Foundation for Autism Research and Remediation

Why Donate?

Your Donation goes FARR

Just a few short years ago, little was known about the diagnosis, cause, and treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). But today, ASD is diagnosed in epidemic proportions. Despite the development of better ways to diagnose ASD, an increased knowledge about the different causes of ASD, and a growing body of treatment programs for individuals “on the spectrum,” the long-term prognosis for those with the diagnosis remains gloomy.

Those individuals diagnosed with ASD have only a 10% chance of obtaining employment, less than a 5% chance of developing meaningful relationships, and even less of a chance of marrying and starting their own family. The vast majority of individuals diagnosed with ASD do not live independently, but reside in group homes or with immediate or extended family members. Current treatment does not focus on these important quality of life issues for those living with ASD.

The Foundation for Autism Research and Remediation (FARR) was developed to fund promising clinical research by new and established scientists and practitioners who are developing treatments that focus on improving quality of life for those with ASD, and who are developing ways to evaluate current treatments for their effectiveness in improving quality of life for those with ASD. Your tax-deductible contribution to FARR will fund researchers in the field of ASD in their efforts to find, not just treatments for, but effective remediation of ASD, thereby improving the outlook for those diagnosed.

FARR recently received a major donation of nearly $40,000. The donation was made by Josh Och, a 13-year-old from Westchester County, NY whose cousin is affected by ASD. Some time ago, Josh had sent out this letter to his family and friends: “As my Bar Mitzvah approaches, I realize how fortunate my family and I are, and that there are so many people who need our help. I have chosen to try to help those struggling with autism. Autism is a condition that affects hundreds of thousands of children. Each day they and their families struggle to learn and do the things that we consider a part of everyday life. My 6 year old cousin, Jonah, is autistic. Rather than giving me a gift, it would mean a lot to me if you would send a donation ..."

Josh had been thinking about some way he could help his cousin who was diagnosed with an ASD and he came up with this idea on his own. He says, "Jonah (my cousin) is really interested in numbers and is a really good kid, but it was hard for him to function. [With remediation] He’s gotten a lot better at communicating with people and a lot better at friendships. I thought this was a good chance to help him. I didn’t really need all the presents. I was hoping that if I could raise a lot of money to help research, that it might help Jonah and also a lot of other kids I didn’t know."

How Your Donations Help

Your tax-deductible donation directly funds new and ongoing research projects around the country and across the world. Your donations help fund research in remediation of ASD. Where exactly does your contribution go? Well, it is used to set up research labs and equipment, like computers and software, as well as staff. It is also used to reimburse research participants. In addition, your donation can be used by researchers to travel to conferences where they will present their findings to the rest of the scientific and professional community.

FARR will post information about those studies accepted for funding on the FARR website and in the FARR newsletter, and project updates will follow each posting. The newsletter will also serve as a forum where a critical review of autism research will be presented by a different member of the FARR Scientific Advisory Committee with each newsletter issue. In addition, editorials written by professionals and expert lay-persons in the field will be published. The FARR newsletter will also post important fund-raising events and other activities, in addition to important conferences, hosted by FARR and other organizations, like Cure Autism Now (CAN) and National Alliance for Autism Research (NAAR), and grass-roots organizations like the Houston chapter of Families for Early Autism Assessment and Treatment (FEAT).

Donations

Mail your Tax-Deductible Donations To:

Foundation for Austism Research & Remediation (FARR)
P.O. Box 271646
Houston, TX 77277-1646

Or click here to donate on-line

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