Helping Hearts for Autism: Changing Lives

A Time of Need
There isn’t one among us that hasn’t needed a little help at some point in time. This is especially true during the holidays, when there is an overwhelming desire and pressure to create a spectacular season for loved ones. But as stressful as this time of year can be for most of us, families who are affected by autism are often under even more pressure to maintain a sense of normalcy during the overly stimulating holiday season.

Individuals with autism have endless needs that often drive their families into financial and physical distress. As parents strive to provide the additional care and support to the individual and other members of the family, resources often become stretched upon their limits. This time of the year brings about a sense of giving in us all. As we spend time and money picking out the perfect gifts for others, sometimes we forget what makes the best gift of all- a sense of knowing that someone else cares.

A Solution
With the help of some of our allies, Step By Step and Touch Technology Inc., we created the Helping Hearts for Autism campaign to let the autism community know that they are not alone in their journey. As families affected by autism go through the daily struggles and triumphs associated with the journey of autism, Special Learning is committed to offering solutions for every step along the way. This campaign is no different—our goal is to raise money to give to families who need a solution now. By offering a little assistance during a very trying and often financially difficult time of year, we can restore some hope and spark a little magic in the lives of these families.

You can help!
We’re collecting donations through our website http://special-learning.com/store/120/1, which will be combined into $500 grants and bundled with an in-kind match, dollar for dollar, of our products to be given away to worthy families chosen by an unbiased selection committee.

Through the seasonal campaign, which runs through December 19, Special Learning hopes to contribute to at least 10 families, but we will offer as many grants as possible with the amount of funds received.

We urge you to join in helping us make an incredible difference in the lives families affected by autism. You can do this with a donation of any size. No matter how big or how small, all donations will go a long way in helping these families.

Nominate a Family
If you would like to nominate a family to be a recipient of one of these grants, please send an email to jroumeliote@special-learning.com. Please include the family’s story and all contact information for the family. Families can also nominate themselves by sending an email detailing their story and providing their contact information

Thanks for helping us make it a wonderful holiday for everyone, especially for individuals who may need just a little extra help during this time of year. Keep your eyes peeled for stories of our grant recipients. We’ll be featuring them here shortly.

To all of our readers, have a warm, safe and happy holiday season!

Sincerely,
Karen Chung
Co-Founder, Special Learning Inc.