Donations to the

Bridges Ride For Autism 2018

will be shared with our National Sponsor AUTISM SPEAKS

and selected

Local Support Groups

Autism Speaks was founded in February 2005 by Bob and Suzanne Wright, grandparents of a child with Autism. Since then, Autism Speaks has grown into the nation's largest autism science and advocacy organization, 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. We are proud of what we've been able to accomplish and look forward to continued successes in the years ahead.

 Our Mission 

At Autism Speaks, our goal is to change the future for all who struggle with autism spectrum disorders. We are dedicated to funding global biomedical research into the causes, prevention, treatments, and cure for autism; to raising public awareness about autism and its effects on individuals, families, and society; and to bringing hope to all who deal with the hardships of this disorder. We are committed to raising the funds necessary to support these goals.

Autism Speaks aims to bring the autism community together as one strong voice to urge the government and private sector to listen to our concerns and take action to address this urgent global health crisis. It is our firm belief that, working together, we will find the missing pieces of the puzzle.

Autism Speaks. It's time to listen.

www.AutismSpeaks.org

Locally Funded Support Groups in 2016

The Nassau/Suffolk Chapter of the Autism Society of America (“NSASA”) is a parent driven organization serving hundreds of families on Long Island. We are staffed entirely by non-paid, yet extremely dedicated volunteers. All proceeds from our fundraising efforts are used to provide free educational, recreational and social opportunities to families touched by autism.

The NSASA has provided individuals with autism, their parents and their non-affected siblings with opportunities such as free visits to the Long Island Children’s Museum and the Atlantis Marine World Aquarium. The NSASA has organized additional family oriented events such as roller skating, movies, horseback riding, gym play at Pump It Up, and last but not least, surfing! We also coordinate free sibling support groups and are proud to have also started one of the first autism support groups designed for single parents.

Yes She Can,Inc.

Yes She Can Inc. was founded by Marjorie Madfis, a mother of a teen girl with autism, after  retiring from a 30 year career in corporate marketing.  

The mission of Yes She Can is to develop transferable job skills for teen girls and young women with autism spectrum disorders to enable them to join the competitive workforce.

Our first program is Girl AGain, a resale boutique for American Girl dolls and all their accessories and books. Marjorie developed this business concept not only because of the passion her daughter has for this brand, but because there is market demand for gently used American Girl merchandise.  While our trainees are using their expertise in American Girl to delight our customers, we are teaching functional business skills and workplace social skills.

Today 80% of adults with autism spectrum disorders are unemployed.

Girl AGain is a first-of-a-kind incubator and laboratory where we nurture young women at work without the pressure of a for-profit business. We are applying the most effective training techniques that conventional employers as well as autism employment entrepreneurs can use as they begin to hire people on the autism spectrum.

Girl AGain has an active and engaged community on our Girl AGain Facebook page including American Girl fans, girl empowerment supporters, and  those interested in autism employment and entrepreneurship.

Learn more about our mission from The Journal News feature story  Nonprofit helps autistic young women hone job skills.

For more information, contact Marjorie Madfis at Marjorie@YesSheCanInc.org

Brooklyn Public Library