Everyone,
Thank you for visiting the Team JoJo fundraising page. This year Angela and I will again be participating in the the Rock-N-Roll Half Marathon to raise money for Autism. This year we have chosen a research based charity Organization for Autism Research -OAR. OAR is the official Autism charity of the RHR half and the only Autism charity that focuses solely on applied reserch.
Joe was diagnosed with PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified) which is part of ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) at 22 months and is now 4 years old. Through early intervention, ABA, Speech and Occupational therapies Joe has made great progress in eye contact, communication and receptive language; however, he is still non-verbal.
Thank you for your help!
Best regards,
Roger and Angela Kahler
Special thanks to everyone who contributed to last year's fundraiser. Especially Amanda Bimber, Matt Welch, his family and friends for making last year a huge success!!
Also, if you want to participate in the RNR half with us on the OAR Team there is a link to use when you sign up for the race.
More About OAR:
www.researchautism.org
The Organization for Autism Research (OAR) was created in December 2001 to apply research to the challenges of autism. In simplest terms, applied autism research is practical research that examines issues and challenges that children and adults with autism and their families face everyday. OAR funds pilot studies and targeted research within specific modalities and issues affecting the autism community, primarily for studies whose outcomes offer new insights into the behavioral and social development of individuals with autism with an emphasis on communications, education, and vocational challenges. OAR's programs revolve around funding new research and disseminating evidence-based information.
OAR is a Charity Navigator 4 Star Charity:
Earlier this year, OAR was awarded the highest possible ranking by Charity Navigator, an independent evaluator that rates a charity’s ability to allocate and grow finances in the most fiscally responsible way possible. It is a feather in OAR’s cap and something many prospective donors like to know. This means that 85% of every dollar you raise goes directly to OAR’s programs and grants
Uderstanding Autism:
Autism or, more commonly today, autism spectrum disorder is a developmental disability characterized by deficits in: 1) verbal and nonverbal communication, 2) social interaction, and 3) the presence of repetitive behaviors or interests. Generally diagnosed before the age of 3 the severity of the impairment can range from relatively mild resulting in a diagnosis within the spectrum of Asperger Syndrome to more severe leading to a diagnosis of more classic autism. If a child has symptoms of either of these disorders, but does not meet the specific criteria of either, the diagnosis is called Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS).
Autism spectrum disorders are found in all cultures and across all socio-economic groups with the ratio boys to girls with ASD being 4 to 1. In the past 30 years the prevalence rate of ASD has skyrocketed. Recent prevalence estimates indicate that autism spectrum disorders occur in 1 out of every 150 children born (CDC 2007) highlighting the facts that autism spectrum disorders are not rare and the importance of effective intervention is critical on a personal, familial and societal level. Why the increase? No one knows for sure. Some epidemiologists point to a broader definition of autism and an increasing awareness among medical professionals as key contributing factors. Others consider the potential impact of environmental factors (e.g., toxins) as a contributing cause. As more and more research is funded and completed this question may soon be answered.
Got checks??
Many donors prefer to write checks to contribute to your cause. Remind them to write the check out to "OAR" and to put your name on the memo line. You can send those checks directly to our office: 2000 N. 14th St. Suite 710, Arlington, VA 22201. Please let me know how much you contribute so I can keep track on this site.