Autism Society of Los Angeles

What Autism Society of Los Angeles does

The Autism Society of Los Angeles (ASLA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation founded in 1965 as the Los Angeles chapter of the Autism Society of America, serving individuals with autism, their families, and the professionals who support them across Los Angeles County. The organization operates a portfolio of advocacy and community-support programs — including the Self-Determination Program, Independent Facilitator Training, an annual Summit conference, a monthly Speaker Series, a Warm Line telephone support service, Camp NAVIN (a residential camp for young adults with developmental disabilities), the Parent Empowerment Project, and the Self-Advocate Speakers Bureau. ASLA's Government Relations team led the development of California's SB 468 Self-Determination Bill (signed October 2013), the only such comprehensive law in the nation.

ASLA is primarily volunteer-run with an all-volunteer Board of Directors and approximately six staff members, supplemented by a part-time Resource Specialist and dedicated Executive Director. The organization does not operate a proprietary technology platform; its core delivery model relies on in-person events, telephone-based resource navigation, and a website (autismla.org) that serves as the primary information, event-registration, and donation-collection channel. Notable technology-adjacent signals include partnerships with UCLA's Project AutTrain for training medical professionals and integration with California's Regional Center system for Self-Determination Program implementation.

The organization's revenue model is diversified across four streams: individual and corporate donations (including vehicle donations and Amazon Smile shopping rewards), annual membership fees, conference and Summit registration fees ($75-$300 depending on attendee type and tier), and grants. Named sponsors include Gold-tier partners (ABC/Aveanna Support Services/Making School Work) and Silver-tier partners (Tattooed Chef/Friendship Foundation), alongside Bronze-tier local businesses. ASLA also derives indirect value from long-standing institutional partnerships — notably a bi-monthly LAPD officer training program that has reached over 4,500 officers since 2006.

Name

Autism Society of Los Angeles

Legal name

Autism Society of Los Angeles

Website

https://autismla.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Founded in 1965, the Autism Society of Los Angeles is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that provides advocacy, education, and community programs to individuals with autism, families, and professionals across Los Angeles County.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability and Autism Community Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Individual and Family Services (6241), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Autism Parent/Caregiver Education & Training (School-Linked) (EDAKAKAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Autism Teacher Training & Professional Development (EDAKAKAL)

Keywords

• Autism advocacy services
• Disability community support
• Self-determination programs
• Nonprofit social services
• Autism education training

Headquarters

HQ city

Torrance

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: Annual membership fees that provide community access and support advocacy efforts
2. Donations and fundraising: Tax-deductible donations from individuals, families, and businesses supporting the autism community. Donations remain in Los Angeles to support the local community.
3. Conference and event registration fees: Registration fees for annual Summit/conference, ranging from $75-$300 depending on attendee type
4. Shopping rewards programs: Amazon Smile program where a portion of purchases is donated to ASLA

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ASLA is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation that empowers individuals with autism, their families, and professionals through advocacy, education, support, and community collaboration programs operating in Los Angeles County. Core offerings include the Self-Determination Program (giving Regional Center consumers individual budgets for service choice and control), Independent Facilitator Training, Public Policy and Advocacy (lead on California's SB 468 law), the annual Summit conference, Warm Line phone support, monthly Speaker Series, Camp NAVIN, and Parent Empowerment Project.

Product overview

Autism Society of Los Angeles operates as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization offering a portfolio of advocacy and support programs rather than a unified technology product. The core programs include the Self-Determination Program (voluntary alternative to traditional regional center services), Independent Facilitator Training (cross-cultural advanced training), Public Policy/Advocacy and Education services, and the annual Summit conference. Additional support offerings include the Speaker Series (monthly educational presentations), Warm Line (phone-based resource support), Self-Advocates Speakers Bureau, Camp NAVIN (residential camp for young adults), Caring Parent Connection, and Parent Empowerment Project. These programs work together to serve individuals with autism, their families, and professionals across Los Angeles County through advocacy, education, support, and community collaboration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Summit (Annual Conference) Annual conference that brings together families, professionals, and self-advocates for education and networking, with tiered registration for family members, self-advocates (Regional Center clients), and professionals.
• Speaker Series Monthly program featuring guest speakers presenting on topics relevant to the autism community, including self-determination, vendor navigation, summer programs, and options for young adults.
• Warm Line Phone-based resource support service staffed by Resource Specialist Ronda, providing assistance with autism diagnosis questions and healthcare system navigation.
• Self-Determination Program Voluntary program providing Regional Center consumers with an individual budget to purchase services and supports needed to implement their Individual Program Plan, offering more control over services received.
• Independent Facilitator Training Cross-cultural advanced training program preparing individuals to serve as Independent Facilitators in the Self-Determination Program for Regional Center consumers.
• Public Policy, Advocacy and Education Government relations initiative providing training on self-determination law, conducting conferences on issues affecting the community, and representing individuals with developmental disabilities in statewide advocacy.
• Camp NAVIN (Navigating Independence) Residential summer camp for young adults aged 18-30 with developmental disabilities, designed to encourage independence and friendship building, held at Camp Shalom.

Quantifiable outcome

• Trained over 4,500 LAPD officers since 2006
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered major, core, minor and moderate.

• Make WavesmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 May 2020Make Waves, a non-profit under the Roth Family Foundation, donated up to 50,000 masks to Direct Support Professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic. ASLA received 3,000 masks to distribute to residential settings to protect staff and residents in group homes and congregate settings.
• UCLAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Project AutTrain training medical professionals on healthcare access for adults with autism. Also hosts author events and educational presentations at UCLA facilities.
• LAPD (Los Angeles Police Department)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing bi-monthly training partnership with LAPD Mental Evaluation Unit to educate officers on autism awareness and improve outcomes for community members with autism during police interactions. Since 2006, over 4,500 officers trained.
• Regional CenterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCalifornia Regional Centers partner with ASLA for Self-Determination Program implementation, consumer education, and advisory committees.
• Leaps n BoundzminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Camp NAVIN, providing recreational activities for young adults with developmental disabilities.
• Autism Spectrum TherapiesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze Business Sponsor that participated in podcast interviews about Camp NAVIN through the 'All Autism Talk' podcast.
• Mychal's Learning PlaceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner providing facility space for ASLA events and training sessions in Hawthorne, CA.
• Gold Sponsors (ABC, Aveanna Support Services, Making School Work)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerGold level business sponsors supporting ASLA community programs with ongoing financial contributions.
• Silver Sponsors (Tattooed Chef, Friendship Foundation)moderateGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver level business sponsors supporting ASLA ongoing community programs.
• Bronze Business MembersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze tier business members including Arroyo Insurance Services, California Water Service, Jensen Realty, Kyo Autism Therapy, Sacramento ABA Therapy, Torrance Memorial, and Vista Sotheby's International Realty.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• AbilityPath: Bay Area-based nonprofit providing services, advocacy, and education for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. Operates as a regional peer with similar advocacy, education, and family-support programming serving the California autism and I/DD community.
• Autism Society of San Francisco Bay Area: Sister regional affiliate of the Autism Society of America serving the San Francisco Bay Area. Operates the same membership, advocacy, and education model as ASLA but for a different California metro, making it a direct comparable for affiliate-level operations and program structure.

Direct peers

• Autism Society of California: State-level affiliate organization that ASLA participates in for state-level advocacy. Operates the same membership and advocacy model and works directly with ASLA on legislative priorities, including SB 468 Self-Determination policy. Directly comparable affiliate model in the same geography.
• Mychal's Learning Place: LA-based nonprofit that provides vocational training, social skills, and enrichment programs for young adults with developmental disabilities. Direct ASLA community partner that hosts ASLA events and shares the same LA County autism/developmental disability client base.

Emerging players

• Different Brains: Media and nonprofit platform focused on neurodiversity, autism, and disability advocacy through podcasts, articles, and events. Compares as a community-based education and advocacy outlet serving the same autism community, including parent education and self-advocacy content.
• The Miracle Project: Expressive and performing arts social skills program for individuals with autism, co-founded by ASLA board member Neal Katz. Comparable as a community-based arts and social-skills program serving the same LA-area autism community with program-based delivery.

Broad incumbents

• Autism Speaks: One of the largest autism advocacy nonprofits in the United States, focused on research, advocacy, and family services. Comparable as a sibling advocacy organization competing for the same donor base and policy attention, but operates at national scale with significantly larger resources.
• Autism Society of America: National parent organization of which ASLA is an affiliate. Provides same membership-, advocacy-, and education-oriented mission but at the national scale, with 120,000+ members and 80+ local affiliates. Directly comparable as the umbrella nonprofit serving the autism community through advocacy, education, and support.
• Autistic Self Advocacy Network: National 501(c)(3) nonprofit run by and for autistic adults that advocates for disability rights and self-determination. Comparable mission around self-determination and autism advocacy, with overlapping policy priorities (SB 468 implementation) and similar donor/constituency base.

Others

• Southwest SELPA: Special Education Local Planning Area organization serving districts in the LA South Bay area. Directly comparable because ASLA Executive Director Kim Sinclair and board member Mari-Anne Kehler have prior leadership roles there, and it serves overlapping families and special education populations in the same geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/AutismLA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/autism-society-of-los-angeles

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Autism Society of Los Angeles