Teach Autistic Children Today

What is the status of Teach Autistic Children Today?

We are now officially a corporation in the State of Maryland! In September 2007, a permanent Board of Directors was put in place and Bylaws were created. We also have approved a Conflict-of Interest Policy modeled on one recommended by the Internal Revenue Service. Our ten-member Board of Directors is working on designing our program, including our application and funding process, the qualification process for services, confidentiality requirements and more.

As of February 2008, we are an official 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization and are accepting tax deductible donations.

2. What is Teach Autistic Children Today and what is your mission?

Taking into consideration both financial and therapeutic need, Teach Autistic Children Today will raise tax-deductible contributions to help families pay for desperately needed therapies for their child with autism until and if the child is eligible to receive services through the Autism Waiver. Teach Autistic Children Today also hopes to, one day, subsidize internships for local college students majoring in disciplines such as special education, speech therapy or psychology so they can work with local providers and increase the number of assistant home therapists available to our community's families. Finally, we hope to help parents and siblings learn how to practice new skills with their child with autism, enhancing and building on the child’s therapies. It could even someday open a clinic to make services more accessible to the children.

3. Who is involved in Teach Autistic Children Today?
This organization was founded by a grandmother in Frederick County who saw her family struggling to give their child with autism the best they could with very limited resources. Now joined by local families, community leaders, education and therapeutic experts and friends, Teach Autistic Children Today has a ten-member Board of Directors that is moving the vision forward. Many community members have responded to the call to work on the various committees needed to get the ball rolling. Anyone that wants to help is welcomed with open arms!

What does your organization have to do with the Autism Waiver?
Good question. We have absolutely nothing to do with the Autism Waiver. However, if a child becomes eligible for services under the Autism Waiver and begins receiving services, Teach Autistic Children Today will no longer provide services for the child because the child will no longer need us! That’s when we can make the funds available to other needy children and families.

Are you only going to help pay for therapies for very young children?
Also a good question! We don’t know yet how or when we will begin funding or to whom the funding will go first. Depending on how much money we raise, tough decisions may be necessary about how to roll out services. That likely means we will have to begin funding services based on those with the greatest financial and/or therapeutic need. We are still developing the program Of course if we have LOTS of money when we are ready to start funding, we may not have to make as many of those tough decisions.

When do you think you will start funding therapies?
This is a hard question for all of us because we know we can’t just start doing this tomorrow. We need to be sure we have sufficient funds to guarantee services for six months or a year when we commit to help a child. That means just to roll out the program for a few children we need to get around $60,000 in the bank. That is why raising money is our first order of business starting now!

What can I do to help?
This is our favorite question of all! It goes without saying that we can always use people with energy and enthusiasm to help with our fund-raising work. There are many ways to help that don’t involve knocking on doors or begging for money (which we know is so hard for folks) so if you can help, let us know. You can make the difference for a child with just a little of your time. No experience needed! You can also help by volunteering for one of our current committees or coming events. The work of these committees is huge and they have lots of questions to answer before we get started funding therapies. If you want to help on any of the committees or in any other capacity please contact us at tact2007@comcast.net.

Current committees include:

Budget and Finance Committee- This committee is creating an operating budget and investment practices for our organization.

Program Committee: These committee members, led by Dr. Robert Forder, are determining what diagnosis is required for the children and what requirements we have regarding the source of the diagnosis. They are also determining how to financially qualify participants so families with the greatest financial need get help first. However, they are considering other issues, as well, such as how we contract with and pay service providers.

Fund-raising Committee – Okay, this is an easy one to figure out! We are developing a plan for fundraising! That includes fund-raising events, grants, and whatever other means are out there for collecting contributions!

Media Committee - This group is working on advertising our organization, teaching people about us and what we are trying to do.

Administration Committee - This team is working on all the paperwork, applications, and details of starting and operating this organization.

Midsummer’s Night Charity Auction Committee – This committee is responsible for planning and implementing our fund-raising barbecue event at Ceresville Mansion on Friday, August 1, 2008.

If you have any questions about Teach Autistic Children Today, please don’t hesitate to contact us at tact2007@comcast.net.

Teach Autistic Children Today
PO Box 487
Braddock Heights, MD 21714-0487

By phone:
Frederick: 240-405-9161
Smithsburg: 240-818-4613

By email:
Tact2007@comcast.net