by Dave Kot, MS I hope the North Pole still hums with that steady mix of joy and hard work. How have you and Mrs. Claus been doing since her hip surgery? Have the reindeer nudged you toward stronger coffee on these long nights? This year, I would like to ask for something that does …
Author: Autism at Face Value
Autism at Face Value is a 501c 3 Nonprofit organization founded by Dave Kot in 2013. Best known for publishing Face Value Comics featuring the first hero with Autism. We got a lot of love and participated in many comic cons and other conventions as well as local community groups. Get ready to play, we're hosting tabletop roleplay games at local events in Pennsylvania.
The path ahead:
Cost should not be a barrier for families to participate in therapeutic programs. Many valuable interventions and resources are not covered by insurance. Autism at Face Value aims to focus fundraising efforts to provide grants to help with these out of pocket costs.
Equipping the Emergent Game Master: A Year of Storytelling Made Simple
by Dave Kot, MS After forty years of tabletop roleplaying, I’ve owned more rulebooks than I could ever count, and I’ve misplaced about half of them. I’ve played in worlds long out of print, built systems that barely made sense outside my own table, and reused more binders and notebooks than I care to admit. …
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Enjoy this post from AFV’s past.
How do you think it has aged? I bet even Wil Wheaton would be surprised... https://autismatfacevalue.org/2016/12/05/solo-game-play-skills/?page_id=1069
How Therapeutically-Applied Role-Playing Led to a Recurring One-Shot Adventure
by founder Dave Kot, MS Facilitating tabletop role-playing games with a therapeutic focus creates consistent opportunities to build social connections and develop emotional resilience. Years of professional experience supporting neurodiverse groups demonstrate how guided storytelling actively develops expressive empathy and self-advocacy. This realization leads to a new, replicable model: recurring brief educational adventures that transfer …
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Monday Motivation!
Please enjoy this post from AFV's past with a relevant message. To be better #autism advocates, let’s 1st remember to be our best selves. This is good to remember as we veer into the holidays. https://autismatfacevalue.org/2017/01/24/autism-self-advocacy-best-advocacy/?page_id=1160
Building Fellowship Through Fantasy: Tabletop Role-Playing Supports Mental Health
By Dave Kot, MS When people gather to share stories, something powerful happens. Psychologist Irvin Yalom, a leader in group therapy, believed that human connection grows strongest in groups that share experiences, challenges, and hope. Members learn new social skills not by lecture, but by living them in a shared space. That same principle works …
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Therapeutically Applied Aesop’s Fable
How the Scorpion and the Frog Archetypes impact PCs- By Dave Kot, MS November 2025 launches our first Therapeutically Applied Role-Playing (TARP) gaming groups atRage Room in York, Pennsylvania. Autism at Face Value, a nonprofit promoting acceptance throughplay, will offer public games and educational forums at little or no cost. Purposeful tabletopstorytelling, using games like …
Not Your Average NPC…
By: Dave Kot, MS Roleplaying games provide a uniquely fertile environment for emotional growth and therapeutic skill development. These games invite participants to engage actively with complex, human-centered narratives that extend far beyond traditional notions of combat and conquest. When Game Masters (GMs) design non-player characters (NPCs) who embody genuine mental health challenges, they elevate …
November News
AFV has lots in store for the upcoming month. Our calendar is updated; all we need is you! Look what GM Dave has planned! Secure your tickets here:https://buff.ly/OucjTPH AFV Games starting next week! All games take place at The Rage Room- York 2300 Industrial HWY, York, PA Neurodivergent Teens (13-17) Thurs Nov 6 (6PM-8PM) Neurodivergent …
TARP Adventure Design Lv1
TARP Gaming Group Adventure Design - Part 1 Game Masters often ask the same question: Where do I start when building an adventure?Therapeutically Applied Role-Playing (TARP) adventure design begins with the same spirit as any homebrew session, and adds a layer of intention. You craft more than a fun story; you shape a shared experience that …
Autism at Face Value 