Asperger/Autism Network
Empowering Individuals. Building Community.
Mission
The Asperger/Autism Network (AANE) helps people with Asperger's and similar autism spectrum or neurodiverse profiles build meaningful, connected lives. We provide individuals, families, and professionals with information, education, community, support, and advocacy in an inclusive atmosphere of validation and respect.
Ruling year
1998
Executive Director
Ms. Brenda Dater MSW, MPH
Main address
85 Main St Suite 3
Watertown, MA 02472 USA
Formerly known as
Asperger's Association of New England
EIN
04-3376227
NTEE code
Autism (G84)
Family Services (P40)
Services to Promote the Independence of Specific Populations (P80)
IRS filing requirement
This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.
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Communication
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
AANE works with individuals and family members to address and accommodate the challenges associated with Asperger’s or similar autism spectrum and neurodiverse profiles while fostering respect for their strengths and differences. We also offer learning opportunities and resources to educators, therapists, employers, and other professionals to enhance their work with people on the autism spectrum.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Individualized Services
- Free Information and Resource Consultations
- Coaching for autistic adults and teens (LifeMAP), parents, and neurodiverse couples
- LifeNet: an independent living support program for autistic adults in MA, CT, and NY
Support & Social Groups
-In-person and online support groups for autistic adults, autistic teens, parents, spouses/partners, neurodiverse couples, and grandparents
-Interest-based groups and social activities for autistic adults and teens
Training & Education
-Conferences, webinars, and workshops for all members of the AANE community
-Training for educators, mental health professionals, and employers
Where we work
Awards
Volunteer of the Year/AANE 2011
Patriots Foundation
External reviews
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of unique website visitors
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of new contacts
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of Facebook followers
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of phone and email inquiries per month
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of clients served
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
AANE seeks to empower people with Asperger/autism profiles to maximize their independence, and to achieve equity and parity in society. Our programs and services are designed to sustain individuals and families, to meet varying levels of need, and to facilitate transitions and meaningful life experiences at all ages and stages, from early childhood to old age. We also advocate to remove barriers for people on the autism spectrum by supporting efforts to guide public policy collaboratively at local, state, and national levels.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
AANE builds a supportive community by providing education, information and referrals to individuals with Asperger/autism profiles, their extended families, and the professionals who work with them. We identify unmet needs through dialogue with people we serve, and address their needs through a range of services—including outreach, pioneering interventions, and the use of technology. Through networking, training, and the development of educational materials and model programs, we also build capacity for service delivery within communities.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
AANE’s diverse Governance includes adults with Asperger/autism profiles, family members of adults and children with Asperger/autism profiles, and professionals. Together they oversee the strategic planning, development, finances, and governance of AANE.
The staff of AANE are professionals with expertise and first-hand knowledge of Asperger/autism profiles. Approximately one third of our employees are on the autism spectrum themselves. Many others have children, siblings, other relatives, or friends on the spectrum, and they are affected on a very personal level by AANE’s work and mission.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
AANE continues to grow--particularly with the use of new technologies, allowing us to expand services to those living beyond the reach of our main office. Well over 70,000 people have used our services since 1996, including over 12,000 people in FY22 alone.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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Who are the people you serve with your mission?
AANE serves adults and teens with Asperger's or similar autism spectrum and neurodiverse profiles, family members of children, teens, and adults with Asperger/autism/neurodiverse profiles, and professionals who work with children, teens, and adults with Asperger/autism/neurodiverse profiles.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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What significant change resulted from feedback?
Given the popularity of our AS 101 online workshop for parents of newly diagnosed children/teens/young adults, and as a result of feedback we have received from its participants, we recently added a new AS 102 online workshop. Whereas AS 101 serves as an introduction to common strengths and challenges associated with Asperger/autism profiles, AS 102 provides parents with tools and ideas for a path forward after their child's initial diagnosis. Topics include crafting a vision for your child and your family to help with decision making, figuring out the “right” services, getting started with educational advocacy, public supports, respite, and more.
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Asperger/Autism Network
Board of directorsas of 01/18/2023
Dian Bohannon
Chair of the Board
Term: 2022 - 2023
Jill Baren
Neil D. Blicher
Dian Bohannon
Bill Braun
Ken Dandurand
Cornelia Elwood
Susan Erickson
Ji Kim
Rebecca Kirshenbaum
Karen Lean
Barbara Lund
John M. Lynch
Adam S. Markell
Mark J. Marroni
Alyson B. Muzila
Anastasia O'Melveny
Ellen Pinderhughes
Deborah Platek, MD
Michael Roh
Sheeri Steinberg
Lisa Stringfellow
Julie Tedesco
Sangeeta Verma
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Not applicable -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
No data
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
No data
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
Equity strategies
Last updated: 12/07/2021GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
- We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
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