ASCEND

To the incredible staff of ASCEND, we are thankful and blessed to say ALL signed their letter of intent [to return] for another year…

What you do every single day matters more than words can fully express.

You walk into classrooms and programs each morning with patience, courage, compassion, and determination. You give your hearts to students and members who often face enormous challenges communicating, regulating emotions, and navigating the world around them.

Some days are filled with victories. Most days are exhausting. Some days leave you nursing bites, scratches, kicks, bruises, and even hair pulling — yet you continue showing up with love and dedication.

That kind of commitment cannot be measured by a paycheck. There may be careers that offer more money, but few offer the opportunity to change lives the way you do. Every skill you teach, every breakthrough you celebrate, every moment of calm you help create, and every child or adult you refuse to give up on has eternal value and lasting impact.

You are helping students find their voices, build independence, experience success, and discover dignity and confidence. You are changing futures for entire families.

Please never underestimate the importance of your work or the difference you make. The compassion, resilience, and strength you demonstrate daily are extraordinary.

ASCEND is what it is because of YOU.

Thank you for loving fiercely, serving faithfully, and continuing to believe in every student and member entrusted to your care.

You are seen.
You are appreciated.
And what you do truly matters. ❤️

We love to get testimonials from parents!

We couldn’t be happier with our son’s experience at ASCEND. From the very beginning, he has loved going there and talks about wanting to go back even on the weekends. He especially enjoys music time with Mr. Clyde, the outings to Fry’s and Bosa donuts, and the unforgettable field trips, like our trip to Disneyland. What stands out the most is how caring and supportive the entire staff is. They truly go above and beyond to help every student. They never hesitate to take the kids out into the community, no matter the challenges, and always do so with patience, kindness and professionalism. We feel so grateful to have found a program that not only supports our son’s growth, but also brings him so much joy.

The Forrests

As usual... the Prom last night was another EPIC SUCCESS! Thank you to the many folks with beautiful servant hearts who put in so much time and effort to make this such a great night for all!!! ASCEND'S staff are the best of the best and give so much of their hearts to better the lives of our students, adult members, and their families. We (Angie and Keith) can't adequately express our love and appreciation for you all. Pictures to be posted soon!

Mark your calendars! Open to all individuals with special needs 14+ with chaperone/families. We have room for 180 this year!!! Also we're looking for any sponsors who may want to help financially with door prizes, scholarships, decorations, etc.

As always, and because of limited space, Chaperones will need tickets too! Get 'em quick and cheaper at azautismascend.org

Mark your calendars! Open to all individuals with special needs 14+ with chaperone/families. We have room for 180 this year!!! Also we're looking for any sponsors who may want to help financially with door prizes, scholarships, decorations, etc.

Just 12 days until...!

Mark your calendars! Open to all individuals with special needs 14+ with chaperone/families. We have room for 180 this year!!! Also we're looking for any sponsors who may want to help financially with door prizes, scholarships, decorations, etc.

Today we, Keith and Angie, want to take a moment to speak directly from our hearts.
To the teachers.
To the para-professionals.
To the support staff.
To every single person who walks and have walked through the doors of ASCEND and Hope Haven Ranch ready to serve.

Thank you.

ASCEND was built for children and adults with autism who have profound and complex needs. Many of our students are nonverbal. Many struggle to communicate discomfort, fear, frustration, or joy in ways the world easily understands. And because of that, the work you do is not easy.

You endure things most educators never will — bites that look like they should contain shrapnel, hair pulled from your scalp, scratches across your arms, shoes thrown in moments of dysregulation. You absorb behaviors that are not personal, but deeply human expressions of nervous systems trying to cope.
And still, you show up the next day.

You show up with patience. You show up with compassion. You show up with belief.

What you do is nothing short of miraculous.

You help a child who has never made eye contact look up for the first time.
You help a young man at Hope Haven Ranch learn independence that once felt impossible.
You help a nonverbal student find a communication system and, for the first time, be understood.
You celebrate gains that the outside world might not notice — but that families pray for every single night.

These are not small victories. They are life-changing.
You do more than educate.
You regulate.
You protect.
You nurture.
You advocate.
You love.

For the families we serve, you are everything. Because of you, parents can go to work and focus.
Because of you, siblings get more balanced time and attention.
Because of you, families breathe easier knowing their sons and daughters are safe, understood, and genuinely cared for.
You are not babysitters.
You are not “just aides.”
You are skilled professionals doing complex, emotionally demanding work with excellence and dignity.
And you do it with grace.
At Hope Haven Ranch, you build brotherhood, independence, and stability for young men who deserve real lives filled with dignity and belonging. At ASCEND, you fight for progress others once said was impossible.

You are beautiful people. You carry patience in the face of chaos. You carry calm into dysregulation. You carry hope where there was once despair.
We founded ASCEND because our son needed a place like this. But ASCEND exists — and thrives — because of you.

We see you. We value you. We are endlessly grateful for you. Thank you for choosing this calling. Thank you for loving our students. Thank you for making life better — every single day — for individuals with autism and the families who cherish them.

With all our respect and gratitude,
Angie & Keith
Founders, ASCEND

Mark your calendars! Open to all individuals with special needs 14+ with chaperone/families. We have room for 180 this year!!! Also we're looking for any sponsors who may want to help financially with door prizes, scholarships, decorations, etc.

Thank you all! We have secured a fantastic venue for Friday, April 10th-thanks to David Blackmore Crystal Miller Blackmore, and Blackmore Equipment...the Freeman building with room for 180 people at the Historic Prescott Rodeo Grounds! Stay tuned for more info in the coming days/weeks