Our Mission
Snow Approach Foundation, Inc., was founded in 2022, with the mission of developing an inclusive community that supports all forms of neurodiversity. We serve those living with changing brains or neurodiversity due to dementia, traumatic brain injury, post-stroke, developmental delay, autism, or another condition – as well as the individuals who support them. Our team strives to decrease the stigma, judgement, and isolation that often occurs with brain change by offering a setting that is friendly, functional, forgiving, and familiar.
We live our mission by providing a location for engagement, support, and education, and our reach extends to the local community and beyond. Whether you are a care partner for someone who is living with brain change, a community member wanting to improve the inclusivity of your organization, or an individual living with neurodiversity, you are welcome at Snow Approach Foundation.
With your support, Snow Approach Foundation will be able to continue to fulfill our mission. We welcome financial contributions and donations of time and talent.
Why Hillsborough?
Snow Approach Foundation is led by Teepa Snow, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA, an occupational therapist and renowned educator in the field of brain change. Throughout a career that has spanned more than forty years, Teepa has led numerous local, regional, national, and international aging initiatives. With the growing worldwide awareness and prevalence of dementia and other neurocognitive conditions, Teepa has partnered with countless families, communities, healthcare organizations, and educational programs to address evolving care needs.
With the Snow Approach techniques she has developed over her career, Teepa and her team have made profound impacts on the lives of people living with brain change and those that support them. Both locally and globally, Teepa’s teachings are credited for shifting public awareness, attitudes, practice, and research toward a more positive approach to care, improving life for everyone involved.
Teepa has called this community home for over fifty years. She came to North Carolina to attend Duke University, then completed her Occupational Therapy degree at UNC-CH. She and her husband raised their family in the Hillsborough area and now enjoy watching their grandchildren discover all our community has to offer.
Purpose of the Foundation
Our purpose is to inspire hope, save lives, and improve quality of life for people living with brain change, those that support these individuals, and the greater community. Our nonprofit organization:
- builds on Hillsborough’s prior progress towards becoming a dementia-friendly community to expand into being a community that is truly skilled and competent at supporting neurodiversity
- improves access to state-of-the-art information, services, and support so that all residents may live fully in a neurodiverse community.
What are the Snow Approach techniques?
The Snow Approach is a trident approach to care for neurocognitive conditions:
Accomplishments to Date
Snow Approach Foundation has already been making a positive difference in the community of Hillsborough. We have increased brain change awareness by offering complimentary Snow Approach skills training for local businesses and organizations, including Weaver Street Market, Pinehurst Elementary School, Orange County EMS, EMT, and Fire Department, the Department of Aging, and many more. We’ve implemented twice weekly Brain Connection Café engagement opportunities at our facility, steadily increasing the number of attendees. In addition, we have formed a Brain Coalition with local providers who are skilled and knowledgeable, to work towards our goals of reducing stigma and misinformation and instead providing helpful education and resources.
Our Team
Teepa Snow
Amanda Bulgarelli
Noah Barker
