There are many levels of neurodiversity. For some neurodiverse individuals, the complexities of their conditions may cause them physical or emotional stress on a moment by moment basis, where as with others, they may, mentally, find a way to cope. With parents raising a child on the spectrum, who can really know what THEIR particular experience is? It's a combination of the depth of neurodiversity they are dealing with in their child along with the personality type and emotional stability a parent might possess. It's all about perception. If you think it's broken, then it is. If you believe it's a different way of looking at things, then it is. If you think it can be eradicated, then you will look exhaustively for a cure. Trying to get everyone from the Autistic Community in a room to decide on one way to look at the neurodiversity issue is a non-starter. There are too many variables that range from actual disability to perception. It is for this reason, my friends, I decided to create a program that will potentially help anyone coping with the complexities of raising a neurodiverse child or being a neurodiverse person.
Aid for Autistic Children Foundation, Inc. has one major mission. We help poor families reduce or pay off their obstructive debt load so they can get on with the business of giving the proper care and time to their autistic child or loved one. As for adults on the spectrum, AACF, Inc. extends a similar philosophy. Many neurodiverse adults may find themselves in financial hardship, over time, due to a lack proper financial training and council. Some, even impoverished. We will step in to get them some free credit counseling along with reducing or deleting any obstructive debt that may keep them from properly caring for themselves physically and emotionally.
I'm not trying to stay out of the controversy surrounding what the classification for being autistic is. As a matter of fact, I wish I could kick up some controversy so that my mission could be taken more seriously.
It was never my intention to make this program the work of "one man". However, it is turning out to be just that. No one outside of the Autistic Community seems to really understand the simplicity of what this program is offering. I did not reinvent the wheel here. I simply took different bits and pieces of social and private programs already in existence, streamlined them, combined them, left out the wasteful leveraging and spending and behold... Aid for Autistic Children Foundation, Inc. Overhead is ultra low and no salary will be over $50,000 usd annually. No swanky million dollar fund raising galas with A-List entertainers (unless they volunteer). No over-the-top adverts disguised as sponsorships for sports events. No donations going to cover the cost of private jets or lobbyists in Washington, D.C. I've seen enough of that from other "autism" charities and they provide little to no relief for the families that need it the most; the poor. Families and individuals that won't even see this blog because they do not have access to the Internet. Many don't even have a computer. Do we care about reaching these folks? I do. I really do. I can't imagine doing this alone, but, as I've mentioned, things seem to be headed in that direction.
I will, more than likely, have to postpone helping that first neurodiverse person or coping family, here in 2010, so I can go on the road as an entertainer and lecturer raising every dime that I can for this non-profit. My hope is that the additional visibility will help raise funds quicker. The last breath that comes out of my body will be to complete this mission.
I will raise the $105 million dollars (that's all, by the way...) this program needs or die trying.
Peace & Love,
Michael Buckholtz
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