Health & Fitness
Make Autism Speak Locally This April
While Autism Speaks does many good things, local nonprofits are the ones that actually help families and service children on the autism spectrum, and they need donations now more than ever.
April is Autism Awareness Month, and while the first place people and corporations think to donate is to Autism Speaks, I would like to take this opportunity to urge you to consider donating and raising funds locally this year instead.
Many do not realize Autism Speaks only uses the funds they raise for national research and awareness.
While that is certainly needed and very admirable, they do not provide any therapy, services, or support in our communities, which any parent of a child with autism will tell you that’s actually what they need.
Find out what's happening in Pine-Richlandwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The millions of dollars raised from the “Walk for Autism Speaks” also do not stay in the cities and communities in which they were raised, whereas every donation to a local organization goes to directly helping families in our community.
As a parent of an autistic child, our family received help, advocacy, and hope through organizations like the Autism Center of Pittsburgh, the PEAL Center and ABOARD.
Find out what's happening in Pine-Richlandwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
These organizations provide diagnosis, evaluations, resources for therapies and social groups, and assistance with navigating things like insurance and IEP-s.
As someone who now works in this community, I know the above organizations function 100 percent on donations, and some of them in this economy are struggling to keep their doors open.
So when you decide to fundraise or write a check this April, please consider making autism “speak” locally, and send that money to an organization that helps families in your area.