Autism Moms of Kona

Autism is a developmental disorder which varies in severity and is characterized by difficulty in social interaction, communication, and learning.  In the past 3 years the Autism Moms of Kona have grown from 30 members to 390 members, with 80 of those families active in our private programs.  Our motto is WE are Special Needs, and we strive to support the whole family as such through additional therapies, respite, and support groups.  In addition, we look to create awareness and acceptance for Autism in our community so that families can understand better their child’s disability prior to or upon diagnosis.

We have been established as a community group since 2018 and have just recently been granted our 501(c)3 tax exempt status for our nonprofit aegis, the Ava Sofia Foundation (in honor of my 8 year old autistic daughter) in March of 2023.

Our goal is to encourage awareness in the community, so that parents can identify potential early signs of Autism so that early intervention and support can begin at a young age when their brains are more pliable and receptive to treatment. Awareness is to also emphasize that inclusive environment, because children are our strongest leaders.  If they understand that their peers need support, and their parents know how to have those conversations with their neurotypical children and know how to answer their questions, then they can become enthusiastic about helping their peers in and out of classroom settings.