Unified brand strategy positions organizations to scale community-driven transformation of neurodivergent research and services
ITI, formerly known as the Autistic Self-Reliance Support Network (ASR), announced a strategic rebrand that unifies its organizational identity while clarifying the distinct roles of its two entities in advancing neurodivergent wellbeing. The organization’s innovation arm, formerly Independence Through Interdependence Assistive Technologies Inc., will now operate as ITI Lab.
The rebrand reflects ITI’s evolving role as a catalyst organization determined to #FlipThePowerDynamic in autism research and funding. ITI serves as the nonprofit hub conducting research that centers neurodivergent wellbeing while building capacity for neurodivergent-led organizations and projects. ITI Lab functions as the innovation and economic engine, developing technological solutions based on community-identified needs.
“This unified brand strategy enables us to tell a clearer story about how we’re systematically transforming autism research from deficit-based approaches to strength-based, community-driven methodologies,” said Shannan Palma, PhD, Co-Executive Director of ITI and CEO of ITI Lab.
Community-Driven Innovation
ITI Lab exemplifies the organization’s commitment to community-driven innovation through its development of the Decide app, an AI-powered decision support tool that emerged from extensive research with over 734 neurodivergent adults. Their research was funded by a $390,140 Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities grant.
“Our beta testing showed that 77.3% of users reported the app helped them think through how their actions affect their wellbeing,” said April Gao, Chief Product Officer at ITI Lab. “This validates our approach of starting with community-identified needs rather than assumptions about what neurodivergent people need.”
The nonprofit arm’s Mobility Autonomy Program (MAP) demonstrates ITI’s commitment to addressing systemic barriers through practical solutions. This $1.04 million initiative improves transportation and communication access for autistic adults in Central Ohio and is designed as a replicable model for other regions.
ITI’s commitment to community-driven transformation extends beyond individual projects to supporting broader movement building. The organization actively supports the Autistic Advocates and Allies United grassroots movement, coordinated by UmbrellaND and Today’s Autistic Moment, which works to amplify autistic voices and self-advocacy efforts across the country.
Additionally, ITI has begun convening autistic leaders of peer-support projects and organizations for a mutual support group designed to share best practices, brainstorm opportunities and challenges, and create infrastructure to support local autistic-led initiatives and direct services. This effort recognizes that sustainable transformation requires not just individual organizational success, but a robust ecosystem of connected, mutually supportive autistic-led initiatives.
“Real change happens when we build networks of support between autistic-led organizations,” said Dana. “By creating infrastructure for peer support among leaders, we’re strengthening the entire movement while ensuring no one organization has to solve these challenges alone.”
Sustainable Impact Through Integrated Approach
This ecosystem approach has already demonstrated measurable impact: ITI operates with a $402,000 annual budget, has engaged more than 834 neurodivergent adults in research across ITI and ITI Lab, and has pending applications totaling over $2 million for expanded programming.
The organization’s work directly addresses the critical gap in autism research, where only 4.3% of funding examines quality of life across the autistic lifespan, while most resources focus on children or cure-oriented approaches that don’t reflect autistic priorities.
The rebrand comes at a critical time as recent unsupported announcements from the Trump administration claiming to have identified a single cause for autism underscore the urgent need for autistic leadership in research. Such claims, made without community input or scientific consensus, demonstrate exactly why autistic voices must lead research into our own condition.
“Our rebrand isn’t just about new names – it’s about demonstrating a viable alternative to research and services as usual,” concluded Dr. Palma. “We’re proving that when autistic people lead, everyone benefits.”