Imagine being in a windowless room, surrounded by strangers, and not knowing why you’re there. That’s how Cheryl described her son’s experience in the emergency room. He remained there for seven weeks before he was transferred to a more appropriate care facility. By then, however, it was already too late.

“My son passed away on August 24, 2021,” she told us, “my whole world shattered overnight.”

Cheryl’s son, Zach, had autism. He also suffered from grand mal seizures. The increased prevalence of seizure disorders among people with autism is well known in the medical community. Unfortunately, how to appropriately care for people with autism is not. That has to change.

Give now and not only will your gift be matched 4:1, it will also help redefine healthcare for the autism community. Your donation fuels initiatives like our Autism Care Network, which educates health professionals worldwide on how to provide better care for people like Zach.

Today, Cheryl is a fierce advocate for better healthcare for people with autism. In March 2024, she joined Autism Speaks on Capitol Hill to urge lawmakers to support the Autism CARES Act. Her tireless efforts paid off in December when the bill was signed into law with bipartisan support.

This World Autism Awareness Day, you can support this work and more with four times the impact — but only if you give before midnight. Help redefine care for people with autism by making a 4X-MATCHED gift now.

Thanks for making time to read Cheryl and Zach’s story. Together, we can build a better world for families like theirs. We must — lives depend on it.