Dear Family and Friends:
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TACA
Ten years ago Lisa Ackerman and her husband decided that they would help out others by opening their home in southern California to others affected by Autism. At that time 1 in 1,000 children were affected by Autism, now that number has risen to 1 in 91 children. Lisa founded TACA to help these families on their journey, now my family and I have joined that fight. In the spring of 2008, TACA went national to expand its mission of families with autism helping families with autism.
Autism
Autism is a devastating neurological and biological disorder that typically affects children between the ages in 18 months to five years of age. Autism currently affects 1 in every 91 children today. It is estimated there are almost 2 million people in the United States alone with autism. Autism affects each individual differently and at different levels of severity. Some people with autism are severely affected, cannot speak, require constant one-on-one care, and are never able to live independently. While others who have less severe symptoms, can communicate, and eventually acquire the necessary skills to live on their own.
Unfortunately, autism rates are rising. As of today, 1 in 91 children, 1 in every 58 boys and 1 child every 20 minutes are diagnosed with autism. Roughly 1% of U.S. children are now affected with autism. What is most troubling is this rate represents a 57% increase in just two years. Autism is the fastest growing disorder in our country.
My Son Trae
Autism takes an unimaginable emotional toll on those who suffer from it and their families. As an infant Trae seemed perfectly normal, unfortunately around his first birthday I started noticing changes, he started seeming withdrawn, couldn’t speak, and wouldn’t eat. I knew that things weren’t right. At times I wasn’t even sure that he was able to hear and his only way of communicating was screaming or flapping his arms. Everything was so hard for him; even potty training took him years to master. So I took him to see his doctor and began a journey that included many doctor visits, therapies, and learning sign language so that I could communicate with my son. At the time I felt alone, not knowing what the future held and feeling like there was nowhere to turn. Trae, who is 7 years old now, can form sentences, play with his sisters, and even ride a bike!
HOPE
Talk About Curing Autism (TACA) gave us hope for Trae. Science and therapy techniques are changing the outlook for kids with autism. Autism is treatable. TACA helped us learn about special diets, ABA therapy, supplementation, detoxification, and doctors that could help Trae come back to our world.
To hear Trae’s laughter and the smile on his face has been one of the greatest joys of our family! He is now potty trained, talking in sentences, initiating conversations, learning his letters and numbers. He started to ride a bike with training wheels on his own. He continues to progress everyday in a part-time school program. We are so proud of him! We hope he too will be recovered from autism like other children.
Talk About Curing Autism
TACA is families with autism helping families with autism. TACA is now helping over 17,500 families across the U.S., with 28 chapters in Alabama, Arizona, California, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. TACA is the only national organization focused on family support, education, and empowerment. They help to speed up the time between diagnosis and effective treatment. 95% of the services that TACA provides are free to families. TACA is not a research foundation. TACA is REAL HELP NOW!
We need your support until there's a cure. This is TACA's 10th year bringing hope to families like ours who are affected by autism. Your help will ensure that TACA can continue to support the thousands of new families receiving their diagnosis.
Autism is often referred to as the "silent epidemic," because families affected by the disorder are so stretched to the limit of just caring for their children that they don't have the time to hold fundraisers or to try to raise public awareness about autism. Most families are just trying to survive the day. This is why we are committed to helping bring TACA to our home state of North Carolina. We can do it with your help!
We are asking for your help with a 100% tax-deductible donation to Talk About Curing Autism (TACA). Any amount is greatly appreciated so that TACA can continue to support the thousands of new families receiving their diagnosis.
Donating through this website is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to support our fundraising efforts.
If you prefer to make a tax-deductible donation by check, please make it payable to TACA. You can send it to in c/o Jennifer Bennet, 816 Burrage Rd, Concord, NC 28025. I will mail your donation to TACA.
Please don't forget to forward this to anyone who you think might want to donate too!
Thank you for all your time and donations, together we can help others find their way!
Jennifer Bennet