History & Programming

Fashion Honors Autism is a 501(c)3 non-profit that launched in 2017 as a simple idea. President and CEO, Joshua Bolen, coupled his two passions as an Autism Advocate and Model, creating Fashion Honors Autism to instill confidence and provide resources for children and teens living on the Autism Spectrum.

Since 2017, Fashion Honors Autism has partnered with both the fashion and Autism communities to host several workshops and fundraisers.

Fashion Honors Autism’s unique sensory fashion workshops provide environments that tackle common issues children living on the spectrum may face, including:

• Self-image and isolation based issues that can arise as they grow up with the disorder.
• Confusion and misinterpretation of sensory needs as “bad behavior”
• Personal Development.

In our sensory fashion workshops, FHA staff and model mentors work on solutions to these common issues by exposing them to careers in the fashion industry that may interest them, and offering one-on-one mentor relationships with professionals in the industry.

Model mentors work with mentees on three basic levels of modeling which are walking the runway, posing, and styling.

Workshops are held each Spring, with an annual Black-Tie Charity Fashion Show concluding the program in April.

FHA’s program is completely free to participants, funded solely off of grants and donations. Click here to donate today, and help Fashion Honors Autism break Autism Spectrum Disorder barriers through fashion!

Mission

The Mission of Fashion Honors Autism is to empower the way children and teens live with Autism Spectrum Disorder, to break ASD barriers and stereotypes youth diagnosed with the disorder face while growing up, to provide a positive environment for mentees to feel confident, and to provide a unique avenue through fashion to raise awareness.

Funding

Funding is provided by way of fundraisers to include the annual FHA Black-Tie Charity Fashion Show in addition to grants, private donors, members of the community, and corporate sponsors.

All funds support FHA’s 3-step sensory, fashion inspired workshops and annual fashion show. Monetary and in-kind donations contribute to the following:

• Sensory Equipment
• Training
• Venue Space
• Crafts & Games
• Food & Beverages
• Marketing & Promotion