Motley Squad

In 2020, founder Morinda Cottam's 14 year-old autistic son was struggling with loneliness, asking every day who his friends are and she was at a loss for what to tell him.  Despite years of therapy and social skills classes and groups, he still had no one reaching out; no one was inviting him to play video games or watch movies or just hang out. Although he practiced social skills for years with coaching, without an actual group of friends, those skills were never generalized through authentic social engagement in the community.

And Morinda found herself wondering if other families were experiencing this same sense of helplessness watching their neurodivergent kids struggle in isolation. 

It turns out, autistic teens and adults are 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, building resilience, 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."

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 independent living. 

After all, neurodivergent minds make extraordinary friendships.