A NEXT for AUTISM Grantee Spotlight
2022 NEXT for AUTISM Grantee: Wilderwood Equine Therapy
Organization Type: Autistic-led
Grant Categorie(s): Social
WHO THEY ARE
Wilderwood Equine Therapy began in 2018 with a desire to help change the lives of autistic adults. Developing its programs and goals to include a counseling and equitherapy program, a robust research program that is actively developing a new instrument and protocol to assess for autism in women, and a rescue facility to train unwanted and surrendered horses for use in its programming.
“Funding from NEXT was integral to the success of the ASAP (Autistic Self-Advocacy Project) Directory. Without funding, we would not have been able to pay reasonable compensation for the autistic adults who worked on the project, nor have the funding to promote the concept to other autistic-serving nonprofits."
Rebecca Evanko PhD, Autistic Founder and Executive Director
ASAP: Autistic Self-Advocacy Program, funded by NEXT, is grounded in the principle of autistics helping autistics. Entirely designed, led, and run by autistic individuals, ASAP empowers the community by connecting people to the services and supports they need through a thoughtfully curated, searchable directory of local resources.
Focusing on New Mexico, a region often described as a service desert, ASAP helps bridge critical gaps in access by highlighting supports that are neuro-affirming, community-recommended, and in many cases, led by autistic adults themselves. Listings include peer mentoring, counseling, legal and medical guidance, personal care assistance, home support services, and more.
More than just a directory, ASAP is a way to connect and strengthen the autistic community in New Mexico by making local, trusted resources visible and accessible. In its first three months, the ASAP Directory received 3,621 views from 811 unique visitors, and the ASAP How-To Video reached nearly 15,000 views—clear evidence of the urgent and growing demand for autistic-centered support in underserved areas.
THE RESULTS
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- 811 people supported
- 75% live in poverty
"As an autistic person, the fact that [NEXT] is funding autistic-led opportunities, and giving autistic people the chance to be actively involved in programs that help them ... it seems like such an obvious thing to do, but so few organizations do it."
Dr. Rebecca Evanko, Executive Director, Wilderwood Equine Therapy
BE PART OF WHAT'S NEXT FOR AUTISM
- Support funding for NEXT for AUTISM's grants program, including organizations like the Wilderwood Equine. Make a gift today
- Learn more about NEXT's grants program, and share our work and grant opportunities in the community.
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