My son Michael is a healthy and happy 17-year-old boy whose life has been impacted by Autism. He likes to swim, play soccer and basketball, build puzzles, participate in cheerleading, and ride his bike. This last year he has also taken up running and completed a 5K. His cognitive development is years behind his peers in school, and he requires assistance with tasks many of us take for granted. Michael is not dying from autism, but his disability certainly impacts his life as well as those that surround and care for him.

April is International Autism Awareness month. On April 11, 2021, Michael will be running a virtual 5K on to raise awareness about autism and money for the Organization for Autism Research.

Please help support Team Michael by contributing to one of the team's fundraisers and sharing this page with your family and friends. Every dollar I raise will advance the Organization for Autism Research's great cause!


WHY RUN FOR AUTISM?
1 in 54 children in the U.S. is diagnosed with autism. By joining the RUN FOR AUTISM team, you’re supporting OAR’s mission to fund research and resources that help people with autism and their families today.


Here are some of the ways that OAR uses the funds raised by the RUN FOR AUTISM team:

$10 provides a Curriculum in a Box professional development set to general education teachers.
$25 provides 15 copies of A Guide to Safety to families and first responders.
$100 provides the Kit for Kids peer education resource to an entire elementary or middle school.
$150 provides 100 copies of a Life Journey through Autism guidebook sent to a community support group or military installation.
$1,000 provides a research grant for a graduate student studying autism.
$3,000 provides a scholarship for a student with autism to attend college.
$40,000 fully underwrites an applied research pilot study.