The Empowered Angel
The Empowered Angel Program was developed in March 2024 to provide resources and/or support to individuals with limited or unreliable communication who require additional safety support due to their elopement.
Elopement is seen in some neurodivergent people who will sporadically leave a designated area without permission and with no regard for safety. They may walk or run away from safe environments such as home, school, or other safe spaces, without their caregiver’s knowledge. Elopement is dangerous. Children and adults who elope are at a high risk of getting lost and being placed in great harm. Elopement is often seen in autistic youth and adults who have limitations in communication and sensory regulation. With limitations in communication, autistic children and adults who elope do not have a reliable means to communicate their need for help. Because of these complexities, autistic people who elope require meaningful support that removes the burden of reliable communication while empowering them to participate inclusively in daily activities.
IE Angels seeks to provide such support to autistic youth and adults who have additional barriers to support due to being from marginalized communities, such as Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) families, and/or families from low-income households.
The inaugural program aims to provide a minimum of 20 families per year with an annual subscription to a wearable, assistive technology device that has GPS tracking to facilitate safety and independence. Such a device can provide peace of mind to caregivers as it allows them to monitor their loved ones when they are away from them.
Families who meet the criteria for our program may apply once applications open. The Empowered Angel Program will select families from the pool of applications. Applicants must have a diagnosis of autism, a history of elopement from safe areas, limited communication skills, live in the state of California, and be from one of the marginalized communities listed above.
(We are currently accepting donations intending to award our first round of GPS devices in August 2024!)
Support the Angels program by donating today! Any amount will help to contribute to safety and independence for individuals who elope.
As of now, donations are not tax-deductible. The site will be updated upon the establishment of a tax-exempt status.
Everett's Angel
Developed in the memory of Everett Molino. Everett Molino was a long-time client of Dr. Banks. Everett was a bright, energetic young man who was a joy to work with. Although Everett could speak, his communication was limited. Everett passed away on March 15, 2023. His life and memory will live on through Everett's Angel by helping to keep children and adults who elope safer. This will be open to all eligible applicants and will be awarded in March.
A special thank you goes to the Molino Family for allowing Inclusively Empowered Angels to honor Everett.
Ujima's Angel
Ujima is a principle of the African-American tradition of Kwanzaa. Ujima means "to build and maintain our community together and make our community's problems our problems and to solve them together."
Inspired by safety concerns that Dr. Banks has for family members and close friends who have limited reliable communication and are at risk for eloping, Ujima's Angel recognizes that we have a collective responsibility to care for our most vulnerable populations.
Ujima's Angel is open to Black/African-American eligible applicants and will be awarded in August.