Hello everyone,
Activities this summer
We had an autistic women’s retreat in August, and for some of us it was grounding and bonding in a way that is so hard to find anywhere else. Just being completely ok being ourselves with the stars shining on us! My top memory is acting like prairie dogs in the game of “psychiatrist”, and of course finding common ground among our very different life experiences.
A documentary is being made about this and other autistic women’s experiences; meanwhile you can see the inspiring cliff views here:
In September an autistic child and his mom stayed the whole month for a grounding homeschool-retreat, experiencing the freedom to grow into his strengths without attempts to coerce him into “normalcy”.
Closing up
Despite the power in what we have done so far, this will be our last newsletter. We have been unable to find someone who can continue to run Ocate Cliffs, which has been a longstanding need. Additionally, due to the nature of nonprofit organizations being dependent on volunteers, we simply do not have enough hands available to keep ourselves afloat. Divergent Labs will not be closing up for now but running minimally, in case someone wants to come along and revive it.
Plans are in place to sell the land, property, and equipment associated with Ocate Cliffs.
We are sorry this is what it has come to, as Ocate Cliffs has had such a long and successful history in supporting autistic people. However, shutting it down allows more time for our program manager and volunteers- all wonderful autistic advocates- to work on their own projects.
If you are in need of local NM autistic resources, please check out Wilderwood Equine Therapy and Rescue https://wilderwoodequinetherapy.org/
or NM Autism Society’s page of resources: https://nmautismsociety.org/resources . Unfortunately New Mexico still has a need for autistic adult groups so this list is short – if you have any suggestions please let us know!
We appreciate your support and staying up-to-date. Please feel free to contact us via email, Facebook, or Instagram if you have any comments.
Thank you,
Jeanie Vo, Board Member
&
Star Ford, Program Manager