Donate

You can help!

We rely on your generous support to provide Neurodiversity Navigator supports to students.

Our outcomes show that the NdN program is helping autistic students at Bellevue College remain in school, complete the classes they attempt, and maintain a satisfactory GPA across all quarters. Since our pilot program in 2010, our program students as a group have enjoyed 95% or above retention, 85% or above class completion and 3.0 or above GPA, each and every quarter.

However, these supports are not currently covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act, and therefore we must find alternative ways to fund the program.

YOU can help:

1. Donate here.

  • Choose an amount under “Gift Amount” and then fill in the rest of your information below that.
  • You can pay with credit card, preferred wallet, or bank account.
  • Email us at asn@bellevuecollege.edu to let us know about your donation and if your employer matches your donation.

2. Mail or deliver a donation.

Checks should be made payable to “Bellevue College Foundation” and marked for the Neurodiversity Navigators program in the “notes” section of the check. If you would prefer to mail or deliver a check, please use the addresses below:

Mailing address

Bellevue College
Autism Spectrum Navigators, Mailstop B131
3000 Landerholm Circle SE
Bellevue, WA 98007

Physical address

Bellevue College, Building B
B131 (under the Planetarium)
3000 Landerholm Circle SE
Bellevue, WA 98007

3. Become a corporate sponsor, or help us find corporate sponsors.

Contact Sara Gardner, Program Director at sara.gardner@bellevuecollege.edu or 425.564.2172 to start the process, or if you would like more information.

4. Read further to hear what a program parent has to say about donating to the program:

“Today is the day in Seattle to GiveBIG to your local charity.  It is a brilliant idea that started in 2011 by the Seattle GiveBIG Foundation to encourage donating to non profits with the thinking that it will make our region stronger.

My favorite charity of the moment is the Autism Navigators Program at Bellevue College in Bellevue, Washington.  This program offers college credit for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder  and training in Autism Spectrum related issues while promoting inclusion in academics, the workplace, and in the community.

My son, Stuart, is enrolled in this program.  He was diagnosed as being on “the Spectrum” a year  ago at the age of 17.  This program is great for him because it creates a lot of autonomy yet offers guidance by “coaches” – undergraduate students from neighboring universities who receive credit for their time dedicated to the program.  These coaches meet with ANP students once a week for an hour to guide them in topics such as classwork, navigating college life, executive functioning and self-advocacy.  The idea is to keep the parents out of the equation so that the student can find the independence they desperately want and as a result, potentially relieve stress from the home.

Navigators students are enrolled in typical classes but hold one Navigators class in their curriculum per quarter that focuses on topics emphasizing how to be successful in life while being on the Spectrum.

This program is free to eligible students away from their tuition requirement.  Keeping this free is challenging.  During Autism Awareness Month the Navigators hosts a video game tournament and auction to help keep the program sustainable.  This is year three of the program and it is growing as word of its success spreads.  This means more students to serve and more funds will be  needed.

According to Dr. Stephanie Seneff, in 1975 one child in ten thousand was diagnosed with Autism.  Today, that number is one in fifty-two.  In the year 2025, that number is predicted to be one in two.

With statistics like this, looks like we all need to value these programs, eh?”

Last Updated July 16, 2023