Funding and Building a More Equitable State-Wide System of Care in Autism & Neurodevelopment

Expanding access to culturally responsive care

For families raising neurodivergent children in Nevada, finding qualified care is often a long, expensive, and exhausting process. The Nevada Collective for Autism and Neurodevelopment (NvCAN) is working to change that. By training educators and clinicians, reducing assessment wait times, supporting families with resources and funding, and building a more coordinated statewide network of care, NvCAN is strengthening the systems that neurodivergent individuals depend on.

With support from Serving Our Communities Foundation, NvCAN continues expanding access to culturally responsive, high-quality autism and neurodevelopmental care for children and families across Nevada who deserve better than what the system currently offers.

When Drs. Jan Marson and Debra Vigil co-founded the Nevada Collective for Autism and Neurodevelopment, the gaps in Nevada’s autism care system were not a surprise to anyone working in the field. They were simply the reality. Too few trained clinicians. Too little coordination between the professionals who needed to work together. Too many families navigating a complex system without a map, and too many children waiting too long for a diagnosis that would open the door to the services they needed. Their focus from the beginning was on filling gaps in specialized services, including workforce training, for families of children with autism or neurodevelopmental needs. That focus has not wavered.

NvCAN’s model is built on collaboration, not direct service delivery. The collective brings together universities, school districts, clinical programs, state agencies, and tribal communities to strengthen the infrastructure of care across Nevada. Its collaborator network includes the University Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment at the University of Nevada, Reno; Nevada Early Intervention Services; the Nevada Center for Excellence in Disabilities; the Rural Regional Center; Washoe County Schools; and the Pyramid Lake Tribe’s Club Numu program, among others. NvCAN strengthens care for autism and neurodevelopmental conditions across Nevada, especially in rural and underserved communities, by funding early intervention, assessment, and lifelong support.

The collective’s work operates across three areas. Family Support provides families with access to autism research, training, assessment pathways, and treatment resources. Healthcare and Educator Preparation funds evidence-based training, mentorship, and professional development for speech pathologists, occupational therapists, psychologists, and teachers who serve neurodivergent individuals. Community Care Funding directs resources toward training, accessibility upgrades, and gaps in care identified through trusted partners across the state.

In October 2025, NvCAN held its official public launch at a private reception in Reno, bringing together university leaders, clinicians, donors, and community advocates. The evening celebrated NvCAN’s mission and the appointment of Dr. Girija Kadlaskar to the University Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment at UNR, a position made possible through NvCAN’s support. Jan Marson and her husband Dave announced a $500,000 matching-fund pledge through 2026, ensuring every donation to NvCAN goes twice as far.

Serving Our Communities Foundation’s investment in NvCAN is an investment in the people who make Nevada’s care system work: the clinicians who deliver diagnoses, the educators who support neurodivergent students, and the families who navigate a system that has historically asked too much of them. The work is ongoing, and it is building something that will outlast any single gift or grant.