Creating fun and therapeutic experiences to encourage individuals with special needs to explore their community alongside their peers
Our Story
Founded by the Carl Family in 2023, Ability 2 Believe, The Brayden and Brooks Foundation is the culmination of years of hope, love, advocacy, and commitment.
Brayden and Brooks are twin brothers born to their parents Jeremy and Ashley in 2015. At 18 months old, Brayden was diagnosed with autism. The years that have followed have been full of many challenges as well as many strides for the Carl family. From the beginning of their journey in finding support for Brayden, Ashley recognized the struggles surrounding the special needs community. In particular, she found the lack of programs and services that provide one-on-one care, which Brayden needs, to be very alarming. Wanting to make a change she, alongside her family and friends, started the Rally for Autism in 2019 to fundraise for a local therapy center Brayden had attended for years. Through the Rally for Autism, Ashley soon discovered her passion for the special needs community and wanted to do more, and the dream of Ability 2 Believe began.
Ability 2 Believe is determined to help the special needs community by offering programs and services to serve children and adults in need of one-on-one care as well as to encourage all ability levels to join in the programs as well.
Brayden has been so fortunate to be blessed with the most amazing twin brother who is his biggest fan and advocate. We at Ability 2 Believe also feel strongly about supporting the siblings of individuals with special needs. Caring for a family member with special needs can require an immense amount of energy, time, and resources; ensuring that other siblings get special time can often be challenging for families. A secondary motive for Ability 2 Believe is to connect siblings of kids with special needs to one another to create a community built upon shared experiences.
Ability 2 Believe has many goals for the future - today is just the beginning! To help achieve those goals we need your help; please consider donating today!
Inclusion is not bringing people into what already exists, it is making a new space, a better space for everyone.
Rachel Olivero