kelli Higgins has been the Executive Director for Autism Community Connect (ACC) for 5 years. She has been involved in the autism community for 10 years. ACC’s mission is to help those with autism successfully grow and transition into adulthood. By providing education, resources and community events, ACC promotes understanding and acceptance of autism. “We aim to help everyone with autism feel valued, respected and included,” Kelli said.

“Along with our programs and events we provide family support for anyone who is looking for specific information and resources,” Kelli added. “We also host informational webinars throughout the year. ACC is a small nonprofit in Johnson County, but we serve all who are affected by autism and have a lot to offer throughout the lifespan of individuals with autism.”

ACC has two programs. The Young Adult Connection (YAC) program is for individuals with autism aged 19 to 30 and is designed to help participants make new friends while working on social, life, and soft job skills. Group members get to choose a specific community outing each month. A community outing could be volunteering at a local library, going to see a movie, shopping at the mall, going to a baseball game, bowling, or enjoying holiday parties.

The second program, My Summer Journey (MSJ) is geered toward kids aged 13-19. MSJ runs for three weeks in June, Monday through Friday. Funfilled days help keep kids in a routine that can make the transition back to school much easier. The focus of the program is to make new friends along with working on life and social skills.

In 2025, ACC is excited to start Teen Connection, another program designed for 13-to-19-year-olds. Teen Connection will create a welcoming and supportive environment where teens with autism can build and sustain new friendships while also working on strengthening critical social and life skills. Teen Connection group members will meet once a month, initially at the Greenwood Public Library, where they will get to know each other while playing games and enjoying social interactions in a supportive environment that teaches and models healthy friendships.

Other social events throughout the year:

Family Game Night is for families affected by autism to have a fun night in the community. The event will feature board, individual and group games for ALL ages to enjoy. Come play a game with your family, meet new families for a group game, or chat with each other while having fun at Kid City.

Trivia Night is great evening of fun playing trivia with friends, having a delicious meal, vying for special raffle baskets, and raising money to support those affected by autism in the community! Trivia Night will have special games throughout the night like Heads and Tails, Wine Grab & Go, and more.

ACC Trunk or Treat is for individuals of ALL ages and families affected by autism to have a good time while getting treats and learning about local autism resources. ACC Trunk or Treat will have vendors sharing information and resources about the services they provide to the autism community. Visitors will also get to experience Touch A Truck, including a fire truck, an ambulance, construction equipment and even a medical helicopter landing! This event is FREE and open to the community.

ACC’s annual Breakfast with Santa has delicious food, “reindeer” games, holiday crafts, carriage rides, and a chance to meet with Santa Claus! This event is for families affected by autism, and is lots of fun for all ages and every family member.

“One of our focuses is to address the shortage of teen and adults programs and services for those with autism,” Kelli said. “Our hope is to expand the programs to create additional social groups while providing support and resources for those affected by autism in our community.”