Our Vision

Unicorn Children's Foundation envisions a world where all people, regardless of their neurological differences, can be fully engaged members of society who are given the opportunity to…

- obtain and sustain employment,
- pursue continued academic endeavors,
- enjoy social/recreational activities, and
- live independently in communities of their own choosing.

How can YOU help? Visit http://www.unicornchildrensfoundation.org/

Is the U.S. Prepared for a Growing Population of Adults With Autism?

Autism is on the rise: More than 1.5 million people have the condition in the United States alone. But because the majority of these people are younger than 22, the country is on the verge of an “autism tsunami” that could leave thousands without the support they need as they become adults, according to Autism Speaks, an autism advocacy organization. 

“The current system we have right now is woefully inadequate,” says Angela Lello, director of housing and community living at Autism Speaks. "There are lots of long waiting lists. In some states, it can take as long as 10 years to gain access to [these support] services."  

Defined as a developmental disorder that can impair social, communication and behavioral skills, autism is a spectrum disorder that can range in severity from person to person. Some individuals with autism are considered high-functioning and can live independently requiring  minimal, if any, help. Others, however, may need partial or full supervision and assistance to navigate even the most basic tasks of everyday life. "A person who is nonverbal or who has significant intellectual disability will require substantial support in adulthood, and fully independent living will not be possible," says Thomas Challman, medical director and neurodevelopmental pediatrician with the Geisinger Health System Autism & Developmental Medicine Institute in Pennsylvania. 

Every state offers Medicaid-funded programs for people with autism, which can be accessed through each state's Developmental Disability Agency. These services can include home health aides to help with daily functions such as dressing and bathing, as well as job placement and housing assistance, Lello says. Yet, since more than 50,000 individuals with autism transition into adulthood every year, the support services are already being outpaced by their demand, she adds.

To help fill this gap, President Barack Obama recently signed into law the Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education and Support Act of 2014. Also known as the Autism CARES Act, it will give $1.3 billion over five years to fund autism research and detect gaps in support for children and adults with autism who are aging out of childhood programs and transitioning into those designed for adults.

“We need to do a better job of preparing children with [autism spectrum disorder] for adulthood and provide the help and services they need to reach their full potential,” said the bill's co-sponsor Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., on the House floor in June. “The Autism CARES Act tasks multiple federal agencies to study and report back to Congress on the special needs of autistic young adults and transitioning youth. In light of the severity of the aging-out crisis, we must do more – and fast – and ensure we are providing a comprehensive and thorough review of available services, and those we need to create.”

But as parents wait for more services to become available, there are options available now to help children with autism thrive, says Challman, starting with early intervention therapy. “ Parents of children with [autism] can improve the likelihood of independent living by accessing, early and consistently, the types of therapies that help improve their child’s communication and social skills,” he says – areas that have significant impact on a child's ability to succeed in work and social settings.

Early intervention programs are available in every state for any child under age 3 who demonstrates a developmental delay, regardless of whether parents have health insurance,​ thanks to a federal mandate, which requires states to cover the costs of these programs if parents cannot afford them. ​What programs states are required to cover can vary,​ but no matter the technique, early intervention therapies all seek to help combat symptoms while the brain is still taking shape. 

"The brain is not fully connected at birth," says Susan Hyman, an autism expert in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York. "As the brain continues to mature, it makes new neural connections and gets rid of unused ones over the first several years of life." 

Red flags for autism include a lack of joyful expressions by 6 months of age, no babbling by 12 months and no words by 16 months. While autism cannot be cured, early intervention therapy is the best tool available to help treat children with the condition, offering an opportunity to help overcome​ brain abnormalities, Hyman says." When early red flags for autism are identified, what therapy can do is help children come up with workarounds and provide them with experiences that will help them move forward developmentally," she explains. Workarounds can include helping children learn sign language or to point at pictures to convey what they want.

As children with autism get older, therapy should continue​, Challman says, to deal with any issues that may arise or hinder their ability to function in everyday life. Some people may continue to need speech therapy or help with social skills, while others may require psychological counseling​ ​to combat the anxiety and depression that often accompany autism.

“Mental health services can and should be accessed to help manage common issues such as anxiety and depression,” Challman says. Because social skills are "extremely important" in the workplace, it's imperative to continue cultivating them, too, he adds.

Andrew Duff, 24, of New York City, says he benefited from both approaches. Diagnosed with autism just before his third birthday, Duff's parents promptly enrolled him in an early intervention program consisting of therapy designed to help him learn to walk, talk and interact with others. The early therapy worked, and by fifth grade, Duff no longer needed assistance in school nor was he required to be in a special education class.​

Duff backslid a bit when he went off to college, but working with a therapist helped him get back on track. "I started to regress because I was living on my own," he says. "Being in a new place, everything was different and my social skills took a hit. It became hard for me to maintain eye contact. It took me a year to get back to where I was."

Today, Duff works as a production assistant for Autism Speaks and also travels the country as a performance artist.​ Considered a high-functioning adult with autism, Duff says people are often surprised to learn he has the condition. While not all children with autism will experience an outcome like Duff's, research indicates that early intervention therapy is beneficial to even those on the severe end of the spectrum, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, which recommends that all babies be screened for autism at 18 and 24 months of age.​

As the "autism tsunami" looms – 1 in every 68 kids continue to be diagnosed with the condition – Duff has this advice for parents of children with autism: "Take them for therapy," he says. "Nurture what you can, and set them up for the best life possible, just like you’d do for any child.”

Via: http://health.usnews.com/health-news/health-wellness/articles/2015/01/05/is-the-us-prepared-for-a-growing-population-of-adults-with-autism

What is ‪#‎GivingTuesday‬?

A day TUE give!

Help Us Raise Our Goal of $20,000

In honor of our 20th Anniversary, your donation of $20 or more will help us provide leadership, education, and funding to ensure the success and inclusion of individuals with neurodiversity in everyday routines, activities and places.

Donate Now

Your Support Makes a Difference:

To date, we have awarded in excess of $3,100,000 to support various initiatives around the world, including:

$1,000,000 Endowment to the Mailman Segal Institute for Early Childhood Studies at Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, to promote research on best practice interventions for clinicians, educators, and parents.

$1,000,000 in grants for research and education at universities and organizations:

• York University, Toronto, Canada
• Angels Reach Developmental Enrichment Centers, Hialeah, Florida
• University of Maryland
• Gallaudet University, Washington, D.C.
• Ann Stork Center of Fort Lauderdale, Florida
• Florida State University
• B'Nai Torah, Boca Raton, Florida
• Lynn University, Boca Raton, Florida
• Commission Scolaire English-Montreal, Montreal, Canada
• University of Miami, Miami, Florida
• Dimensions Therapy Center, Davie, Florida
• Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton
• Florida Federation CJA, Montreal, Canada
• Amapei, Monaco
• Mission Enfance, Monaco
• Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental and Learning Disorders, Washington, D.C.
• Peter Blum Family YMCA, Boca Raton, Florida
• Sulam, Jerusalem, Israel
• Miriam Foundation, Montreal, Canada

Over $800,000 to fund the development and construction of Unicorn Village Academy, an innovative high school where youth who think, communicate and learn differently can develop life-long personal, social, and career skills based on their own strengths, interests, and preferences. This safe, non-threatening, and supportive learning environment will provide students with an opportunity to prepare them to live independently, obtain and sustain employment, pursue continued academic endeavors and participate in the communities in which they live.

Over $200,000 to fund Unicorn Children's Foundation Mobile Community Developmental Clinics that promote awareness of the early warning signs of developmental, communication, and learning disorders by providing developmental screenings and parent consultations at no charge to families, especially those in traditionally undeserved areas. Currently these clinics are operated in partnership with University of Miami and Florida Atlantic University.

Over $50,000 to fund 211 Palm Beach/Treasure Coast Special Needs Hotline, the first call for help, connecting families with available resources and service organizations in the community.

Nearly $25,000 in grants to community organizations to promote awareness and education as well as provide opportunities to participate in community activities.

Initiatives:

Collaborative Community Needs Assessment and Build Data Warehouse - capture data on the “state of special needs” in the community and streamline data sharing data amongst organizations

Social Capital Conference – introduce the concept of interdependence to the South Florida community

211 Special Needs Hotline – the first call for help, connecting families with available resources and service providers in the community

Training - develop a series of online pediatric trainings to educate on the importance of early screening and resources for referral

Fund innovative and emerging programs 

• Unicorn Village Academy
• Mobile Developmental Clinics
• Mobile Phone Applications

Donate Now

Statistics 

• 20 percent of children who have older siblings with autism also develop autism spectrum disorder (2015)
• About 6 percent of U.S. children use stimulants, up from about 2.4 percent in 1996
• Approximately 1 in 25 US children is taking medication for ADHD (University of California, Berkeley, 2007)
• Use of drugs to treat ADHD has more than tripled worldwide since 1993 (University of California, Berkeley, 2007)
• 5% of US children aged 6-17 have been diagnosed with ADHD (Center for Disease Control, 2008)
• There has been a 3% average annual increase in childhood ADHD diagnoses from 1997 to 2006 ADHD (Center for Disease Control, 2008)
• Most recent statistics indicate that the percentage of children with learning and communication disorders has steadily increased over the past decade.  Specifically, a 31% increase for infants and toddlers and a 46% increase for preschool-aged children (U.S. Department of Education, 2005). 
• Approximately 17% of children have some type of developmental disability, including more mild conditions such as speech and language disorders, learning disabilities, and ADHD, which appear to be more common than the Autism Spectrum Disorders (www.cdc.gov)
• 1 in 150 children have an ASD (www.cdc.gov)
• 1/3 of youngsters diagnosed with autism are prescribed psychotropic drugs to control their symptoms. (upi.com, April 19, 2007)
• From 1993-2003, there was a 657% increase in autism cases nationwide according to the US Department of Education and a 435% increase in Florida
• 4 million children are born in the United States every year, approximately 24,000 of these children will eventually be diagnosed with an ASD. (www.cdc.gov)

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WHAT IS #GIVINGTUESDAY?

We have a day for giving thanks. We have two for getting deals. Now, we have #GivingTuesday, a global day dedicated to giving back. On Tuesday, December 2, 2014, charities, families, businesses, community centers, and students around the world will come together for one common purpose: to celebrate generosity and to give.

It’s a simple idea. Just find a way for your family, your community, your company or your organization to come together to give something more. Then tell everyone you can about how you are giving. Join us and be a part of a global celebration of a new tradition of generosity.

Donate Now

Words That Hurt and Confuse: Autism Edition

Now that students are back to school and in social settings, Haley Moss shares how to treat EVERYONE with the same kindness and respect, and what NOT to say to someone with neurodiversity.

Click here to read more

Did you know...

1 In 68 Children Has Been Identified With Autism Spectrum Disorder

According to the most recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates, 1 in 68 children in the United States has an autism spectrum disorder, based on health and education records. That figure represents a significant increase from previous prevalence estimates, released in 2012, which estimated that 1 in 88 have an ASD.

A separate CDC report issued in 2013 found that 1 in 50 school-age children have an ASD, but that study relied on parental report, rather than official records.

Via: The Huffington Post