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Autism Resource Mom is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving more than 1,500 families in the five-county Southern California area, with outreach to Texas, the Southeast, the Northeast and the Philippines. We provide support, guidance and hope to individuals on the spectrum and their loved ones, through a variety of informative, topical workshops and problem-solving discussion groups for parents-plus confidence-building social events and independent living skills activities to help prepare teens and young adults for a successful life on their own.

Founded by a Mom for Moms and Their Families

You’ve been told your child has Autism Spectrum Disorder. In that overwhelming, painful moment, what do you do? Decades ago, our founder, Debora Smith, answered that question with a simple, five-word response: “I don’t have a clue.”

Gradually, arduously, sometimes heartbreakingly through the years, she learned much about autism: How to manage the challenges. How to cope with the hardships. How to celebrate the differences. Firsthand. As only a mother can. Her passion, her warmth, her inspiration is the foundation of Autism Resource Mom today.

A Nontraditional Strategy

Support for autistic individuals has been traditionally provided from a medical/psychological perspective. While we value many of these “white lab coat” approaches, Autism Resource Mom hails from a different place – the trenches. Our programs and services, designed to benefit parents, caregivers and individuals on the spectrum, are built on a solid foundation of personal experience, by a staff that has raised and lived with a neurodivergent individual.

So each of our programs, social events, workshop and outreach initiatives, developed and delivered by parents, targets specific, crucial ongoing needs – with creative, focused, knowing approaches to socialization, behaviors, independent living, health, education and finance that help families assist their kids in successfully navigating life’s challenges.

Targeting Crucial, Ongoing Needs

Our "why" is to let families know that they’re not alone. That there are pathways to success. That autistic individuals can be empowered to live independently. So that those with autism can be embraced for their gifts rather than ostracized for their deficits. That’s the difference we’re making every day.

The impact ARM has had on the more than 1500 families it serves and has served over the past 15 years is best stated by those who have given testimony to the organization's value. Here, just a few of our advocates speak to the transformative effect the charity has had on their lives:

“ARM is just different. It’s run by parents. So, a sense of community, common cause and togetherness finds its way into everything they do.”

“ARM is a blessing to us. In ARM’s workshops, I’ve been empowered with knowledge about special needs trusts, the benefits of different agencies and all the monthly activities. We enjoy our monthly hikes-it’s my daughter’s favorite.”

“Autism Resource Mom has been great for our family. My son and I have gone to their annual Christmas party, Comedy Night, Friday Night Hangout for Teens and the online Support Group for parents. We appreciate ARM very much.”

“I appreciate ARM for the social opportunities such as monthly hikes and improv shows. I feel more comfortable socializing around a structured activity and kind, welcoming and non-judgmental people. ARM has helped me learn self-acceptance and empathy for others. ”

“ARM is by far the best support I have found as a professional in the field working with individuals and families who have been diagnosed with Autism. I’ve left each interaction with ARM feeling more knowledgeable and empowered.”

We continue to make this difference in the lives of our members – and the entire community – every day.

With the passing of our founder and guiding light last summer, our need today has never been more urgent:

We’re in need of contributions to the The Debora Smith Memorial Fund. With those funds, we can hire a program coordinator, who, in the absence of our founder, can plan and manage the dozens of socialization and living-skills activities and events on tap for 2026. These funds would enable us to continue our programs and events, including parent support groups, our independently living skills workshops, our guest speaker series, our annual celebrations and more – all of which would benefit greatly from contributions to cover the cost of the program coordinator, facilities, refreshments and social media promotion.

For that, we seeking support to reach our goal of $20,000.

Autism Resource Mom is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving more than 1,500 families in the five-county Southern California area, with outreach to Texas, the Southeast, the Northeast and the Philippines.

Our CEO/Executive Director passed away last July. The statement from our Acting Chairperson appears below.

Allow me to tell you a story.

Andrew didn’t speak until he was four years old. And when he did speak, he simply repeated back what was said to him. It’s a condition that’s called echolalia.

Drew never had a friend. He wasn’t invited to any birthday parties or outings in school. When there was a group project, he was placed alone at a table outside the classroom to avoid disruptions.

He had trouble entering and exiting conversations… to manage his time properly… to control his anxious outbursts…to transition to new tasks… and to socialize.

Drew is autistic. He’s also my son.

And he has talents - unique talents: He could put jigsaw puzzles together quickly… upside down… without the picture showing… just the gray cardboard backing.

He could name, from memory, all the presidents and their first ladies – and their vice presidents and wives… backwards.

An A student, Drew served as the movie critic for the high school newspaper. In college, he won an award from the Newport Beach film festival for directing a short film.

He currently holds two part-time jobs. Is a board member of the state Department of disabilities advisory committee. And he’s a board member of Autism Resource Mom.

Drew is now embarking on a quest to become a public speaker – to share his narrative of hope for those on the spectrum.

I tell you his story, because he was – and is – a glowing example of Autism Resource Mom’s “why”: The reason the charity exists… to provide support, guidance and hope for individuals on the spectrum – so that they can become the happy, productive, connected, independent members of society they yearn to become.

He is part of the 1500 families who have been impacted by Autism Resource Mom and the programs, events and connections it has made for over 14 years – and the difference it can make moving forward.

Today, we are asking for funding to continue the good this organization has done for the many. Since Drew’s mother, my wife, Debora Smith, the founder of Autism Resource Mom, passed away last summer, our need has never been greater.

Our goal is to give young people on the spectrum opportunities to connect with others socially – to form lasting friendships and relationships in a welcoming, safe and nonjudgmental environment – and then take that experience into the world of neurotypical situations.

We want to help support them and nurture their path to lives of independence— reducing dependence on their families and government resources. However long it takes, the goal for our kids is for them to be happy, sharing experiences with others who have a common interest… then growing to have careers, a spouse, children, a home and giving their special gifts back to society.

ARM holds lots of events, programs and activities. Each targets specific, crucial ongoing needs – the needs of the individual and those who care for them. Here you see events geared to:

Development of social skills
Real-time problem solving
Parent education and life skills
Just plain “getting out of your room with people who get you – and having fun”

Our ask today is a simple one: We’re in need of a donor to contribute to the The Debora Smith Memorial Fund:

With that fund, we could hire a program coordinator, who, in the absence of our founder, can plan and manage the dozens of socialization and living-skills activities and events on tap for 2026.

These funds would enable us to continue the programs and events listed earlier, including parent support groups, our independently living skills workshops, our guest speaker series, our annual celebrations and more – all of which can benefit greatly from contributions to cover the cost of the program coordinator, facilities, refreshments and social media promotion.
 
For that, we seeking support to reach our goal of $20,000.

To summarize:
 
Unlike other organizations, ARM is a charity founded by a mom, for moms and their families.
 
Our activities are designed and implemented by those who have raised and lived with an autistic or neurodivergent individual 24/7.
 
We provide opportunities for social engagement and to build independent living skills.
 
The goal is to help empower people on the spectrum to become happy, fulfilled, productive members of society, while reducing dependence on families and government. As Debora always said, “We want to make that one individual on the spectrum, second to none.”

Thank you for your time and kind consideration.

Michael N. Smith
Acting Chairperson
Autism Resource Mom