Mission:

• We exist to address the needs of children with Autism in developing countries, to address the fear that plagues parents of children with Autism where there are few resources, and little or no understanding of Autism.
  
  
• We address these needs by first establishing and utilizing any available resources and setting up partnerships to work with the local individuals and organizations currently providing services.
  
  
• The fundamental belief that all children with Autism and their communities deserve effective resources guides our work, as well as the belief that education leads to understanding and acceptance of differences.

History:

In September of 2003, Molly Ola Pinney moved to Ghana to continue providing ABA therapy services for a child she worked with in Seattle. When his family decided to move to Ghana, the care of their child with Autism was a concern. They felt their only option was to bring their own therapist to Ghana with them. After being in Ghana for less than two months, several families had sought Molly’s assistance in gaining resources to help their children.

One Ghanaian mother whose child was diagnosed while briefly living outside of the country told Molly: “When my child was diagnosed with Autism, I would have preferred the diagnosis was a terminal illness, I was so scared. It has taken me years to get to the point of talking about it without breaking down.”

Though she felt alone and isolated, she was not. Stories like hers were overwhelmingly shared. These stories kept Molly up at night and it was from them that the Global Autism Project was born!

Paddle for Autism Awareness:

The Paddle for Autism Awareness is the signature fundraising event of the Global Autism Project. Every summer, in several cities across the country, children with autism kayak (many of them for the first time in their lives) with their friends and families! We hold events in the following cities: Boston, MA; New York, NY; Chicago, IL; San Diego, CA; Portland, OR; Seattle, WA; Denver, CO. 

If you would like to get involved in your city, there are many opportunities! You can attend one of our kick-off parties at a local bar prior to the paddling event; you can volunteer to hand out fliers and solicit donations; you can lend your kayaking expertise and supervise kids on the day of the event; and so much more! Visit our Paddle for Autism Awareness homepage (link available under "RESOURCES" on the right hand side of this page) for more info and contact information.