Autism Foundation of Oklahoma (AFO)

The Autism Foundation of Oklahoma has been awarded funding to expand and strengthen its ability to provide high-quality autism consultation and training to early childhood providers through the Training Oklahoma Childcare to Support Children with Autism (TOCA) project. Funding will support a dedicated autism specialist who will deliver both onsite and virtual consultation to childcare programs across the state, facilitate evidence-based training, and provide ongoing coaching to ensure that strategies are effectively implemented in everyday settings. This grant will significantly improve AFO’s ability to reach more providers, including those in rural and underserved communities where access to autism-specific expertise is limited. Additionally, this work directly benefits families. When childcare staff are equipped to understand and respond to a child’s needs, families experience greater stability, reduced stress, and increased confidence in their child’s care. AFO promotes collaboration between families and providers by providing family-focused support sessions that offer consistent messaging between home and childcare settings.