Sanibel, FL (October 15, 2009) – Most preschool aged children spend their afternoons playing on swing sets, finger painting or watching Sesame Street.  But that is not always true for children with symptoms on the Autism Spectrum.  Many of these children spend their afternoons trying to learn behaviors that come naturally to most children but are difficult for them because of their disabilities.

Grace, age 4, of Naples, has been receiving Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Therapy, thanks to a grant from The Autism Fund, Inc., a Florida charity which was launched in 2008 with the goal of making ABA Therapy available to needy children on the Autism Spectrum who live in Lee and Collier Counties.  Evidence clearly shows that children on the Autism Spectrum can make significant improvements if they receive intensive ABA Therapy at a young age.

The grant to Grace was the first given by The Autism Fund, and was made possible by a group of Naples neighbors from Windstar by the Sea, who held a 5 kilometer run/walk to raise money for The Fund.  This money, coupled with contributions from her family members, is being used to help defray the cost of Grace’s treatment, which can be lengthy and expensive.

There are hundreds of needy children in Lee and Collier Counties who could benefit from such treatment, but whose families cannot afford it.  It is this need that The Autism Fund is attempting to address.  The Autism Fund is a local charity and all money raised is spent directly on local children.  In addition, its manager and all but one member of its Board of Directors live and work in Southwest Florida.

For the last six months, Grace has spent two afternoons a week at her therapist’s office. When Grace began therapy she was unable to follow simple directions, interact with her mother successfully, or control her emotions. As a result, Grace would become overwhelmed with fear in situations that most children find to be neutral or even enjoyable. Simple things like going to the store, eating at a restaurant, and attending preschool, were all situations that would trigger uncontrollable bouts of anger, screaming and crying. Thus, Grace was becoming isolated from society, unable to attend preschool, to make friends, and to enjoy being a child.

Grace’s therapist says, “Because of her therapy, Grace can now interact in a successful and enjoyable manner with her mother. She is able to follow directions and is able to quiet her own fears when they begin to overwhelm her. She is becoming comfortable in settings that used to be literally painful for her. She has learned to enjoy the beach, to go on short trips to the store with her mother, and to attend Sunday school. With continued therapy, Grace’s future shines bright. Attending school, making friends, and living a ‘typical’ life are now all within her reach.”

Autism is an organic brain syndrome of unknown origin.  There is neither a cure for Autism nor any known way to prevent it.  But with treatment like ABA Therapy, children on the Autism Spectrum are one step closer to their peers in the mainstream.  It is the goal of The Autism Fund to aid in this process.

For More Information Please Contact: Renee Cutaia (239) 472-3400 or Renee@Hillgate.biz