Press Releases

    Ability Beyond Disability Awarded $25,000 grant from Autism Speaks

    Ability Beyond Disability has been awarded a $25,000 Family Services Community Grant from Autism Speaks, North America’s largest autism science and advocacy organization, in support of the organization’s Roses for Autism program.
     
    Roses for Autism, founded by Ability Beyond Disability, is a self-sustainable agricultural employment training and placement program for people with autism. Through assessments and on-the-job training, individuals are provided with the opportunity to learn skills within an integrated, agricultural environment.
     
    “Roses for Autism is so grateful for the support of Autism Speaks,” said Julie Hipp, Managing Director at Roses for Autism. “It is through partnerships such as this that we can help more people with autism learn the skills needed to become independent in the business world,” she said.
     
    Autism Speaks’ Family Services Community Grants assist community-based organizations, such as Ability Beyond Disability, expand existing and create new programs to improve and enrich the lives of individuals with autism spectrum disorders. The grants address one of the following areas of need: education, recreation/community activities, and young adult/adult services.
     
    The funds received by Ability Beyond Disability from Autism Speaks will help with the costs of Roses for Autism’s vocational and pre-vocational training efforts, including the costs of materials.
     
    Autism is a complex neurobiological disorder that inhibits a person's ability to communicate and develop social relationships, and is often accompanied by behavioral challenges. Autism spectrum disorders are diagnosed in one in 110 children in the United States, affecting four times as many boys as girls. The prevalence of autism increased 57 percent from 2002 to 2006. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have called autism a national public health crisis whose cause and cure remain unknown.
     
    Autism Speaks is North America’s largest autism science and advocacy organization. Since its inception in 2005, Autism Speaks has made enormous strides, committing over $160 million to research through 2014 and developing innovative new resources for families. The organization is dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. In addition to funding research, Autism Speaks has created resources and programs including the Autism Speaks Autism Treatment Network, Autism Speaks’ Autism Genetic Resource Exchange and several other scientific and clinical programs. Notable awareness initiatives include the establishment of the annual United Nations-sanctioned World Autism Awareness Day on April 2, which Autism Speaks celebrates through its Light it Up Blue initiative. Also, Autism Speaks award-winning “Learn the Signs” campaign with the Ad Council has received over $258 million in donated media. Autism Speaks’ family resources include the Autism Video Glossary, a 100 Day Kit for newly-diagnosed families, a School Community Tool Kit and a community grant program. Autism Speaks has played a critical role in securing federal legislation to advance the government’s response to autism, and has successfully advocated for insurance reform to cover behavioral treatments in 23 states thus far, with bills pending in an additional 14 states. Each year Walk Now for Autism Speaks events are held in more than 80 cities across North America. To learn more about Autism Speaks, please visit www.autismspeaks.org.
     
    Ability Beyond Disability is a 501{c} (3) organization headquartered in Bethel, Conn. and Mount Kisco, N.Y. It provides a wide range of services for approximately 1,500 people with differing abilities -- including community and independent living options, employment training, career counseling, job placement services, cognitive and life skills instruction, clinical and therapeutic support, and volunteer and recreational activities. Today, its services extend into much of Connecticut and the Hudson Valley, New York. For more information please visit www.abilitybeyonddisability.org. 

     
Meet Jason “Today, Jason maintains his own apartment, pays his bills on time does his grocery shopping and uses public transportation to get around town and to work; and he does this all with minimal support.”