The Autism Project, Silicon Valley endeavors to provide opportunities for the families, guardians and service providers to take a greater participatory role in the advancement, education and development of those they care for.
Mission Statement
Building our community’s ability to self-advocate, The Autism Project, Silicon Valley is working to enhance community and educational resources and services for children and families. Our organization seeks to empower parents, professionals and service providers through advocacy and enhanced communications skills training.
Our Vision
To become a nationally recognized leader in the development of community based advocacy-training programs.
Our Core Values
- Advocacy is the cornerstone of social reform
- The skills required to be a successful advocate are applicable in all walks of life.
- Parents are a child’s first and main educational influence and therefore must take an active role in the educational process.
The Autism Project, Silicon Valley works to assist individuals, coalitions, groups and networks that empower the community to effectively participate in the decision making process. We accomplish this in the following ways:
1. Provide training(s) on the concepts and practices of advocacy.
2. Assist in building coalitions and networks that work on addressing social justice issues.
3. Preparing Community Advocates who can support other groups to include advocacy in their programs.
4. Helping concerned individuals and groups develop their advocacy campaigns
We provide technical assistance in three ways:
1. Assisting individuals/groups/organizations in developing and implementing advocacy efforts for issues of concern.
2. Assisting groups/organizations/coalitions to incorporate advocacy in their programs through workshops and trainings
3. Building the networking capacity of organizations that have advocacy as their mandate.
We provide two primary training opportunities:
1. An 8.0 hour training workshop for caregivers/guardians/parents/professionals that focuses on communications, conflict resolution and organizational skills. The workshop discusses the political, social and economic issues that impact social biases.
2. A 32.0 hour Advocate’s Institute designed to prepare participants to train others in the skills needed to become successful community advocates. The Advocates Institute combines the information from the Advocacy Workshop with role-playing and team building exercises to enhance the training experience.
BIOGRAPHY
Brian Miller
DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES ADVOCATE
Founder, Executive Director
The Autism Project, Silicon Valley
(TAP Silicon Valley)
MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATE
Former Executive Director
National Alliance on Mental Illness
NAMI Santa Clara
International Alliance of Theatrical and Stage Employees
IATSE Local 134
COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST
Former Mediator/Trainer
Santa Clara County Office of Human Relations
Former Conflict Resolution Program Manager
Santa Clara County Office of Education
Brian Miller
email: theautismproject@sbcglobal.net
website: http://www.specialneedsdirectory.org/
http://www.tapsiliconvalley.org/
