Hello, my name is Michael Duggan. I have AUTISM.
My mother is writing this in honor of me, autism impairs my ability to communicate like you and it's also difficult for me to be social. Often times I understand what you say to me but I cannot express myself. Therefore I may get anxious and tantrum, people think I am being bad and sometimes think my mom didn't raise me correctly, that is untrue, I am just frustrated and so I may have behavioral outbursts.
I am a visual learner so that means mom creates everything for me using visual supports across all environments. This helps me so much, for routines, dressing, toilteting, eating, behaviors, learning and communication. I work very hard to understand your world. Things you find easy to do without any effort at all take me a very long time to learn. Mom, Dad and my 3 brothers and 2 sisters have helped me so much with their patience and unwaveringly love for me.
To make things easier for me, mom started utilizing another tool in her toolbox of tried and true. Technology was an easier way to get through to me. This has opened a big door for me and I even had emerging speech at the age of 12 as a direct result of a computer! Can you imagine never being able to say a word for 12 years??
As a result of my success using technology and visuals, my mom started a non profit Technology For Autism Now, Inc. in order to help all families and children living with an autism spectrum disorder. She is in the process of developing a series of autism app's to help us all people on the autism spectrum to lead more meaningful functional lives. By donating to my site you will be helping (TAN) fulfill that vision. FableVision in Boston is doing the development of the apps www.FableVison.com & GetFused www.GetFused.com located in Boston's Innovative District.
Please consider donating any amount you can. You will be giving a child a voice, with the release of the Apple Touch, iPhone and iPads amazing things are happening for the autism community. This type of technology is giving us hope and people are beginning to see we have many things to say and we can learn. We have a way to go in our development but we are confident our applications will be life changing for a child with autism.
Thank you for reading my story and thanks to my family for never giving up on me!
HOPE is what you will be giving all families and children with autism with the gift of technology. TAN has 10 Marathon Runners very dedicated to running 26.2 miles on behalf of children with autism and TAN's efforts.
Donating through this website is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to support my fundraising efforts.
Many thanks for your support -- and don't forget to forward this to anyone who you think might want to donate too!
Michael "BIGS" Duggan