Who are we?
Families for Effective Autism Treatment (FEAT) of Louisville is a non-profit organization that actively supports and funds autism programs for the entire family. Our mission is to ease the autism journey through a community network, created for families by families, to provide ongoing support, education, programs and resources. Much of our work is done by volunteers to assist in growing our support programs and services.
When were we founded?
FEAT of Louisville was founded in December 1999 by a small group of parents searching for answers to their children’s complex medical problems and educational needs.
How many members do we have?
FEAT of Louisville is a dynamic group of families in the Kentuckiana area. In the past few years our membership has grown from 50 to over 200 families.
What services do we provide?
(For additional information, please visit the Programs section).
- Monthly Support Meetings
FEAT hosts monthly support meetings that include open forums during which parents share information, discuss current issues, ask questions and offer support to each other. Open forums alternate with guest speakers who address various services available in the community, treatment options, educational rights and legislative issues. We meet the 2nd Thursday of each month from 7 - 9 p.m. at The Home of the Innocents. Topics and speakers are updated on our website. - Social Outings
FEAT hosts social outings for children with ASD (autism spectrum disorders) and their families. Outings are designed to be non-stressful and fun, and to provide opportunities for social interaction. Many events are scheduled throughout the year including special movie viewings exclusively for our families, play times at gyms with inflatable jumpers and slides, bowling, swimming, holidays parties, etc. - Respite
FEAT assists families in finding respite workers, many of who are students at Bellarmine University and Spalding University typically majoring in psychology, nursing, speech therapy, or occupational therapy. - Forum
Our email tree is being phased out and replaced with a forum as we strive to better meet the needs of our members. The new forum allows members to communicate with one another more efficiently. Register now to begin using this powerful resource. - Conferences
FEAT hosts annual conferences, featuring nationally known autism specialists, to keep our community abreast of the latest information regarding all aspects of treatment. - Public Awareness Efforts
FEAT members spread awareness about our organization and autism through numerous speaking engagements as well as holding positions on Boards of Directors for various local autism agencies. We also meet with the local, state and federal government officials to improve services for children and adults with autism in Kentucky. We host an annual 5K race to raise awareness about autism and our organization in our community. - Collaborative Efforts
FEAT continues to expand alliances with other autism service providers in the area, including Carriage House Educational Services and Preschool, Dreams With Wings, Home of the Innocents, Council for Mental Retardation, the STAR Program, the Kentucky Autism Training Center, as well as other invested partners in Louisville. Specific collaborative programs including the Endeavor Program and Dreams in Motion serve many of our families.