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Autism Speaks is dedicated to:

  • Science and Research - leading us to answers and interventions
  • Family Services - providing families with information, tools and resources
  • Awareness - increasing public knowledge and understanding of autism 
  • Advocacy - accelerating national and state autism legislation

Nationwide we have funded over $62 million and in Nebraska, we have funded $34,379 in community grants.

We invite you to join us in our efforts to better the lives of our loved ones affected by autism. Please take a moment to find out more about participating in national advocacy efforts, local community resources, upcoming events, and ways to get involved.

NEWS:

Family Services

Autism Speaks announced its third round of community grant awards in December. Congratulations to the most recent recipient: Charlene Synder of Millard Public Schools in Omaha who was awarded a community grant for $17,737. Millard Public Schools will conduct a recreation/community activities project to teach social communication skills to high school students with Asperger's Syndrome (AS) and/or High Functioning Autism (HFA). To read more about this project and to see a description of other community grants awarded in 2008, please click here. 

To date, Autism Speaks has funded $34,379 in community grants in Nebraska alone, and with your help, we can fund even more! Autism Speaks is seeking applications for a new round of Family Services Community Grants. By applying yourself or encouraging your service providers to apply for these grants, there is an increased opportunity for more money to stay locally. Please click here to see a full description of the call for proposals and application process. 

Science and Research

Autism Speaks' Chief Science Officer, Geri Dawson, has provided a letter outlining all of the amazing accomplishments of 2008, as well as where 2009 may lead. A copy of her letter can be found here. Autism Speaks has recently funded research into areas of autism that currently are under-researched, but have the ability to bring huge changes in the understanding of autism. An explanation of the initiative can be found here, while a full description of each grant can be found here.

Advocacy

Autism Speaks has been working with families in the states on autism insurance reform legislation for over two years, and we're excited that autism insurance reform legislation has now passed in eight states! We are fortunate to have learned many lessons along the way by working with legislative counsel across the country. Our model bill reflects language that has been vetted throughout this process and we have refined the model legislation accordingly. Autism Speaks' goal is to provide the strongest model possible that provides coverage and protection to families, can stand up to rigorous legislative review, and ultimately become law. We invite you to read the updated Autism Speaks Model Autism Insurance Reform Bill - Revised February 2009. We also invite you to learn more about our individual state initiatives including Nebraska. Please contact us at advocacy@autismspeaks.org if you have any questions, or if you would like assistance bringing autism insurance reform to your state.