“As the number of autistic children grows, so does the number of autistic adults. Their needs remain much the same as they age, yet the support they once received fades.”
— USA Today, The Coming Avalanche of Autistic Adults by Cindy Goodwin
History
In 2006, nine families confronted a daunting crisis: What would become of their children once they aged out of the school system? Their research uncovered a troubling reality—no specialized services existed for autistic adults in the Baltimore City/County area. How could their transition into adulthood be supported and their needs met?
Out of this crisis, Itineris was born. Today, the vision of these families, professionals, and self-advocates has become a reality. Itineris currently supports nearly 200 autistic adults, with that number expected to double in the coming years. The founders were committed to ensuring that these individuals could maintain the skills they developed in school while continuing to learn and grow. Over time, Itineris has evolved into a comprehensive program dedicated to building lives and achieving goals for autistic individuals. It remains one of the few agencies in Maryland exclusively serving this growing and underrepresented population.
Mission
Empowering autistic adults to live meaningful lives, throughout their lifespan.
Vision
A world where autistic adults can fully share in the life of their communities, with the dignity to choose their own path as they strive to achieve their dreams and goals.
· We collaborate with clients, families, team members, and community partners.
· We contribute to the world in the pursuit of neurodiversity acceptance.
· We design each day as a new opportunity for learning, growth, and creativity.
· We embrace diversity with passion and promote safe spaces for inclusion.
· We honor people’s desire to express themselves and make personal choices.
· We focus on clients; their success is our success.
· We invest in our staff. They are the foundation of our mission.
· We innovate with evidence-based practices.
Guiding Principles
Corporate DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility) Mission and Vision
Mission
To honor the vision of our Founding Families by providing a safe, enriching culture for autistic individuals while creating a welcoming environment for all regardless of biases to include race, religion, gender, and orientation.
Vision
To be the neurodiverse agency brand for individuals on the spectrum with a rich culture of champions for Diversity who support Equity, embrace Inclusion, and enable Accessibility while expanding our reach and strengthening community.