Mission
The mission of The Social Chase is to provide an inclusive quality of life, social activities (“Free to Be Me”), support to finding resources, and provide a community of support for the neurodivergent in the underserved and uninformed community, which includes the middle class.
About Us
The Social Chase group was established in 2018 by Helen Taylor, MBA at that time her son was a teenager on the autism spectrum. Helen recognized a neglect of social events and activities for the teens to young adults on the autism spectrum in the urban community and decided to remedy that gap. The Social Chase assists late teens to young adults on the autism spectrum and special needs (the neurodivergent community) in the underserved and uninformed community. The Social Chase is currently serving 10-20 neurodivergent and racially-diverse individuals from 13 years old to 35 years old (depending on activity).
History
Organizing fun events for our late teens to young adults on the spectrum and with special needs led by parent support. Spreading awareness and acceptance of those living with autism and special needs, the neurodivergent community.
The Social Chase is a program started by Helen Taylor, a mom, to organize fun events for late teens to young adults on the spectrum and with special abilities. It is a parent support group; parents must remain with The Social Chasers during the events. We have “Free to Be Me” events at the bowling alley, go kart racing, board game nights, hockey games, and The Art of Yum cooking classes (www.theartofyum.com)
Helen also started The Social Chase program on Skye Cable XIII as a platform to share about living with autism and special needs and abilities, social challenges, as well as provide educational information. Hosts Ali and Chase live on the spectrum. The crew are local teenagers who received video/audio certification from Skye Cable Summer Bootcamp and a young man on the spectrum. Note: The Skye Cable XIII had technical difficuties with the microphone but the conversations were more important than the noise. 🙂
Our loved one’s on the autism spectrum and special needs do not have the same opportunities/programs to socialize and be accepted. While I would bring Chase (sometimes his friends too)to different municipalities such as New Haven, Plainville, Wallingford, Cheshire, Torrington, etc. for social activities, I knew there were youth in the Waterbury area that would enjoy having fun with others. Alan and I even contacted local non-profit organizations to start a social program but to no avail.
So, we planned to start a non-profit organization, The Social Chase, about 10 years ago due to the lack of programs; however, my schedule was just too much.
I figured I don’t need to be a non-profit organization, I just needed to determine a way to use existing resources. I contacted Autism Speaks and Post University to collaborate on being part of the local community. I also contacted the local restaurant, The Art of Yum and Hardcore Cupcakes to have events for our youth and the concept was positively accepted.
Of course, the parents being part of this journey made The Social Chase social group possible. Thank you!