If you or someone you love has Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), you may want to make a donation...
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If you or someone you love has Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), you may want to make a donation to a charity that researches autism, or where your donation will help to directly help someone with autism. There are quite a few organizations out there, and it can be hard to choose which one that you want to donate to. First thing is first, you will want to do a little bit of research in order to see which organization is the right fit for you to donate to. It is wise to look up where the funds go when you donate to a specific organization. You may wish for your donation to go to an organization that focuses on a specific type - such as helping children with autism, or an organization that solely helps adults with autism - the choice is up to you as to what kind of autism organization that you would like to donate to. We are sharing some great autism organizations to support things like research, advocacy, awareness, education and more.
The Organization For Autism Research (OAR) is a national organization, named number one by Charity Navigator because of its accountability. Their mission is to "strive to use science to address the social, educational, and treatment concerns of self-advocates, parents, autism professionals, and caregivers." Founded in 2001, by seven people whose lives had been directly impacted by autism, decided to set out with one common goal in mind; to take science and apply it to the challenges and questions that autism uniquely presents. Donations made to OAR will be applied to various things such as scholarship funds and funds for self-advocates. Plus, they have a special "Hire autism" portal, where interested employers have the chance to hire an adult with autism. They also have their annual Run For Autism, as well as a website full of tools and tips to help parents, educators, military families, and more. The organization even offers up guides of different resources, such as their Guidebook series, and even a kit for kids to help them understand autism better.
The Asperger/Autism Network (AANE) helps to serve both children and adults with autism. They offer up a mix of both virtual and in-person services. They offer help to those with autism, family members, and even professionals. It does not matter where you live. You can also reach out to a staff member for free who can help provide information and resources from them. They have a large list to choose from. The AANE is geared more towards those living with high-functioning autism - formerly known as Asperger's. The great thing is, that you do not even have to have a diagnosis of autism in order to be involved with the community! The AANE also makes certain to have people on the spectrum be involved in things like the community, the board, volunteering, and more.
Created by a former top Hollywood children's acting coach, whose adopted son was diagnosed with autism, The Miracle Project creates an inclusive and dynamic space for those with autism and those of all abilities to experience theater. The response was overwhelming, as children, both verbal and non-verbal started to emerge from their shells as they starred in plays and musicals. They offer expressive skills classes, social and life skills classes, and even classes on professional training in theater, film, and television. The Miracle Project offers both in-person and online classes for children. There is a class for everyone there, beginning with ages five and older. They are very transparent about where the donations go to. For example, for $100, that will send a child to one week of summer camp, $500 will provide training to TMP's coaches and volunteers.A donation of $1,000 sponsors a child with disabilities for a whole year.
The Autism Society of America is an organization with roots all over the United States. They aim to offer community-based type support, advocacy work, and insights. They even have their own helpline, where one can call to get information from a trained Information & Referral specialist that will help to find the resources that one might need. They can be contacted at 800-3-AUTISM (800-328-84760). For over 55 years they have been advocating and connecting people through their affiliate network groups. Their mission is to "create connections, empowering everyone in the Autism community with the resources needed to live fully." One can visit their website to contact their local affiliate - (of which they have 74 in 39 states), in order to get connected to what is needed. There are many ways that one can also volunteer with the organization as well, from attending an event to reaching out to a local affiliate.
While there are many options, and these are merely a few, there are a couple of ways that you can help to narrow down which organization that you would like to donate to.
Some options to help you include:
- Think about attending a group either locally or online via a platform like Zoom in order to learn more about the organization.
- Asking someone on the spectrum what they think about the organization that you are thinking about choosing to donate to.
- Always be skeptical of any group that makes any medical claims without backed-up true medical research.
- Are you interested in supporting a local autism group or a national one?
Asking yourself these questions can help you figure out where you want your donation money to go.
These organizations are wonderful ones with great missions to help those living with autism. Any of them would be worthy of a donation. But remember, it is important to look into the organization's reputation, where their donations go, etc. Once you have narrowed down your choice, you can happily make your donation to the network of your choice.
https://www.verywellhealth.com/top-autism-charities-that-deserve-your-support-4148382
https://www.appliedbehavioranalysisprograms.com/best-autism-charities/
https://hiddentalentsaba.com/best-autism-charities/
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor, and owner of Overcomers Counseling. I'm dedicated to helping individuals find strength and healing through life’s challenges. With a deep understanding of mental health and years of professional experience, I specialize in fostering hope and resilience while equipping her clients with tools to thrive. Passionate about empowering others, she creates a safe, supportive space where everyone feels seen, valued, and capable of overcoming obstacles on their path to well-being.
