Designate the Autism Society in your CFC Giving

When parents suspect their children have autism, they call the Autism Society. By designating the Autism Society of America or the Autism Society of America Foundation in the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC), you will directly help us improve the lives of these families, as well as more than 1.5 million people living with autism!

Please remember that the Autism Society of America and Autism Society of America Foundation are listed in the national section of the CFC brochure with their assigned five-digit codes.

Autism Society of America: #11808
Autism Society Foundation: #11836

 

The Autism Society is unique because we address the issues people with autism and their families are facing today. We do this by advocating for legislative and social change, increasing awareness of the challenges faced by individuals with autism as well as their immense potential, and providing life-changing programs and services like information and referral.

Last year, CFC funds allowed us to…

Inform

The Autism Society held a national conference in July 2012 attended by more than 1,100 professionals, families and individuals, with the ultimate goal to empower attendees to make informed decisions regarding individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. We distribute a bi-monthly e-newsletter, which informs a community of more than 125,000 of the latest news, resources and educational opportunities, and maintain a strong relationship with more than 300,000 individuals online. Our flagship publication on the latest issues in autism, the Autism Advocate, is published four times each year, reaching approximately 30,000 Autism Society members, supporters and professionals. Thanks to your help, we were also able to re-design our website, www.autism-society.org, to improve the user’s ability to access quality information about autism. Over 1 million people access our website each year for valuable and credible information. Through our network of 115 local and state affiliates, thousands are provided a helping hand and support.

Advocate

Last year, the Autism Society mobilized communities nationwide in support of local and national initiatives to help families access the services they need most to improve outcomes for people with autism throughout their lives. As the nation’s largest grassroots organization committed to helping all those impacted by autism, the Autism Society is there each day advocating for the needs of the autism community to Congress, state legislators and city councils.

Provide Programs

The Autism Society’s national information and referral call center helps provide needed information to parents, individuals living with autism  and others on how to access services, where to turn for help and how to best address current needs. Our 115 affiliates are providing daily programs and support to thousands of individuals, from helping a young adult living on the spectrum find a job to assisting an elderly couple to make caretaking plans for their adult child with autism when they are no longer able to provide care. Through a partnership with AMC Theatres, the popular Sensory Friendly Films program shows monthly films at 150 theatres nationwide, from an initial 10 theatres in 2008.

Spread Awareness

The Autism Society teamed up with the film "Wretches & Jabberers" last April for a 40-city theatrical run to emphasize the remarkable capabilities of individuals with autism and put out a call to action to address challenges facing adults. Our weekly newsletter to affiliates and weekly email alerts sent to more than 175,000 people help educate, inform and advise people in need. In April 2011, the Autism Society also helped to underwrite the PBS special “Autism Now,” a six-part series of reports about autism hosted by Robert MacNeil.

What you can help us accomplish in 2013 and beyond…

• Ensure that all children showing signs of autism are properly diagnosed by age three.

• Sufficiently address the needs of adults with autism so that individuals can maximize their autonomy, independence and self-sufficiency, with particular focus on the difficult and often-confusing transition from childhood to adulthood.

• Build capacity in our affiliates so we can better address the unique needs of communities served nationwide.

• Advance the discussion regarding autism to include societal issues that impact people on the spectrum and their families each day, such as poverty, unemployment, aging issues, housing issues, etc. Progress will be evaluated by measurable outcomes defined as lowered unemployment, less poverty, enhanced integration of caretaking planning and increased housing options for people with autism.

Your CFC gift means the world to us, and we sincerely appreciate your passion for helping us to provide the best information, services and support to all individuals living with autism.

If you want more information about the work of the Autism Society, or you know someone who needs help, please call us at 1-800-3AUTISM.