Acceptance: A Transformative Place
Donation protected
We're building a non-profit retreat center and eventual village & school for people with Asperger's, Autism, PTSD, Anxiety, Depression and related conditions, and we need your help to make it a reality.
My name is Danny Raede, and I am the Co-Founder of Asperger Experts, the world’s largest training, support & guidance resource for families with Aspergers. One of the BIGGEST things that we’ve seen is an immense need for a place to feel completely included and accepted. A place to learn some valuable life skills go beyond simply “coping” and learn real, actionable, tested, and useful strategies to flourish in life.
In February, we announced our intention to create Acceptance: A Transformational Place, our vision for a retreat center and eventual village and school for people with Asperger's, autism, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and related conditions.
At that point, it was only a dream.
It is a dream no longer!
I am very, very, very excited to announce that through the extremely generous support of our community, we were able to raise the money we need to start to make Acceptance a reality.
And we've secured long term access to a piece of land in which to do our work:
Situated only 1.5 hours from both Seattle and Portland, our land is an old dairy farm with a pond, forest, meadow, and barn.
About The Acceptance Retreat Center
The Acceptance retreat center is the core of Acceptance. Here, individuals and families will come for a weekend, week, or month-long stay to learn, grow, & gain confidence and hope. Each day will feature a wide variety of workshops, lectures, classes and experiences on all aspects of life.
Expect everything from cooking classes for picky eaters, to nature walks to lectures on Defense Mode, gut health, resolving anxiety & more. Acceptance will also have a full staff of coaches & practitioners in a wide variety of modalities available for 1-on-1 consultations & informal chats.
Of course, you are welcome to attend as many workshops as you want, spend all day learning, or just spend a day relaxing in nature. There's no obligation to do anything or be anyone at Acceptance. We accept you just as you are.
The Acceptance Experience will include all meals, workshops & experiences, and we are working hard to make it as affordable as possible, while still making enough to create future Acceptance Centers worldwide. There will be full scholarships available for those who can't afford to come, which will include transportation as well.
More on the Acceptance Retreat Center here
The Village & School
Phase 2 of Acceptance will be building out a village, intentional community and school. We'll start by establishing a village for the staff of Acceptance, and then move on to opening it up to anyone who wishes to join.
Our vision for the village is small family homes with larger community spaces (such as a kitchen), all built using natural materials and in various architectural styles (hobbit homes, strawbale houses, tiny homes, treehouses, earthbag etc).
The school will be a homeschooling collective open to all ages with a focus on enabling neuro-divergent people to focus on their passions, and self direct their learning. They'll have full access to the Acceptance retreat center, and a special facility dedicated to exploring, learning & growing.
Here's a more detailed look...
The Life Transitions Internship Program
This is very exciting for us. We often have parents and people on the spectrum worry about what their children are going to do after they "age out" (aka become 18) of most services. Unfortunately there isn't a lot of help out there, and the help that is out there costs tens of thousands of dollars per semester.
Until now. The Life Transitions program at Acceptance will be a place for young adults to come, learn real life living skills and get paid to do it. They'll be fully supported by the entire Acceptance staff, and meals & accommodations will be included.
Right now we could start the program, but unless someone wants to live in a tent for 6 months, that isn't going to happen because we don't have any facilities yet.
With your help though, we'll create the facilities we need to start the Life Transitions program and the Acceptance Retreat Center.
We're Asking For Your Help
We're asking for your help in raising the money needed to construct the buildings necessary to run our program in full. We plan on breaking ground for the main Acceptance Center in Fall 2017. This includes our main workshop spaces, dining facilities, hydrotherapy spa, maker space, and library. In addition, we'll need to construct cabins and bunk houses to house the staff and guests of Acceptance.
With your help, together we can build a place for people to finally get the help they need, make the friends they long for, and finally feel accepted.
And that's just phase 1! Once we build out the main Acceptance Center, we'll turn our attention to opening the village & the school.
So if you are looking for a place to gain new tools, get help & support, make new friends and feel Accepted, please contribute to our fundraising campaign so we can make this a reality.
If you have an idea or a special skill to offer, you can email us at [email redacted].
And if you'd like to join us for a fundraising and camping weekend this summer, you can go to our website www.findacceptance.be/camping to sign up.
Donation Level Rewards
We are extremely grateful for any & all support you can provide. For those who are in support of our project early on, we're offering several rewards:
$5+ Our Gratitude
Our sincere thanks for helping us create Acceptance.
$35+ Engraved Plaque
Show the world you helped create Acceptance with a plaque on our donor wall. Have it made out to yourself, your family, or whomever you'd like.
$100+ Early bird access to the retreat center, village & school
Be one of the first to experience the Acceptance retreat center. You'll be invited to come to Acceptance before we open to the public, and you'll get early access to the village & school once we open enrollment.
Details: All travel & booking fees are your sole responsibility. If you'd like priority, front-of-line access to the village & school, contribute $2000 or more.
$250+ Brick on the Heroes Path
Honor someone special with an engraved brick on the Heroes Path. Perfect for leaving a legacy of Acceptance & love that will last for generations.
$800+ 3 day/2 night day stay at Acceptance for 2 people
Pre-book your Acceptance weekend now for 2 people, and get early access to the village & school when we open for enrollment.
Details: You are responsible for travel to/from Acceptance, but your stay (including meals and activities) is pre-paid at this level. If you'd like priority, front-of-line access to the village & school, contribute $2000 or more.
$1500+ 5 night/6 day stay at Acceptance for 2 people
Pre-book your week long stay at Acceptance for 2 people, and get early access to the village & school when we open for enrollment.
Details: You are responsible for travel to/from Acceptance, but your stay (including meals and activities) is pre-paid at this level. If you'd like priority, front-of-line access to the village & school, contribute $2000 or more.
$2000+ Priority access to the village & school + a 5 night/6 day stay at Acceptance for 2 people
This is the level for those that are serious about Acceptance. You'll get priority, front-of-line access to the village & school, and a 5 night/6 day stay at Acceptance for 2 people.
Acceptance Retreat Center details: You are responsible for travel to/from Acceptance, but your stay (including meals and activities) is pre-paid at this level.
Village details: With this level, you'll be the one of the first invited to join us for the village & school.
Here's what that means: Once we purchase our planned adjacent parcels, we'll start working on creating the village. When we are ready to start to invite people out to build their homes and join us in the village, you'll be first. We're still working with our lawyers to nail down the specifics of how ownership in the village will work.
School details: Once we open the school, you'll have first right of refusal on enrollment rights before we open to everyone else. The school is tentatively scheduled to be opened in 2019. See our full timeline below.
$15,000+ Lifetime access to the Acceptance retreat center for 1 person
This level gets you lifetime access to Acceptance for 1 person. They'll have the right to come and go as they please. You'll also get the right to co-create a guest cabin with us, and priority access to using that cabin, subject to availability. Please email us at [email redacted] BEFORE chosing this level.
$40,000+ Lifetime access to the Acceptance retreat center for a family
You and your entire family will get lifetime access to the Acceptance retreat center, and the ability to co-create a family sized cabin with us, as well as priority access to using that cabin, subject to availability. Please email us at [email redacted] BEFORE chosing this level.
Our plans for the money we raise
All the money we raise will be spent on construction costs, hiring architects & lawyers, and paying staff of Acceptance.
We'll start by establishing base infrastructure: Greenhouses, solar panels, bathrooms, plumbing, etc.
Then we'll move onto constructing the main Acceptance center, guest cabins, and our other facilities like a hydrotherapy spa and maker space.
We also intend on purchasing 2 adjacent parcels of land to be able to expand and create the village & school.
Timeline
Here's our tentative timeline for constructing Acceptance:
Summer 2017 - Design, Permitting & Infrastructure
This is when we'll work with the county and our architects to design Acceptance, get all of our permits in order, and establish our base infrastructure (sewer, water, electricity, internet).
This includes our greenhouses, gardens, and campground as well.
Fall/Winter 2017 - Construction & Village Prep
During this time we will finalize our designs, and as weather allows prep for construction. We'll be in need of PLENTY of volunteers to help us with construction.
This is also the time when we finalize the logistics for the village, purchase the land, and get all of the legal issues and permitting in order.
Spring 2018 - Construct Acceptance
It's finally time to construct the main Acceptance center, which includes the guest cabins, main building, hydrotherapy spa, workshops spaces & library.
Summer 2018 - Open the Acceptance Retreat Center & Village Infrastructure
Acceptance is finally open! We'll begin to receive guests, run our programs and construct basic village infrastructure. We also expect the first members of the village to being constructing their houses at this time.
Early 2019 - Plan & Prep School
It's time to design and plan for the school! We'll need a very non-traditional school building to house our "homeschooling collective". This is the time where we meet with parents interested in attending and begin to finalize the designs
Spring 2019 - Construct School Buildings
Almost done! We'll utilize the help of the community to construct our school facilities and begin signing kids up for fall 2019.
Fall 2019 - School Opens
Acceptance is finally complete! The retreat center, village & school are all open. Now we expect to refine our designs, operate for a year to learn and then look to the future.
Contingency Plans
In the event that something happens and we are unable to continue with our current plans, we will scale back and just begin smaller. The MacNeely family owns the land we are using outright, and has no plans to ever move, so if worst comes to worst, we'll operate a summer camping retreat center until we can afford to build out our full vision.
Common Questions
We've put a list of common questions & answers on the Acceptance website here , but if you still have a question, contact us at [email redacted] or (360) [phone redacted] and we'll get back to you as soon as we are able.
My name is Danny Raede, and I am the Co-Founder of Asperger Experts, the world’s largest training, support & guidance resource for families with Aspergers. One of the BIGGEST things that we’ve seen is an immense need for a place to feel completely included and accepted. A place to learn some valuable life skills go beyond simply “coping” and learn real, actionable, tested, and useful strategies to flourish in life.
In February, we announced our intention to create Acceptance: A Transformational Place, our vision for a retreat center and eventual village and school for people with Asperger's, autism, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and related conditions.
At that point, it was only a dream.
It is a dream no longer!
I am very, very, very excited to announce that through the extremely generous support of our community, we were able to raise the money we need to start to make Acceptance a reality.
And we've secured long term access to a piece of land in which to do our work:
Situated only 1.5 hours from both Seattle and Portland, our land is an old dairy farm with a pond, forest, meadow, and barn.
About The Acceptance Retreat Center
The Acceptance retreat center is the core of Acceptance. Here, individuals and families will come for a weekend, week, or month-long stay to learn, grow, & gain confidence and hope. Each day will feature a wide variety of workshops, lectures, classes and experiences on all aspects of life.
Expect everything from cooking classes for picky eaters, to nature walks to lectures on Defense Mode, gut health, resolving anxiety & more. Acceptance will also have a full staff of coaches & practitioners in a wide variety of modalities available for 1-on-1 consultations & informal chats.
Of course, you are welcome to attend as many workshops as you want, spend all day learning, or just spend a day relaxing in nature. There's no obligation to do anything or be anyone at Acceptance. We accept you just as you are.
The Acceptance Experience will include all meals, workshops & experiences, and we are working hard to make it as affordable as possible, while still making enough to create future Acceptance Centers worldwide. There will be full scholarships available for those who can't afford to come, which will include transportation as well.
More on the Acceptance Retreat Center here
The Village & School
Phase 2 of Acceptance will be building out a village, intentional community and school. We'll start by establishing a village for the staff of Acceptance, and then move on to opening it up to anyone who wishes to join.
Our vision for the village is small family homes with larger community spaces (such as a kitchen), all built using natural materials and in various architectural styles (hobbit homes, strawbale houses, tiny homes, treehouses, earthbag etc).
The school will be a homeschooling collective open to all ages with a focus on enabling neuro-divergent people to focus on their passions, and self direct their learning. They'll have full access to the Acceptance retreat center, and a special facility dedicated to exploring, learning & growing.
Here's a more detailed look...
The Life Transitions Internship Program
This is very exciting for us. We often have parents and people on the spectrum worry about what their children are going to do after they "age out" (aka become 18) of most services. Unfortunately there isn't a lot of help out there, and the help that is out there costs tens of thousands of dollars per semester.
Until now. The Life Transitions program at Acceptance will be a place for young adults to come, learn real life living skills and get paid to do it. They'll be fully supported by the entire Acceptance staff, and meals & accommodations will be included.
Right now we could start the program, but unless someone wants to live in a tent for 6 months, that isn't going to happen because we don't have any facilities yet.
With your help though, we'll create the facilities we need to start the Life Transitions program and the Acceptance Retreat Center.
We're Asking For Your Help
We're asking for your help in raising the money needed to construct the buildings necessary to run our program in full. We plan on breaking ground for the main Acceptance Center in Fall 2017. This includes our main workshop spaces, dining facilities, hydrotherapy spa, maker space, and library. In addition, we'll need to construct cabins and bunk houses to house the staff and guests of Acceptance.
With your help, together we can build a place for people to finally get the help they need, make the friends they long for, and finally feel accepted.
And that's just phase 1! Once we build out the main Acceptance Center, we'll turn our attention to opening the village & the school.
So if you are looking for a place to gain new tools, get help & support, make new friends and feel Accepted, please contribute to our fundraising campaign so we can make this a reality.
If you have an idea or a special skill to offer, you can email us at [email redacted].
And if you'd like to join us for a fundraising and camping weekend this summer, you can go to our website www.findacceptance.be/camping to sign up.
Donation Level Rewards
We are extremely grateful for any & all support you can provide. For those who are in support of our project early on, we're offering several rewards:
$5+ Our Gratitude
Our sincere thanks for helping us create Acceptance.
$35+ Engraved Plaque
Show the world you helped create Acceptance with a plaque on our donor wall. Have it made out to yourself, your family, or whomever you'd like.
$100+ Early bird access to the retreat center, village & school
Be one of the first to experience the Acceptance retreat center. You'll be invited to come to Acceptance before we open to the public, and you'll get early access to the village & school once we open enrollment.
Details: All travel & booking fees are your sole responsibility. If you'd like priority, front-of-line access to the village & school, contribute $2000 or more.
$250+ Brick on the Heroes Path
Honor someone special with an engraved brick on the Heroes Path. Perfect for leaving a legacy of Acceptance & love that will last for generations.
$800+ 3 day/2 night day stay at Acceptance for 2 people
Pre-book your Acceptance weekend now for 2 people, and get early access to the village & school when we open for enrollment.
Details: You are responsible for travel to/from Acceptance, but your stay (including meals and activities) is pre-paid at this level. If you'd like priority, front-of-line access to the village & school, contribute $2000 or more.
$1500+ 5 night/6 day stay at Acceptance for 2 people
Pre-book your week long stay at Acceptance for 2 people, and get early access to the village & school when we open for enrollment.
Details: You are responsible for travel to/from Acceptance, but your stay (including meals and activities) is pre-paid at this level. If you'd like priority, front-of-line access to the village & school, contribute $2000 or more.
$2000+ Priority access to the village & school + a 5 night/6 day stay at Acceptance for 2 people
This is the level for those that are serious about Acceptance. You'll get priority, front-of-line access to the village & school, and a 5 night/6 day stay at Acceptance for 2 people.
Acceptance Retreat Center details: You are responsible for travel to/from Acceptance, but your stay (including meals and activities) is pre-paid at this level.
Village details: With this level, you'll be the one of the first invited to join us for the village & school.
Here's what that means: Once we purchase our planned adjacent parcels, we'll start working on creating the village. When we are ready to start to invite people out to build their homes and join us in the village, you'll be first. We're still working with our lawyers to nail down the specifics of how ownership in the village will work.
School details: Once we open the school, you'll have first right of refusal on enrollment rights before we open to everyone else. The school is tentatively scheduled to be opened in 2019. See our full timeline below.
$15,000+ Lifetime access to the Acceptance retreat center for 1 person
This level gets you lifetime access to Acceptance for 1 person. They'll have the right to come and go as they please. You'll also get the right to co-create a guest cabin with us, and priority access to using that cabin, subject to availability. Please email us at [email redacted] BEFORE chosing this level.
$40,000+ Lifetime access to the Acceptance retreat center for a family
You and your entire family will get lifetime access to the Acceptance retreat center, and the ability to co-create a family sized cabin with us, as well as priority access to using that cabin, subject to availability. Please email us at [email redacted] BEFORE chosing this level.
Our plans for the money we raise
All the money we raise will be spent on construction costs, hiring architects & lawyers, and paying staff of Acceptance.
We'll start by establishing base infrastructure: Greenhouses, solar panels, bathrooms, plumbing, etc.
Then we'll move onto constructing the main Acceptance center, guest cabins, and our other facilities like a hydrotherapy spa and maker space.
We also intend on purchasing 2 adjacent parcels of land to be able to expand and create the village & school.
Timeline
Here's our tentative timeline for constructing Acceptance:
Summer 2017 - Design, Permitting & Infrastructure
This is when we'll work with the county and our architects to design Acceptance, get all of our permits in order, and establish our base infrastructure (sewer, water, electricity, internet).
This includes our greenhouses, gardens, and campground as well.
Fall/Winter 2017 - Construction & Village Prep
During this time we will finalize our designs, and as weather allows prep for construction. We'll be in need of PLENTY of volunteers to help us with construction.
This is also the time when we finalize the logistics for the village, purchase the land, and get all of the legal issues and permitting in order.
Spring 2018 - Construct Acceptance
It's finally time to construct the main Acceptance center, which includes the guest cabins, main building, hydrotherapy spa, workshops spaces & library.
Summer 2018 - Open the Acceptance Retreat Center & Village Infrastructure
Acceptance is finally open! We'll begin to receive guests, run our programs and construct basic village infrastructure. We also expect the first members of the village to being constructing their houses at this time.
Early 2019 - Plan & Prep School
It's time to design and plan for the school! We'll need a very non-traditional school building to house our "homeschooling collective". This is the time where we meet with parents interested in attending and begin to finalize the designs
Spring 2019 - Construct School Buildings
Almost done! We'll utilize the help of the community to construct our school facilities and begin signing kids up for fall 2019.
Fall 2019 - School Opens
Acceptance is finally complete! The retreat center, village & school are all open. Now we expect to refine our designs, operate for a year to learn and then look to the future.
Contingency Plans
In the event that something happens and we are unable to continue with our current plans, we will scale back and just begin smaller. The MacNeely family owns the land we are using outright, and has no plans to ever move, so if worst comes to worst, we'll operate a summer camping retreat center until we can afford to build out our full vision.
Common Questions
We've put a list of common questions & answers on the Acceptance website here , but if you still have a question, contact us at [email redacted] or (360) [phone redacted] and we'll get back to you as soon as we are able.
Organizer
Danny Raede
Organizer
Rochester, WA
