Hi John,

Now, more than ever, the autism community is looking to you as a source of hope.

While our worlds may still be filled with uncertainty, you can help offer a steady foundation of support for people with autism and their families. With the backing of kind donors like you, Autism Speaks can continue to provide for our community during this unprecedented public health crisis.

Here’s why we need you now:

• Our Autism Response Team remains a crucial helpline for the community, responding to a more than 30 percent increase in calls, emails and online chats since the pandemic began. This dedicated team has fielded more than 1,000 contacts to provide real-time support for those impacted.
• Our COVID-19 resource hub offers regularly updated information and resources for more than 216,000 visitors to date. Most recently, we convened a group of leading researchers in the autism field to form a task force to rapidly review, assess and distribute vital tools to the public through this site.
• We’re providing direct financial support through Autism Cares Grants to hundreds of people with autism and their families/caregivers who need financial help with groceries, childcare/respite, medication or therapy as a result of COVID-19.

We urgently need your assistance to continue to be there for the autism community as we navigate through these challenging times together.

Hear from Kristen T., a New York mom, who recently contacted Autism Speaks in search of resources for her young son, Hudson. Like so many other children in the U.S. who were suddenly uprooted from school, Hudson was having a difficult time adjusting to the sudden change in his daily schedule.

“As a child on the spectrum, Hudson depends and thrives on a daily and consistent routine. With that being said, it was extremely hard on all of us within the household to adjust to this major change. At a time such as this, it is so important to utilize any and all support you can get. Autism Speaks provides an abundance of resources that had helped us through the thick of adjusting to our new routine at home! Not only did it give us techniques and tips for home-school, but it also gave great insight into how to help your child cope with the stress and best handle behaviors that may stem from it.”

Your commitment to our mission during this uncertain time fills us with so much optimism. Please be assured that, thanks to your gift and those of your fellow supporters, we can continue to provide the direct assistance that is so needed by so many.

Gratefully,
Your friends at Autism Speaks