Autism Spectrum Disorder affects 1 in 36 children in the U.S., with 1.47 million school-aged children diagnosed. Despite this, there is a lack of specialized education and workforce programs, particularly in underserved communities, leading to unemployment rates of up to 85% among adults with autism. LifeSpan Autism proposes a scalable solution: a nationwide network of equitable, evidence-based schools and workforce development programs to provide lifelong support for individuals with autism.
Led by Diana Diaz, Founder and CEO of Arizona Autism Charter Schools (AZACS), LifeSpan Autism builds on a decade of proven success. AZACS operates five schools that deliver evidence-based education to nearly 1,000 students annually, significantly improving graduation rates and post-secondary outcomes. AZACS has expanded, offering workforce development programs that place neurodiverse students in supported employment apprenticeships.
AZACS partnered with the South Florida Autism Charter School to launch the National Accelerator of Autism Charter Schools (NAACS) following the prestigious Yass Prize win in 2022. Now LifeSpan Autism is poised to scale its impact. NAACS has supported and trained founding teams to open or expand four tuition-free, autism-focused schools in Louisiana, Nevada, Texas, and Florida, with four more cities scheduled to train with NAACS in 2025. These expansions are strategically based on market research and community needs assessments.
To ensure sustainability, the initiative leverages state and federal charter school funding, continuous monitoring, and a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. LifeSpan Autism will transform autism education and employment opportunities across the U.S., delivering an impactful, feasible, durable, and just solution for this growing population.
