Provide autism help locally
April is Autism Awareness Month, and while the first place people and corporations think to donate is 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 is what they actually need. The millions of dollars generated by 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 Parent Education & Advocacy Leadership Center (PEAL), and ABOARD’s Autism Connection of Pennsylvania. These organizations provide diagnosis, evaluations, resources for therapies and social groups, and assistance with navigating such things as insurance and individualized education programs.
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 raise funds 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.
Jennifer Forsyth
Gibsonia
Forsyth is the director of fundraising for the Autism Center of Pittsburgh.