
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 refers to a behavior observed in some neurodivergent individuals, where they may suddenly leave a designated area—such as home, school, or other safe spaces—without permission and with no regard for safety. This can happen without their caregiver’s knowledge, putting them at significant risk of getting lost or encountering dangerous situations.
Elopement is particularly common among autistic individuals who experience communication and sensory challenges. Because of these limitations, they may not be able to effectively communicate their need for help if they become lost or find themselves in danger.
Given these complexities, autistic individuals who are prone to elopement require specialized support. This support should focus on reducing the reliance on verbal communication and empowering them to participate safely and inclusively in daily activities.
IE Angels seeks to provide such support to autistic youth and adults who face additional barriers due to being from marginalized communities, such as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) families, as well as under-resourced communities.
Our inaugural program aims to provide a minimum of 10 families per year with an annual subscription to a wearable assistive technology device equipped with GPS tracking to facilitate safety and independence. Such a device can offer peace of mind to caregivers by allowing them to monitor their loved ones when they are apart.
Families who meet our program criteria may apply once applications open. The Empowered Angel Program will select families from the pool of applications. Applicants must meet the following criteria: a diagnosis of autism, a history of elopement from safe areas, limited communication skills, residency in the state of California, and identification with one of the marginalized communities listed above.
Support the Angels program by donating today!
Any amount will contribute to the safety and independence of individuals at risk of elopement.
Donations are tax-deductible. Consult with your tax advisor for specific guidance.

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.