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Dear John, I want to share our son Owen's story with you. In the beginning, we were scared. Our little boy couldn't identify his parents, didn't wave, point or play with toys. At 19 months, he was diagnosed with autism. He was non-verbal, with meltdowns, teeth grinding, and difficulty with motor skills. We didn't know who to call, what to do or where to find help. But we sure did love him and knew we had to be O's voice until he could find his own. In those first weeks, Autism Speaks was a godsend. Their website provided hope, explaining who to contact and what to expect. We learned that every day before age three is vital to progress and right away started ABA therapy (the scientifically proven method that helps children with autism make developmental strides). Owen's — and our family's — life was filled with speech and occupational therapies, individualized education programs, verbal prompts, physical prompts, behavior extinction, hearing tests, eye surgery and constantly fighting for inclusion. It wasn't easy. But early diagnosis and interventions were our light at the end of the tunnel when everything was dark. Recently our now 7-year-old son, Owen, after nearly 6 years of 20+ hours a week of therapy, started his first FULL DAY in a mainstream, general education classroom. In his words, "It was awesome!" From a family who now navigates autism with a smile, we send proof that it's never too soon or too late to call for help. Love and hugs,
Today your gift DOUBLES because of an anonymous $250,000 matching gift challenge. This could be the most amazing month ever for creating new breakthroughs for children like Owen and so many others. If we can all come together to meet our anonymous $250,000 matching challenge, it will mean an incredible leap forward in funding the transformational work of Autism Speaks. Friends like you understand why supporting people with autism matters so much. Thank you for caring. We know you see the power of this Season of Giving opportunity to DOUBLE your gift today to help those with autism live their fullest lives. |
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