Do you remember the days when your phone’s only use was for making and receiving phone calls, way back before the tweets and Facebook “pokes,” back before it became commonplace to sit face to face with someone while at least one of you was distracted by the mobile device in your hand?
There’s no denying that we live in a connected world, but with all of the options technology provides to reach someone instantly, it can be tempting to take communication for granted. Communication and social interaction play vital roles in our lives and are among life’s greatest treasures. Just ask Mark Zuckerberg, the idea he had for a social network attracted 800 million users and $17 billion, proving that regardless of nationality, age, occupation, or highest level of education achieved, we all share a common desire to connect with others and ultimately, belong.
Autism, which impairs communication and social interaction, presents a significant challenge to fulfill basic needs that every human being desires and deserves. The inability to verbalize one’s needs and wants can lead to a lifetime of dependency; the inability to read and navigate social situations can produce a lifetime of rejection, anxiety and exclusion.
Fortunately, there is hope, there is help, and there are caring people like you that have continued to support The Autism Project’s mission. We are especially proud to report that this year your support made it possible to:
- Host over 250 children and teens at our
social skills programs and 87 at our Summer Camp
- Expand our training curriculum to the university level and, in collaboration with Johnson & Wales University, introduce six graduate level courses focused on educating students with Autism and Asperger Syndrome
- Contribute to the passage of landmark legislation for autism in the state of Rhode Island, which finally mandates commercial insurance companies to cover some of the costs associated with autism treatments
As we approach the year’s end, we hope that you will consider renewing your support for our organization and the families we serve. We hope that you will consider making a donation today so we can keep the momentum going in 2012.
We wish you and yours a joyful holiday season and a New Year filled with opportunity.
Sincerely,
Joanne G. Quinn
Executive Director
theautismproject.org
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