LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – The non profit Inclusion Fusion, a social organization for adults with disabilities in Southern Nevada, is expanding to help people with disabilities feel safe.
The Henderson group just moved to a bigger facility to keep up with demand and help keep smiles and laughs on faces like Joe Cordova’s. According to the group, anyone who wants to make friends is welcome.
“People like me,” Cordova said. “I have somewhere to go and talk about stuff.”
The organization offers programs for neurodiverse teens, adults, and individuals with other disabilities. The programs range from cooking classes, life skills, and dance, to name a few.
“It’s important for someone like me with a disability,” Zoey Rathbun, who said she is on the spectrum, said.
“It’s really helped me socially,” she added, talking about the social groups at Inclusion Fusion.
Those social groups keep the members quite busy.
Socialization is the backbone of everything at Inclusion Fusion, such as ice breakers. Questions including favorite movie, current TV show, or favorite song help to get the group going.
“Socialization is so critical to having a good mental health,” Jake Rich who leads the social groups at Inclusion Fusion said.
He said once a child with special needs turns 18, the services they receive could change.
“Once my brother graduated high school, we saw he didn’t necessarily get the same social opportunities,” The organization’s co-owner Lauren Abercrombie said.
Abercrombie said her brother is on the spectrum.
“I was able to see the gaps and what was lacking in Southern Nevada,” she explained.
According to the Nevada Autism Center, 52,000 Nevadans identify as being on the autism spectrum.
While there are a few resources for adults with autism, Inclusion Fusion is working hard to fill the gap with its 250 weekly members.
The group said people who would like to join have to go through a placement evaluation, which takes about 20 to 30 minutes.
