It takes a village.
At KNOWAutism Foundation, our goal is to help reduce the burden of an autism diagnosis. We are building a community of friends and supporters dedicated to improving the lives of children with autism. Since its inception in 2013, KNOWAutism Foundation has funded several special projects.
The Creation of The Stewart Center, a diagnostic clinic for autism at the Westview School.
- The Stewart Center specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety disorders, mood disorders, behavioral disorders, learning disabilities, language disorders, trauma and stress-related disorders.
“Not every clinic is sensitive to the needs of children on the autism spectrum. We knew our daughter needed help, but we were told it could take two years to get an assessment and diagnosis! Here we had a reasonable wait time with excellent customer service.”
Collaboration with Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS) and The River to launch the Community Arts Residencies.
- A program that brings inclusive fine arts education to preschoolers in HISD.
“ The River has helped my Autistic daughter socialize with peers her age, and most importantly her own brother. It is a safe place where no one judges her and all of her unique qualities and quirks are cheered upon and encouraged.”
Collaboration with the Houston Ballet to expand their Adapted Dance Off-Site program.
- Off-Site Adapted Dance takes existing Houston Ballet Education and Community Engagement programs and adapts them to populations with specific needs. In our Off-Site Dance Classes, trained ECE staff partners with Houston-area schools, hospitals, and other organizations to create a program especially for their students.
Our support enables Houston Ballet to bring this amazing program to 34 sites and 607 students.
Establishing three financial assistance programs.
- The Tuition & Therapy Assistance Program offers scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 to help ease the financial burden of therapeutic treatments and intervention for autism. To be eligible, the child must be between the ages of 12 months and 18 years of age and must have already received a clinical diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder.
- The Autism Diagnostic Assistance Program is designed to help subsidize the cost of diagnostic testing for children between the ages of 12 months and 14 years of age. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
- The Special Interest Fund was established to help children with autism access adaptive and inclusive programs and services that do not fall under the umbrella of traditional autism treatments or interventions. Awards range from $500 to $2,000 per child. Eligible programs include specialized camps, music therapy, art therapy, yoga therapy, therapeutic horseback riding, adaptive swim lessons, and similar programming. This fund may also be used to cover fees for the services of autism/disability advocates (up to $1,000). Please Note: This fund does not cover experimental procedures, HBOT, supplements, acupuncture, homeopathy, or other alternative treatments.
Our heart is full after seeing how much fun these children have and thrive. Thank you for your support.
