In May of this year, our son Maverick was diagnosed with autism. We felt prepared to hear the diagnosis, but when the words came out of the doctor's mouth, a whirlwind of emotions washed over us. We knew that no matter the diagnosis, he would remain the same child we loved before we walked through those doors. The process of getting to that diagnosis was overwhelming, and we felt lost at times. As parents, we want the absolute best for our child and want to be able to provide them with everything they need. That's why having a support system and resources is so important. We were fortunate to have the support of family and friends, and to find an autism support group that provided us with resources and support. We know that not all families are so fortunate, and that's why we are committed to helping others.

When you join our team, you become part of an amazing community of the most passionate and committed individuals, families, friends and professionals — all dedicated to helping people with autism reach their full potential. The incredible support of people like YOU over the years has made it possible for Autism Speaks to meet so many milestones — advancing life-enhancing breakthroughs in autism care, providing more free, personalized support, increasing childhood screening and intervention resources and working to create a more accepting, understanding and inclusive world for our broad and diverse community. But with more than 70 million people affected by autism today, there is still much more to be done. Please join the team — set your fundraising goal — and start making a difference today!