Hi friends! Ever since my son was diagnosed with autism, raising awareness about this complex neurodevelopmental disorder has been incredibly important to me. With Autism Awareness Month approaching, I’m raising funds for Autism Speaks, and it would mean the world to me if you would make a donation to my fundraiser. All donations will count towards my team participating in Autism Speaks’ Empower Summit & Challenge bike/run/walk on Saturday, May 3rd. Together, we can help support the autism community to make this world a kinder, more inclusive one.

When my son was diagnosed at age four, the Americans with Disabilities Act had only recently been signed into law and the rate of autism prevalence was about 1 in 15,000. Which meant that autism awareness was relatively unknown and support services were scarce. Back then, Autism Speaks was a small organization called the National Alliance for Autism Research, founded by parents like me who wanted answers about this complicated and confusing neurodevelopmental disorder.

Thanks to the information and resources provided by organizations like Autism Speaks, I was able to advocate for my son and help him reach his potential. Thirty years later, Dylan is living independently in Las Vegas, runs his own business, and has become a powerful voice for autism awareness in his community.

Today, the prevalence rate of autism has soared to 1 in 36 children, and parents are still struggling to find answers and support services. It's only through the dedicated support of people like us that Autism Speaks can continue their vital mission work. Each year, the Autism Speaks Autism Response Team makes direct contact with tens of thousands of individuals looking for advice or guidance and more than one million people access their free nationwide autism services and resources. They continue to partner and support research to improve the lives of people with autism by investing in science that will allow more personalized treatments and therapies. You can find out even more about where your fundraising dollars go at autismspeaks.org/our-work.

In a world where people are often perceived based on their limitations rather than their potential, where labels supersede personhood, I ask that you challenge your own perceptions of "disability."

Please join me by donating to help me reach my fundraising goal. Together, we have the power to enhance the lives of people with autism and make a meaningful difference. Thanks so much for your support!

xoxo Maria