On October 2nd 2022 I will be running the TCS London Marathon in support of the Organization for Autism Research (OAR). My mission to run for OAR started in 2019 but has been delayed due the pandemic and I hope to raise $10,000 in support of OAR’s mission.
By way of background OAR was founded in December 2001 by seven individuals whose lives and families had been directly impacted by autism. They shared a common vision and set out on a singular mission – to apply science to answer the daily questions and challenges that autism presents to individuals with autism, their families, teachers, and caregivers.
There are many organizations dedicated to autism but what distinguishes this organization from other organizations is their singular focus on applied research and the quality and practical value of its resource materials. The studies they fund and the information resources they provide have meaning in the day-to-day lives of persons with autism and their families. Rather than fund research relative to cause and cure, they fund pilot studies on topics of more every day relevance such as education, parent and teacher training, communication, self-care, social skills, employment, behavior and adult and community issues. In pursuing its efforts to change lives, their ultimate focus is quality of life.
As many of you know raising a child with autism or other intellectual developmental disabilities does not leave much time or thought for the cause/cure search but rather our energies focus on how do we create the best life possible for our loved ones. Its no secret that Barbara and I have been on a mission to do everything possible to create an awesome ordinary wonderful life for our daughter Andrea and to help others along the way. While we have much success with the help of a huge support team and we are blessed and fortunate, there are many who are still in need of resources, education and day to day help to help create a path forward for their love ones.
Please help me support Organization for Autism Research by making a contribution to my fundraiser and sharing this page with your family and friends. Every dollar I raise will advance Organization for Autism Research's great cause!
WHY AM I RUNNING FOR OAR? About 1 in 6 (17%) children aged 3–17 years were diagnosed with a developmental disability including autism. By joining team ANDREA 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 team ANDREA:
$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.
$30,000 fully underwrites an applied research pilot study.
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