Colts Neck Locals Form Nonprofit for Autistic Children and Adults

By:  | October 1, 2025 |  Philanthropy |  Colts Neck

by Emma Sylvia

Every child deserves a place where they fit in. For neurotypical children, for the most part, this is the norm. However, for neurodivergent children – and even adults – finding that same sense of community is often more difficult. A trio of Colts Neck residents took notice of this and formed Autism Harmony, a nonprofit with a mission to provide a safe and supportive environment for autistic children and adults through social groups and recreational activities to foster a sense of community and understanding.

A Dreamy Beginning

Autism Harmony came to fruition from the source of many points of progress — a mother’s love. Joanna Passalacqua has an 11-year-old non-verbal autistic daughter. Because of this, she became very involved with her daughter’s school, joining her PTO.

“I joined because children with autism and neurodivergent children are always being excluded in some way, shape or form,” Passalacqua elaborates. “I always felt that I had to be on the PTO to make sure they weren’t excluded from the second-grade carnival or school trip. I made sure that [neurodivergent] children were always allowed to be included.”

Like many moments of great inspiration, the rest came to Passalacqua in a dream. She dreamt she was even more involved in helping her daughter and her peers. This dream was the spark that set things in motion for Autism Harmony. Passalacqua opted to stop working full-time and begin doing research on how to officially establish her nonprofit.

Justine Buzzetta — a friend of Passalacqua’s — was also involved in the school system, and was the one responsible for “roping in” Passalacqua to the PTO. Buzzetta was flattered when her friend approached her in regard to Autism Harmony, saying she was ecstatic to further the goal of “making everyone realize that we’re all the same” despite superficial differences.

Pat Miller recently moved to Colts Neck from North Jersey. In Miller’s former home of West Orange, her 24-year-old son (who is autistic) received a phenomenal education thanks to some fabulous programs that were available in the area.

“He swims with the Special Olympics, and plays basketball with our church,” Miller says. “When I moved here, I tried to find these opportunities in the community. We were told that his needs were too severe.” After Miller reconnected with an old friend (Buzzetta’s husband), Buzzetta and Passalacqua approached her about their new nonprofit.

“I said, ‘I’m all in,’” Miller says. “Although our children are nonverbal, they can still have friends. Even if they don’t have the verbal language, they want to have friends. Building that in this community is our top priority.”

Raising Awareness

After establishing Autism Harmony in January of this year, the group went full speed ahead with their goals of bringing community to the neurodivergent population of Monmouth County (and beyond). Passalacqua put together her first event (as Buzzetta acknowledges, “pretty much on her own”) in June. It featured vendors, bounce houses, a DJ, vendors, raffles, a petting zoo, face paint, a classic car show and of course, plenty of food.

After spending much of the year getting established, the group has developed a greater sense of awareness of the specific needs of those they are seeking to help. “We speak to the parents and ask, ‘What do we need in town? What would you like to accomplish?’ There’s been an overwhelming response,” Passalacqua says.

This awareness is more crucial than ever before. Miller says that when her son was diagnosed with autism in 2000, 1 out of 50 adults were similarly diagnosed. Today, it’s 1 out of 31. “There’s a real community crisis going on,” Miller says. “When you turn 21, they call it ‘falling off a cliff,’ and it’s harder for adults with autism to find those social opportunities.”

Passalacqua adds, “It’s all about awareness. We’re in 2025 – we have to start waking up and doing a better job. If I can start that and do a better job for the typical and atypical, then I need to invest my time.”

The Future of Autism Harmony

At The Addison Park in Keyport on Thursday, October 30, Autism Harmony will host its First Annual Halloween Bash for adults only, offering attendees a chance to win prizes via 50/50s, and a raffle, while celebrating the holiday with a full dinner and open bar.

The group’s long-term goals include establishing a physical location for everyone to belong. While they are aware that the entire ordeal will be a huge undertaking, they’re hopeful and excited by the idea of creating a space where everyone can be greeted with the sense of community that they may have been missing.

The space will be sensitive to different sensory needs, have safe play areas, and allow neurodivergent children and adults to learn their own value, all the while providing hardworking parents the chance for a date night. It will also feature therapy, social groups and nights out, as well as educational components, like how to cook meals, take care of animals and pursue careers (something which is especially important, as 80% of adults with autism are either unemployed or underemployed.)

“This is the ultimate goal,” Miller says. “It will take us some time, but we’re going to get there.”

To learn more about Autism Harmony, visit AutismHarmony.org