Advocacy and Community Engagement

Advocacy and Community Engagement Program

AFO creates opportunities for autistic Oklahomans and their families across the lifespan to connect, be heard, and help shape their communities. Through advocacy, education, community engagement, and meaningful opportunities for connection, AFO amplifies autistic voices, increases public understanding, and advances issues important to Oklahoma’s autism community. Program activities include monthly social activities for autistic adults, the Unmasking Autism with AFO podcast, the Surviving the Spectrum documentary, and AFO’s annual Autism Advocacy Day at the State Capitol. AFO also works year-round with policymakers, community organizations, families, and other partners to strengthen inclusion and address barriers affecting autistic Oklahomans. Together, these efforts create opportunities for connection, elevate lived experience, and help build communities where autistic people are represented in the conversations and decisions that affect their lives.

Program Initiatives

  • Autism Advocacy

    AFO is dedicated to making Oklahoma a more inclusive, autism-friendly state through intentional and engaging advocacy. We address issues affecting autistic lives across the lifespan, spearhead Autism Advocacy Day at the Oklahoma State Capitol, and educate our state's lawmakers that impact families most. For more information and how to get involved, click the button below.

    Get Involved

  • Socials & Special Events

    Everyone deserves a space where they belong and can exist as their authentic selves. AFO's monthly socials and annual special events aim to foster community and provide an enhanced sense of self as part of our efforts to increase the mental health and well-being of autistic Oklahomans. AFO's monthly socials are autistic-led and hosted in the OKC and Tulsa metro areas.

    Upcoming Events

  • Podcast: Unmasking Autism with AFO

    Unmasking Autism with AFO aims to shed light on the autistic experience through conversations with autistic individuals & those working in fields that serve them. Hosted by AFO staff member Carley Marissa Dummitt, our podcast delves into topics such as mental well-being, engaging in the arts, personal safety, and suicide prevention. New episodes are released on our YouTube channel.

    Watch/ Listen

  • Documentary: Surviving the Spectrum

    Surviving the Spectrum is a first-of-its-kind short documentary that explores the intersection of autism and suicidality through the experiences of those living with autism in Oklahoma. Suicide is a growing epidemic within our population whose diagnostic numbers continue to increase yearly, highlighting the need for more research, visibility, and advocacy.

    Learn More