By Shannon Lukens.

 

The official ribbon cutting for the new offices for Yampa Valley Autism was Friday morning, at 1585 Mid Valley Drive. Here’s Executive Director Heidi Mendisco.

“So what this means to the community is that we are just able to expand our reach. We’re already serving Routt, Moffat, and Grand counties, and we are seeing an unprecedented growth within the last three years and this just allows us to continue that mission of serving those neuro-diverse youth and supporting them and their families.”

 

Mendisco says they were able to purchase the new home for Yampa Valley Autism with help from the Yampa Valley Community Foundation. They paid off that $300,000 bridge loan on Thursday, Dec. 11. Also, $403,000 was raised from individual donors.

 

Another donation from Steamboat Rotary went to the Neuro Nest, which is a sensory room. It has things that can be loaned out to families to see if their youth likes it and they might want to purchase one. These are things like a sensory swing or weighted blanket.

 

More expansions include a remodel of an accessible kitchen, an enlarged bathroom, and an expansion to the second floor.

 

Mendisco says Yampa Valley Autism has served 152 neuro-diverse individuals in Northwest Colorado, and also provide education and training to teachers and local businesses. There are three Board Certified Behavior Analysts and eight Registered Behavior Technicians who provide Applied Behavior Analysis therapy in homes.

 

Mendisco said recent federal cuts to Colorado’s Department of Health Care Policy & Financing could affect their programs. They hope to not have a disruption to any of those services.

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