By: Ilene Lainer
I am the Co-Founder and Executive Director of NYCA. I am also the mother of two teenage sons, one who is typically developing and the other who has autism. It is my privilege to lead NYCA in collaborating to effect systems change regarding the way services are provided to people living with autism.
NYCA is celebrating its 10th Anniversary this year and in the life of an autism organization 10 years is a long time. Things have improved for people living with autism during this time period…but not enough. There is still so much work to be done.
As we celebrate our 10th anniversary, we rededicate ourselves to our mission: to see the possibilities and find a path to success by developing innovative programs for the autism community. We are also expanding our efforts to reach people online. We want to open our virtual doors to share resources, offer insights and build a greater sense of community for more people in need. This is why we’ve started a blog– it’s time to tell our stories and to hear yours. It is my hope that through our blog you will benefit from our knowledge gathered over 10 years of collaborating with the autism community.
Reflecting on the past 10 years, I think of the great progress we have made, what we have learned from our research and how we have been enriched by the collaborations and the people we have met along the way. In the coming months, leading up to our 10th Anniversary in September, we will be sharing what we consider our “10 triumphs in autism.” We would be honored if you joined us in recognizing these accomplishments, sharing your experiences and forging ahead on the crucial work left to be done because without you, and other supporters like you, none of this would have been possible.
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