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About Our Organization
More children are diagnosed with autism each year than cancer, aids, and diabetes combined. In New Jersey 1 out of every 94 children born today is on the autism spectrum. Children with autism need highly specialized intervention both at home and at school in order to reach their fullest potential. They need access to services that meet their needs in the areas of education, daily living, socialization and recreation. Their parents, siblings, and teachers need training and support. Parents Of Autistic Children (POAC), a nonprofit organization formed in 1999, is the educational leader for the autism community providing more training than any other organization. Additionally, POAC provides direct services to children with autism and their families. The costs of such services are prohibitive for most families. For this reason, POAC is deeply committed to providing all services at no cost to participants. Some of POAC’s accomplishments are as follows:
- Funded the first statewide program for the early detection and intervention of children with autism
- Provides parent and teacher training in research-based educational and behavioral intervention techniques that have proven to be effective for children with autism
- Support “best practices” teaching techniques to model classrooms throughout the state
- Provides training for parents and families to help increase functional communication, decrease problem behavior and increase socialization for their children with autism
- Increasing public awareness of the disorder and its effects on individuals, families, public schools, and society
- Provides training for law enforcement and emergency responders in autism recognition and response
- Hosts an Annual Free Family Carnival, the biggest autism family event in the state
- Hosts free surfing events for children with autism and their siblings
- Provides early intervention programming for preschool aged children and their parents
- Provides, supports, and promotes recreational activities and events that bring happiness to the lives of children with developmental disabilities and their families including bowling, movies, and music therapy
- Provides a free speakers bureau to groups throughout the state
- Provides outreach and training in autism to middle school, high school, and college students in New Jersey
- POAC does not charge a penny for any of these services and receives no government funding
To date, thousands of parents, teachers, and other service providers have been trained. Law Enforcement Officers and First Responders in every New Jersey county have been trained in autism recognition and response and in at least one case, the training has been life-saving. POAC has reached out to colleges and universities and provided course work to students studying to be special education teachers. All of this is accomplished without government funding, it is all done through the generosity of those who contribute to POAC fundraising activities. Making a difference in the lives of children now is at the heart of everything we do at POAC. For the thousands of children with autism who benefit from our services and programs every year, POAC has become a bastion of support and a beacon of hope.
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