Hi John,

Right now, countless members of the autism community have seen their lives upended by the coronavirus pandemic, due to disruptions in care, financial hardship and a sudden lack of support systems that are crucial to maintaining safety. We urgently need your support to continue to provide Autism Speaks Cares Grants and other direct assistance to people as they navigate through this unprecedented time - and today, your gift is doubled.

Hear from this mom, who recently applied for an Autism Cares Grant, about why your support is so urgently needed:

“I am a single mom of a beautiful autistic girl, we are homeless & w/o transportation. I do not have much support financial or emotional. I am overwhelmed & exhausted all financial assistance & respite care. I need assistance so that I can continue to look for an apartment, we have been approved for Section 8 Voucher but now with the Corona Virus has made this very difficult. Public transportation is not realistic during this outbreak especially with my daughter who has the tenacious ability to get off at any bus stop without a care in the world (I love her for that innocence!) It's never happened & don't want to find out. These are a few ways the Corona Virus has impacted our family.”

If you can give today, your dollars go twice as far thanks to our generous matching donor, the Henry A. Quinn Foundation. Your gift will provide immediate relief by allowing us to:

• Offer financial support through Autism Speaks Cares Grants for people with autism and their families/caregivers who are in need of financial help with groceries, childcare/respite, medication or therapy as a result of COVID-19.
• Keep our Autism Response Team up and running as a crucial resource for our community through calls, emails and online chat. The Autism Response Team is fielding thousands of contacts each week and providing real-time support for those impacted.
• Continue to engage international and national partners provide new resources, tools and information at no cost - on our COVID-19 Information and Resources hub and through our social media channels.

If you are in a position to give any amount today, please know that every dollar will have twice the impact to helping real families get through these unpredictable and difficult times. Now more than ever, we need you.

We are so deeply grateful for your support today and every day.

With gratitude & hope,

Angela Geiger
President & CEO
Autism Speaks

P.S. We know that this can be an especially challenging time for people with autism and those who love and support them. For resources, go to www.autismspeaks.org/coronavirus or contact the Autism Response Team at 888-AUTISM2 or [email protected]. We are here to help.