I'm Tracie Kamenoff, and I recently chatted with Jennifer Dantzler, founder and executive director of Inspire ND. What she and her organization are creating matters for every corner of our community — from schools and businesses to churches and first responders. Below I summarize the most important takeaways and practical ways each of us can help make our neighborhoods truly inclusive.

What Inspire ND is and why it matters

Inspire ND is a nonprofit founded about 23 years ago with a simple but powerful mission: to create truly inclusive communities for people with neurodiversity through education and engagement. Their work centers on removing barriers and building supports so people on the autism spectrum and others who are neurodivergent can participate fully in community life.

Key facts Jennifer shared:

• Autism now affects roughly 1 in 31 people.
• About 1 in 4 people are neurodivergent.
• Roughly 80% of people on the autism spectrum are unemployed or underemployed, even while many businesses struggle to fill positions.

Those numbers explain why education and connection are so important. Inspire ND focuses on helping organizations understand what supports make sense and how to implement them in real-world settings.

How Inspire ND creates inclusive communities

Jennifer described a three-pronged approach that works in any community:

• Education — Trainings for first responders, daycares, schools, churches, businesses, and more so people know how to communicate and provide appropriate supports.
• Engagement — Events and social opportunities that welcome neurodiverse families and create safe, judgment-free spaces.
• Connection — Helping employers and community groups identify and implement supports for employees or members who are neurodivergent.

These efforts are practical: they teach simple accommodations, change perceptions, and reduce isolation. Without organizations doing this work, Jennifer worries that important conversations and supports simply would not happen.

Community events that make a difference

Inspire ND runs autism-friendly events year-round to give families safe places to participate without fear of judgment. Examples include adapted Halloween and Easter activities and seasonal gatherings that welcome children of all ages and needs.

Fundraising, outreach, and the power of storytelling

To sustain their programs, Inspire ND combines community fundraising with storytelling and advocacy.

• Taste of the Town — A popular annual fundraiser where attendees sample foods from dozens of local restaurants for one ticket price. Jennifer told me that 100% of ticket proceeds support Inspire ND.
• Conference and workshops — Events like a roadmap for disabilities conference and many free workshops available on their website help parents and professionals navigate disability supports.
• Podcast: Shining Through — Inspiring Voices of Autism — A series of episodes featuring self-advocates and parents sharing lessons and lived experience. It’s a powerful way to lift diverse voices and broaden community understanding.

Simple, effective ways anyone can be more supportive

Jennifer left me with a nugget of practical advice that everyone can put into action right away:

Give grace and reach out and say, "How can we help?"

That short phrase opens doors. Here are a few scenarios where a little empathy and curiosity make a big difference:

• If you see a parent pushing a teenager in a grocery cart, don’t assume it’s laziness. For some families that’s the only way to get through the store.
• At neighborhood events or block parties, ask organizers what accommodations would make the event welcoming for neurodivergent neighbors.
• During trick-or-treating, accept that a 20-year-old asking for candy or someone using a communication device is part of making the community inclusive. All ages deserve to participate.

How to connect and get involved

If you want to learn more or support the work, Inspire ND keeps resources up to date on their website and across social platforms. Their site contains information on trainings, event dates, free workshops, and sponsorship opportunities.

• Website: inspireind.org
• Podcast: Shining Through — Inspiring Voices of Autism
• Big community fundraiser: Taste of the Town — check the website for dates and ticketing

Final thoughts

Building inclusive communities isn’t a one-off project. It’s a daily practice of listening, adapting, and creating spaces where everyone can belong. Organizations like Inspire ND do the heavy lifting by training, connecting, and hosting events — but change happens when neighbors, employers, and friends join in.

If you want to start small today: give grace, ask what would help, and look for ways to include people rather than exclude them. That little shift in approach makes our neighborhoods stronger and kinder.

— Tracie Kamenoff, connecting you to "The Hub of Opportunity". Keep adding value and making a difference.