Clear The Motley Squad's Waitlist

In 2020, founder Morinda Cottam's 14 year-old autistic son was struggling with loneliness, asking every day who his friends are. And Morinda was at a loss for what to tell him because despite years of therapy and social skills classes and groups, no one was reaching out. No one was inviting him to play video games or watch movies. And though he practiced social skills for years with coaching, without an actual group of friends, those skills just lived in his head in theory. 

And Morinda had to wonder if other families were experiencing this same sense of helplessness watching their neurodivergent kids struggle. 

It turns out, this population is disproportionately impacted by mental health crises, including depression and suicidality.  While mental health is a multi-faceted problem, research highlights isolation and loneliness as a key component affecting the mental health of autistic and neurodivergent individuals.

And so The Motley Squad was born. 

Unlike clinical interventions focused on coaching or behavioral training, The Motley Squad operates like a great group of friends. Our 'lightly-scaffolded' activities, outings, and events are intentionally designed to naturally spark peer-to-peer engagement. Few truly peer-based, non-clinical social enrichment opportunities like this exist, leaving a vital gap in support. 

Motley Squad participants are not just hanging out on the weekends, they are growing community, developing their social confidence and seeing consistent improvement in their mental health. One parent said, 

"My son was very isolated, unseen, and misunderstood among peers. He was very depressed and seemed lonely. Since he began joining The Motley Squad, he has enjoyed sharing his interests and talents. He enjoys being around others like himself, where he doesn't feel judged, and he is starting to learn social skills. The Motley Squad is helping him develop a sense of identity, belonging, and self-worth."

This year, the Motley Squad is serving 90 individuals and their families and we have over 40 individuals on our waitlist. Help us expand our reach to include everyone that's waiting for this life-changing program. 

 It is our vision to see these individuals grow their social confidence in a way that supports every facet of their lives from healthy relationships to long-term employment and independence. 

After all, neurodivergent minds make extraordinary friendships.