Founder/Director
LINKED- Autism Safety Project
North Branford, CT
Ashley McClain, a Connecticut native, graduated from the University of New Haven with a degree in Psychology and a concentration in Community Clinical. After graduation, she worked as a Community Resource Advocate with the Office of Adult Probation and later as a Social Worker with DCF.
After becoming a mother, Ashley transitioned to higher education, spending more than a decade in collegiate admissions.
In 2020, her family learned that their son had been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, prompting Ashley to step away from full-time work to focus on her family's needs.
In June 2023, Ashley founded LINKED – Autism Safety Project to address gaps in understanding of the neurodiverse community within emergency management. She partners with police and fire departments at the local, state, and national levels to provide training, resources, consultation, and support.
In September 2023, she launched Beyond the Horizon, Inc., a nonprofit providing sensory-friendly and adaptive programming for individuals and families in the special needs community.
Ashley serves on the Connecticut Council on Developmental Disabilities and is a certified instructor with POST, Connecticut DPH Emergency Medical Services, and the Connecticut Alliance to Benefit Law Enforcement. She lives in North Branford with her husband, Josh, and their two children, Leigha and Colton.
