Dantzler received a master's degree in special education in Boston before moving to Houston to launch Including Kids Autism Center in 2003. The nonprofit provides early intervention service to individuals with autism and other similar diagnoses.
In 2022, Dantzler launched Inspire ND, a branch of Including Kids that focuses on helping young adults on the autism spectrum develop the life and social skills needed to live more independently.
The overview
Dantzler noted most of the services provided by Inspire ND—which are offered to individuals ages 18-35—are centered around helping her clients gain more confidence in their day-to-day lives.
“A lot of that is just breaking things down into smaller skills ... teaching the skills needed to be able to go get a job and to be able to have friends and all the things that they need to do,” she said.
While the nonprofit provides classes on day-to-day skills, such as cooking, cleaning, budgeting and job training, Dantzler said Inspire ND also provides programming aimed at further developing social skills, such as communication and self regulation.
Dantzler also noted the nonprofit has thrived with community partnerships, including a program with retirement community Fountainwood at Lake Houston that provides an opportunity for Inspire ND students to interact and develop relationships with residents and staff.
Dantzler said these partnerships have been instrumental in helping community members embrace and accept individuals with neurodiversity.
“We're actually helping the community as much as our clients,” Dantzler said.
Also of note
As a nonprofit, Dantzler said outreach has been been affected by limited funding. To help raise money, the nonprofit hosts several fundraising events throughout the year in addition to housing a store where customers can purchase items crafted by Inspire ND clients.
Additionally, Dantzler said volunteers are always welcome at the nonprofit, particularly if the individuals volunteering are able to help teach students classes on cooking, painting or any other creative or life skills.
Community members who wish to donate directly to the nonprofit can also do so through the organization's webpage, she said.
What's next
Looking to the future, Dantzler said the organization is gearing up for a partnership with Project Beacon, a nonprofit based in The Woodlands aimed at boosting inclusivity for adults with autism.
Dantzler said she hopes the partnership will provide more opportunities for young adults on the autism spectrum to get the help they need to lead more independent lives.
“My goal is to be able to help as many people as I can, and sometimes the day-to-day [operations] are very time consuming,” she said. “That's where [Project] Beacon and I come together.”
- 19143 Timber Forest Drive, Ste. 4, Humble
- www.inspirend.org
