Strozier Autism (Strozier Autism Center) is an advocacy and information organization focused on raising awareness and support for individuals with Autism especially those who are nonverbal, profoundly affected, or underserved.
Heather Strozier, B.S. Computer Science, Owner
Tech leader, veteran, mom, author, advocate.
Darius Stockstill, B.S. Psychology
Life skills coach, 1:1 support, letterboard.
Roxy Sewell
Bestselling co-author, letterboard, creative writing.
Karen Dorula, M.S., OTR/L
Occupational therapist, letterboard, builds independence in self-care, home, school, play,
leisure.
Founded in 2013, Strozier Autism Center offered in-person support services for neurodiverse youth and their families. When the COVID-19 pandemic forced us to close our doors in 2020, we had to shift – because the needs didn’t disappear; they deepened. Now known simply as Strozier Autism, we continue to advocate, guide, and partner with families navigating the unique challenges of adolescence and transition for those with Autism or similar diagnoses.
Our focus is clear: individuals on the Autism Spectrum, or with similar diagnoses, ages 12 and up.
As children move through middle school, high school, and beyond, support systems start to fade but their needs remain. We walk beside families during this critical time, helping them prepare for life after formal education and build tools for long-term success.
We offer hands-on, heart-forward support in:
At Strozier Autism, we recognize that Autism is unique and it impacts people in profoundly different ways.
There is no single cause, no single gene, and no single experience..
While much research has focused on autistic individuals who are verbal, mildly affected, or able to navigate mainstream environments, far less attention has been given to those who are nonverbal, cognitively limited, profoundly Autistic, or unable to live independently.
We stand for those most often left out of the conversation.
We acknowledge that there is still no full clarity on what genetic or environmental factors lead to autism, or why it varies so widely across individuals. We believe in the urgent need for inclusive research, services, and understanding with a commitment to the individuals and families desperately in need of advocacy, visibility, and support.
Most importantly, we believe that in order to successfully modify your child’s behavior, you have to modify your own.
Real change starts with how we, as caregivers and communities, choose to respond, support, and connect.
Yes — some of the first children diagnosed with Autism in the 1940s were nonverbal, but their names and stories were rarely preserved. Early Autism research focused mostly on verbal children.
In earlier decades, nonverbal autistic children were often misdiagnosed with schizophrenia, intellectual disability (then called “mental retardation”), or other psychiatric conditions.
About 25–30% of people with Autism are nonverbal, meaning they communicate using non-speech methods like letter boards, sign language, or communication devices.
The harmful “refrigerator mom” theory, popularized from the 1940s to the 1960s, wrongly blamed autism on cold, unloving mothers. This caused decades of stigma — some of which still lingers today — before science confirmed that Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition, not a parenting failure.
The Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network is the CDC’s system for tracking autism rates in the U.S. It collects data from select states to understand how common Autism is among children.
Every two years, the CDC gathers data from schools, clinics, and health agencies, focusing mainly on 8-year-old children. This helps estimate how many children have Autism nationwide.
The ADDM Network started with 6 sites in 1992 and has grown to 16 sites today.
Data collection, review, and analysis can take months or years, so reports are often published 1–2 years after the data is gathered.
The number of states and sites participating changes based on federal grants and local participation. Some states join or pause depending on funding, resources, or their priorities.
Donald Triplett from Mississippi became the first documented Autism case worldwide in 1943. He lived into his 80s, traveling the world and working at his local bank.
strozierautismcenter@gmail.com
