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Mission, Vision & Values
Our Mission
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The Heard Center's mission is to provide a safe and inclusive community aligned with neurodiversity-affirming best practices prioritizing mental well-being, autonomy, and agency.
Our Vision
The Heard Center envisions a future where every individual thrives in a safe, inclusive, and empowering environment that celebrates and supports differences in meaningful ways, prioritizes mental-wellbeing through relationships and belonging, where autonomy and agency inspire a purpose filled life.
Our Values
Inclusivity
We embrace and celebrate the unique identities, backgrounds and perspectives of every individual ensuring that all members of our community feel seen, valued, loved and heard. Inclusion to us means you are welcome, as you are, you belong, accommodations and supports are in place for you and we are so glad you're here.
Neurodiversity
We believe there are many natural variations of brain development and that there is no "right way" to perceive or interact with the world. We strive to create a culture that supports and affirms the neurodivergent experience.
Safety
Safety and sense of internal well being are fundamental human needs. Safety is the foundation of exploration, learning and skill acquisition. We seek to signal safety in the physical environment and also through self reflection of our own body language, tone of voice, mannerisms, energy levels and the ways we seek connection with neurodivergent members.
Mental-Wellbeing
We hold the internal well being of our members in the highest regard. We acknowledge the traumatic history of some therapeutic interventions and the lived traumatic experiences that are shared with us. We do not support the use of behaviorally based interventions such as ABA or PBIS.
Autonomy
We believe in respecting neurodivergent expressions of autonomy. This means that "No" and "Go away" are honored expressions of self advocacy and the desire for space. We do not shape, mold or change expressions of autonomy. We do not use hand over hand or physical redirection of any member's body unless it is for safety purposes.
Agency
We want our members to feel a sense of control over their life path not as if they are passive bystanders. We know that agency is a critical component of happiness. Our goal is to provide a safe, sensory thoughtful environment where intrinsic motivation, confidence and purpose flourish.
Empowerment
In a self directed learning model we are pushing back against the status quo and particularly on behalf of autistic people who have been largely mislabeled as disempowered and unmotivated. This rhetoric coupled with interventions heavily reliant on rewards and punishment creates a self fulfilling prophecy. And we don't buy it. When our members are given the freedom to explore, their inherent strengths and interests will emerge in time. It may take some time. That is okay. What is not okay is the assumption of disempowerment and lack of motivation.
Community collaboration
We respect the experiences and perspectives each of us brings to the community. We believe strong communities are built on mutual respect and understanding. We welcome our neurotypical allies into our community. This is a wonderful opportunity to engage the two-way street of curiosity and understanding how we differ in our communication, body language, energy levels, interests, movements and ways of existing in the world.
Meaningful Supports
We define meaningful supports as those designed to accommodate and support our members in areas of agency, autonomy and choice. The sensory, motor and communication supports imbedded throughout the environment are to support the desires and well-being of the individual.
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