Autism is a developmental disorder that affects the brain’s normal development of social and communication skills. The prevalence of Autism is properly classified as an epidemic, and a recent study revealed 1 in 56 children have some form of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The lifetime incremental cost of education, treatment, and care of a person with autism is $3.2 million. Clearly this is a tremendous additional cost on families and on communities...unless we prioritize finding innovative approaches to working with children with autism.

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The Fox Family Ride for Autism partners with iTaalk Autism Foundation to assist school aged children and younger who have been diagnosed with autism.  The iTaalk Autism Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit that works to introduce and educate on cost effective and appropriate interactive technology for individuals with autism and related disorders. They continue to endorse traditional therapy programs, such as a 30-hour per week Applied Behavioral Analysis program. Though these are the most effective treatments for children, iTaalk seeks to bring attention to how much more progress could be made if the child also had access to an interactive device with educational apps, for which they were trained to use by their teachers and therapists. The immediate and inexhaustible interaction with a device, such as an iPad®, would reinforce language, fine motor skills, cause & effect, and other key skills for children with autism – thereby enhancing the therapist’s impact in a very cost-effective manner.

 

Last year, nearly 100 individuals with autism were granted an iPad® by iTaalk nationally. Over 1,000 service providers and parents were provided with the necessary education on using an iPad® with individuals with special needs.

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In our inaugural year, The Fox Family Ride for Autism was able to raise over $12,000.00 which allowed us to help each child with autism at Parkway Local Schools. 

 

In our 2nd year, we are happy to announce that we brought in over $20,000 which went a long way to helping out families throughout Mercer County and the Surrounding Area.