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Since its launch in 2012, Aspiritech’s Stepping Up & Out (SUO) program has created a welcoming, low-pressure space for autistic adults to socialize and grow connections. Over the years, that program has evolved into a hybrid model of virtual and in-person experiences that happen each month, all designed around participant feedback and led by autistic staff. In the past several months, SUO has reached several important milestones, all of which expand its impact on Aspiritech’s team members and our community.
In 2024, The Grandy Foundation made a transformational commitment by endowing the SUO program. After providing financial backing for more than a decade, The Grandy Foundation’s incredible act of generosity has now made SUO a sustainable endeavor for the long term, giving Aspiritech the opportunity to engage with more autistic participants for years to come.
Leadership of the program mirrors its values. Alex Dudasik, Aspiritech’s newly promoted Community Engagement & Happiness Manager and a member of our autistic-majority employee pool, began his journey in SUO as an assistant in 2016. Through years of participation, idea generation, and program involvement, he rose into a management role, proving the benefits of fostering growth from within.
“One of my favorite things of the program is seeing people be able to make new friends, and gain more confidence with themselves in social situations,” Alex says. “It really shows how our autistic-led approach works.”
Besides leading some groups himself, Alex is also instrumental in engaging autistic team members in SUO programming roles, such as facilitating clubs, hosting virtual game nights, leading Dungeons & Dragons campaigns, and organizing in-person events. The result is a robust set of social activities grounded in authenticity and lived experiences.
Jack O’Lantern World in Lake Zurich, Illinois, October 2025.
In 2024, SUO saw more than 100 active participants involved in its activities across both virtual and in-person formats. Many of its best-attended events drew between 20 and 60 people, signaling a strong demand for lighthearted diversion, pressure-free socializing, and building community.
Here’s a snapshot of what SUO has offered recently:
SUO intentionally blends current Aspiritech employees, former co-workers, and community participants with no direct ties to the organization. This diversity helps each gathering feel broader and more inclusive of different perspectives and lived experiences.
Pride Party at Aspiritech headquarters in Evanston, Illinois, June 2025.
Exactly how different are those perspectives and lived experiences? Alex shared some current demographic stats of SUO participants.
Please note: Aspiritech SUO participation is constantly changing and growing. These numbers reflect Alex’s best estimations at the time of this piece’s publication.
These numbers remind us that within the autism community, there is vast diversity in identity, in living circumstances, and in needs. We have never been a monolith.
Schaumburg Boomers vs. Joliet Slammers in Schaumburg, Illinois, July 2025.“Stepping Up & Out helped me connect with individuals who share my interests and experiences,” says participant and Aspiritech Academy graduate Bobby Koys, 27. “The digital and in-person events are filled with hearty laughs, interesting stories, and thought-provoking discussions. Their influence has meant a lot to me.”
Bobby’s quote captures the emotional core of SUO’s mission of fostering relationships, shared experiences, and confidence. Many participants report continuing friendships outside SUO, which can look like meeting up for movies, gathering to play board games, or grabbing coffee on their own terms.
SUO also gives participants opportunities to develop and showcase their skills through hosting virtual game nights, leading discussion groups, exhibiting art, and more. That agency deepens the personal impact, making the program that much more powerful in the long term.
LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago, Schaumburg, Illinois, February 2025.
For autistic adults, the challenges of forming and maintaining social relationships can sometimes be profound. Isolation, anxiety around social situations, or fear of social “mistakes” can easily become barriers to forming connections. SUO addresses this by creating an inviting environment that encourages participants to move at their own pace without judgement.
SUO’s hybrid structure accommodates different comfort levels. Some participants engage entirely virtually, some attend in person, and many opt for a blend of both. The programming is intentionally flexible and participant-driven, meaning it can adapt over time to better suit preferences, interests, accessibility needs, and community feedback.
The payoff of this model is remarkable: Participants often leave SUO events feeling more confident, more socially engaged, and more ready to step into the world knowing that they’re accepted and supported by their community.
The Sock Monkey Museum in Long Grove, Illinois, May 2025.
With the Grandy Foundation’s endowment, SUO enters a new era of financial stability. In 2025 and beyond, SUO plans to expand team-building, deepen virtual offerings, experiment with new events, and continue prioritizing participant ideas.
Even as the program changes and develops, the heart of SUO remains dedicated to building social connection, affirming autistic voices, and creating a safe space to step up and step out. Whether through concerts, gaming nights, art shows, or simple conversations over coffee, SUO proves again and again that autistic adults, given the right environment, can not only find community, but flourish in it.
If you’d like to contribute to SUO’s continued growth, or support the other programs Aspiritech offers its autistic employees and community members, consider making a monthly or one-time donation to our nonprofit today.
“We hired them for the mission. We’ve kept them because they are excellent.”
Aspiritech, NFP
