Our History --- A Labor of Love

Lawana Jones who serves as the agency’s volunteer executive director founded the agency in 2007. As the mother of an autistic daughter, Lawana soon found that the Rochester community severely lacked the support services and programs her daughter and other ASD children needed to make the transition from high school to the adult community. With this awareness, and her knowledge of developmental disabilities, and more importantly, as a mother of a child with special needs, she took action. She founded The Autism Council of Rochester to help ASD children, offer support to their families, and advocate on their behalf. Lawana created the organization to bridge the gap between the end of special education programs and entrance into society for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

The Autism Council is the only agency in the Monroe County area offering transition services tailored specifically to individuals with ASD. The agency’s staff members have more than 48 years (combined) of professional experience working with developmental disabilities. Their work is a labor of love. They share a strong commitment and deep compassion for helping young people with Autism Spectrum Disorders find their abilities through their disabilities. Staff members have either first-hand experience raising children challenged by autism or have worked with clients through other agencies. Wanting to do more…they decided to put their collective knowledge and experiences to work for ASD children and make the world a better place by helping others.