Mission

Our mission is for OCA to enable individuals and families with autism or other disabilities the opportunity to maximize their abilities through functional, behavioral, social, recreational and vocational programs to live within the community.

Vision/Values

Our core values are Teamwork, Respect, Innovation and Passion

Organization’s Annual Events 

• Annual Founders’ Club Reception – an annual event for our major donors celebrating and showcasing the accomplishments of OCA participants, as well as honoring April as Autism Awareness Month. Usually held in central location in Winter Park.
• 5k-Fun Run – an annual “Walk. Run. Roll.” fundraising event held each fall to help raise money for participant scholarships.

Board Schedule

Board of Directors 

Board Member Expectations and Responsibilities

• Term commitment: Three-year terms (may be elected up to two consecutive three-year terms)
• Time commitment:  3-4 hours monthly (1.5 hours board meetings 9 x year and committee service between meetings).  
• Donation or Fundraising Commitment: Give and Get policy of $5,000. 

Nomination or voting process:  Nominating – The Governance Committee shall have responsibility for the following:

a.    Proposing Nominations of those directorships and officer positions to be filled at an annual meeting or due to additional vacancies.

b.    Proposing nominations of directors of the Board.

c.    Evaluating the participation of members of the Board eligible for re-election, analyzing the composition of the Board and its future needs, evaluating, recruiting and selecting potential candidates for membership of the Board and for officer positions.

d.    The chair of the Governance Committee may name a Nominating Subcommittee composed of at least 3 members of the Governance Committee, but which may not include the Chair of the Board, the Secretary or the CEO.  If a separate Nominating Subcommittee is named, it shall meet on an as-needed basis and shall report to the Governance Committee.  Either the Governance Committee or, if established, the Nominating Subcommittee, or shall report directly to the Board at the annual meeting and make recommendations as to candidates for directors and officers of the Board. 

Other requirements: None. 

Our biggest needs currently as identified by the Governance Committee and a board skills matrix is: individuals with program expertise (including behavior, OT, SLP and PT as well as general health needs); individuals with media experience and/governmental affairs; individuals representing communities OCA serves: persons of color, people with disabilities, LGBTQIA; individuals under the age of 40; and individuals with a special interest in serving people of all ages with autism and other IDDs.

For more information on this board, please contact Silvia Haas, CEO, at 407-808-7837 or via email at shaas@gooca.org .