History & Accomplishments

ASHO is a start-up organization with a growing presence in the Bangladeshi-American community. Incorporated in 2015, ASHO began its community outreach and program development activities within a couple of months after inception. Since that time, ASHO has successfully reached out to well over 200 Bangladeshi-American families who have children with autism, along with countless community members, lawmakers, policymakers, and other organizations that serve children with ASD. We are creating a collaborative community of inclusion and a cohesive network of support. The following is a list of some of our activities and accomplishments to date:

• ​April, 2015 - Autism Awareness Event - Family Resource Fair hosted by ASHO
• May, 2015 - Parents Information Workshop hosted by ASHO
• July, 2015 - Parent to Parent Support Workshop jointly hosted by Parent to Parent and ASHO
• September, 2015 - Future Planning to Meet the Challenges Workshop hosted by ASHO
• November, 2015 - Stress Management Workshop for Parents hosted by ASHO
• April, 2016 - ASHO participated in the United Nations Seminar on Autism Awareness
• April, 2016 - ASHO participated in World Autism Awareness Day by Autism Speaks
• May, 2016 - ASHO participated in the Asian American & Pacific Islanders Heritage Month
• June, 2016 - Autism Awareness Workshop hosted by ASHO
• July, 2016 - ASHO Book Sale Event for Autism Awareness held in Jamaica, NY
• July 2016 - ASHO became a member of the Queens Chamber of Commerce
• August, 2016 - Parents Immigration Workshop hosted by ASHO
• September, 2016 - Family Thanksgiving Dinner hosted by ASHO
• October, 2016 - ASHO participated in the Workshop on Mental Health by the NY Department of Health & Mental Hygiene
• November , 2016: ASHO received Commendation from NYC Comptroller
• November, 2016 - ASHO Annual Fundraising Event in Jackson Heights, NY
• December, 2016 - ASHO participated in Front Door Meetings given by the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) with member families
• January, 2017 - ASHO participated in the Queens Council on Developmental Disabilities (QCDD) Workshop
• January, 2017 - ASHO became a member organization of the Coalition for Asian American Children and Families (CACF)
• February, 2017 - ASHO participated in the Workshop on Nonprofit Governance and City Funding hosted by the NY Mayor’s Office
• March, 2017 - ASHO hosted a Musical Family Night for families
• April, 2017 - ASHO participated in an Autism Awareness Seminar hosted by the United Nations
• April, 2017 - ASHO participated in an Autism Awareness Event hosted by Queens College
• April, 2017 - ASHO participated as a speaker in Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara’s Autism Action Now in Albany, NY
• April, 2017 - ASHO attended the Generation NOW Seminar hosted by World Bank and the Gates Foundation in Washington D.C.
• May, 2017 - ASHO participated in the Queens Council on Developmental Disabilities (QCDD) Seminar on Self Direction
• June, 2017 - ASHO hosted a Workshop for Information on Transition for Children with Autism at PS-64, in Queens, NY
• July, 2017 - ASHO co-hosted a street fair for the community in Jamaica, NY
• August, 2017: Reflection of Hope Award Honoree, from the NY State Senator
• September, 2017: Annual Fundraising event
• March, 2018: Parents Focus group conference with joint collaboration with Developmental disability Planning Council (DDPC).
• March , 2018: ASHO’S Presentation in PS 206 School.
• April 29, 2018: Received City Council Community Service Award
• May 1, 2018: ASHO participated in Women’s Leadership Conference at York College on disability rights.
• July, 2018 : Guardianship Workshop for parents.
• August, 2018: Parent Skill training class
• Sep, 2018: Positive Parenting workshop
• October, 2018: Seminar on New Care Coordination Organization (CCO)
• October, 2018: Participation & Discussion with Mayor’s office on Intersectional Disability Roundtable.
• November, 2018: Participated and showcased ASHO in Rosedale Lions Club meeting.
• January 2019: Participated in Lion’s Recycle for Sight program
• January 2019: Participated in South Asian Roundtable by NYC Comptroller
• April, 2019: Participated in Street fair.
• May , 2019: Cultural  Competency and Autism inter dependency Seminar.
• June, 2019: Participated in Cultural Festivals of King Manor Museum.

Founder

​ASHO was founded by Rubaiya Rahman, a legal professional, an active member of the Bangladeshi-American community, and a mother of a young adult with ASD. For over 18 years, Ms. Rahman has navigated the complex special education system, advocated for her child, and helped other community members with children having disabilities to find information and access services. Ms. Rahman founded ASHO in 2015 to bring the community together, to address the stigma surrounding autism and disability services, and engage parents and extended families in education and self-advocacy. No other organization is focused on the at-risk Bangladeshi community.

ASHO is a non-profit organization and is operated exclusively for educational and charitable purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or the corresponding section of any future Federal tax code.