Man In Heavy Bear Suit Walks 500 Miles To Raise Money For Autism Foundation
From time to time, youll see videos of people in silly costumes running a marathon, whether its someone dressed as a massive turkey during a Thanksgiving race or donning an elaborate Halloween costume for a harvest run. One man who ran two full marathons dressed as a bear has now taken that costume on the road for a good cause.
Jessy Larios, 33, created his Bearsun character after being inspired by certain Japanese and American cartoons growing up. One of them, the show Hey Arnold!, featured a main character with a football-shaped head. Larios always wanted to create a character with a similarly silly head, which ultimately led to Bearsun. His friends helped him create the costume, which he wore during the 2019 and 2020 Los Angeles Marathons. Then he decided to use Bearsun for something even better: charity walks.
His GoFundMe his latest effort, saying, For this next journey Ive selected to help raise funds towards the National Foundation of Autism Research. They are a nonprofit organization dedicated to the development of innovative treatment programs and services that improve the quality of life for children with autism and Autism Spectrum Disorders . So join me on this next journey! Any donation will help make an impact.
Gonzalez says, We wanted her to see that somebody is doing something for autistic awareness.
Data Sources: Irs Forms 990
The Form 990 is a document that nonprofit organizations file with the IRS annually. We leverage finance and accountability data from it to form Encompass ratings. .
; Impact & Results
This score estimates the actual impact a nonprofit has on the lives of those it serves, and determines whether it is making good use of donor resources to achieve that impact.
Impact & Results Score
Mind Institute At Uc Davis
The UC Davis MIND Institute was founded by parents and is focused on research. The Institute conducts a wide range of research studies while also providing diagnostic and therapeutic services, education, and other programs.
According to its website, the founders;”envisioned experts from every discipline related to early brain development working together toward one goal: finding and developing treatments for;individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities.”
Over the years, it has consistently conducted high-level, peer-reviewed studies with impressive results. Because of its funding, expertise, and status, the MIND Institute has also been able to conduct very large;autism studiessomething that many smaller groups do not have the resources for.
In addition to autism, the MIND Institute focuses on understanding Fragile X syndrome, Down syndrome, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder , 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, and other neurodevelopmental disorders.
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What Is Autism Speaks
Research
- Etiology includes genetic and environmental factors that may cause autism. This research includes searches for autism susceptibility genes, animal models for autism, environmental toxins, and maternal viral infections.
- Biology studies cells, the brain, and the body. This focuses on brain development and includes the Autism Tissue Program discussed further below.
- Diagnosis includes epidemiology, early diagnosis, and biomarkers.
- Autism therapies include medication, behavioral , and psychological interventions. It includes treatments for co-occurring medical conditions in children which are unrelated to autism, such as sleep disorders and gastrointestinal disorders that may hinder behavioral interventions, along with treatments for older individuals, and complimentary and alternative medicine .;
Awareness
Legislation
Combatting Autism Act.
– President George W. Bush, 12/19/06
On December 27, 2012, the Combating Autism Reauthorization Act was passed. This act reauthorized all funding from the Combatting Autism Act of 2006.;
On September 30, 2019 the Autism Cares Actwas passed. The name was changed due to efforts made by the Autistic Self Advocacy Network. It was a small change but it made a big impact.;
National Alliance For Autism Research
In early 2006, a year after its founding, Autism Speaks merged with the National Alliance for Autism Research . NAAR, founded in 1994, was the first U.S. nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting research into causes, treatment, and cures for autism spectrum disorders. The founders comprised a small group of parents, including two psychiatrists, a lawyer and a chemistry professor.
NAAR raised money to provide research grants focusing on autism and had committed in excess of $20 million to over 200 autism research projects, fellowships and collaborative programsmore than any other non-governmental organization. NAAR focused intently on its role in establishing and funding the Autism Tissue Program, a post-mortem brain tissue donation program designed to further autism research studies at the cellular and molecular level. Other major programs included the “High-Risk Baby Sibling Autism Research Project,” and the “NAAR Genome Project.” NAAR also published the NAARRATIVE, a newsletter on autism biomedical research.
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The Autism Science Foundation
What They Do: A top-rated non-profit, The Autism Science Foundation is an important part of the world of autism research. According to the Foundations website, The Autism Science Foundation provides funding directly to scientists conducting cutting-edge autism research to discover the causes of autism and develop better treatments. ASF also provides information about autism to the general public and supports the needs of individuals with autism and their families.
How Donations Help: A What We Fund section on its website outlines exactly what The Autism Science Foundation does with money donated. In short, money goes directly to researchers and organizations conducting cutting-edge research.
Things You Need To Consider Before Donating
People are always concerned about the money they are going to donate. And, at some point they are right. They want to how they use that money. Is it going to spend on rent? Is it going to spend on bills? Thats why donations for a local organization would be a better option.
Every city, bigger or smaller, has non-profit autism-related organizations, agencies, or groups. All of them need your support. You can choose one of them. You need to choose a group that you are sure about the only thing they care about is individuals on the spectrum. If you are living in a big city, your options would be more. You can be even more specific about the organization you are going to donate.
You need to be sure that the group, agency, or organization exactly do what they claim. For example, if they say we are doing researches, they should do really researches. They really should spend money on researches and they need to prove that to you. Do not hesitate to ask for detailed information.
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Autism Speaks Does Not Allocate Its Funds To Directly Help People With Autism
In Autism Speaks’ most recent budget report for the 2014 fiscal year, it spent 15.7 million dollars of the 57.5 million dollar total on family grants, which directly aide families and people with autism. They also spent 23 million dollars on employee compensation with many of their board members earning six figures. Moreover, most of Autism Speaks budget goes toward research rather than to direct care. Autism Speaks has a history of not allocating its funds to appropriate research. In fact, its symbol, the puzzle piece, was created as a symbol of its purpose; to find the missing pieces of genetic material to establish a connection with autism and genes. This sort of research is problematic because it is part of seeking a cure for autism and can be interpreted as an attempt at eugenics.
Why Autism Speaks Doesn’t Speak For Me
Cover via Amazon
Autism Speaks, founded in 2005 by Bob and Suzanne Wright, sometimes seems to have taken over the entire conversation about autism in this country, what with their blue puzzle pieces littered all over the landscape, coming to symbolize, wrongly, autism itself. Yet in spite of their ostensible role as a voice for autism, they’ve got a poor track record of showing respect for autistic people. One example is their intensely offensive “I am autism” video from 2009, promising a threatening, ominous autism that “knows where you live” and “works faster than pediatric AIDS, cancer, and diabetes combined.” Oh, and guaranteeing also that autism will make your marriage fail. It doesn’t.
But that little fact and any number of others didn’t get in the way of Suzanne Wright when she settled in to pen her organization’s recent “” on autism, this time switching pronouns to assert repeatedly in boldface, “This is autism.” She claims that the country has failed autism families, “let them split up.” According to Ms. Wright, families who have autistic children are “not living.” Except that, almost in the same breath, evidently we are living
… moment-to-moment. In anticipation of the childs next move. In despair. In fear of the future.
Autism “moms” , she avers, live like this:
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What Are The 5 Types Of Autism
What are the 5 different types of autism?
- Level 1 Autism Spectrum Disorder , previously called Aspergers Syndrome;
- Rhett Syndrome, although this has been removed from the spectrum;
- Childhood Disintegrative Disorder ;
- Kanners Syndrome or Classic Autistic Disorder; and.
- Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified .
How Do I Donate To Autism Speaks
You can support Autism Speaks in many ways by participating in an event, doing a fundraising campaign or making a donation!
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Big Brain Energy: The Problem With Autism Speaks
Scores of Autistic people vehemently denounce the organization, you should know why
When neurotypical people think of Autism Spectrum Disorder , they often think of organizations such as Autism Speaks, which is one of the most internationally recognized autism groups. However, as an organization, Autism Speaks remains one of the most hotly debated aspects of the autistic community, given the questionable actions of those who run the foundation and what it fundamentally stands for.
In 2009, Autism Speaks released a three-minute which depicted Autism Spectrum Disorder as a stalker that knows where you live and is constantly watching you. Perhaps even more concerning: The advertisement suggested ASD is far worse than cancer and AIDS and is guaranteed to make your marriage crumble. Dont believe me? Read an excerpt from the transcript below.
I work faster than pediatric AIDS, cancer and diabetes combined. And if youre happily married, I will make sure that your marriage fails. Your money will fall into my hands, and I will bankrupt you for my own self-gain, the excerpt reads. I dont sleep, so I make sure you dont either. I will make it virtually impossible for your family to easily attend a temple, birthday party or public park without a struggle, without embarrassment, without pain.
- TAGS
International Society For Autism Research
It is a non-profit organization that was founded in order to improve the life quality of individuals on the autism spectrum. Their must-have aim is helping those individuals with the help of scientific and up-to-date researches. They provide scientific collaboration, training, monitoring, and education.
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Color In A Coloring Book
One of the simplest activities can have a profound effect on mental health and well-being. To reduce stress or anxiety, try coloring in a coloring book. You don’t have to be a child to gain other benefits such as improved sleep, vision, and focus. Adult coloring books and crayons are inexpensive, or use a kid’s coloring book if you’d like. The point is to forget about life stresses and focus on something simple.
Autism Speaks Uses Disgusting Marketing Strategies
This charity is trying to spread the meaning of autism as a plague to affected families.
There are movies and a Youtube channel that was made from this charity that wanted to spread how affected family members are stressed thanks to this psychological disorder in their affected child.
It is only showing that people with this psychological disorder cant be helped which is the opposite of what a charity for this psychological disorder should do.
Most mothers of children with this psychological disorder are opposed in helping this charity spread its false image because it is only hurting their children who didnt have any faults in the first place.
They even stated that you should find other charities for this psychological disorder if you want to help people with this psychological disorder.
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National African American Autism Community Network
It is a non-profit organization founded for African-American families who have someone with autism in their lives. They try to be their voices and biggest support. They are committed to increasing autism awareness, diagnosis, and treatment in underserved societies and environments. They are working collaboratively with other non-profit autism organizations.
Other Ways To Give Back
If you you have limited money to donate;or would rather get involved in a more hands-on fashion, here are some of the things you can do:
- Join a fundraising march or similar event. These events are a great way to get to know other people who share your interest in autism and are willing to get involved.
- Take part in a clinical study. If you live in or near a research center , you may be eligible to help with autism-related research. Studies usually involve kids or adults on the spectrum, but may also include siblings and/or parents.
- Volunteer as a mentor or buddy;or help to run a program, team, or event that specifically includes people on the autism spectrum.
- Become an autism advocate in an organization such as the YMCA or Boy Scouts. These groups are more than willing to include kids on the spectrum but don’t always know how to do so successfully.;
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Uc Davis Mind Institute
What They Do: UC Davis enjoys a wide reputation as a leading force in all things medical. Indeed, the UC Davis Medical Center includes the MIND Institute, an organization focused on research related to the diagnosis, therapy, and education of autism. Its mission is to bring together experts from every discipline related to early brain development working together toward one goal: finding and developing treatments for individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities. The Institute routinely conducts high-level, peer-reviewed studies with larger groups than many other organizations are capable of.
How Donations Help: Donations to the MIND Institute at UC Davis go towards funding the many high-level and peer-reviewed studies the Institute conducts each year.
What Causes Autism During Pregnancy
The causes of autism during pregnancy are advanced age in either parent, bleeding, diabetes, and use of psychiatric medications during pregnancy.
This kind of psychological disorder has been associated with birth defect agents acting in the first eight weeks from conception but these kinds of cases are considered rare.;
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Who Is Actually Speaking
It would be strange if the leading advocacy group for the LGBTQ community was made up of straight people, or if a POC advocacy group was run by white people. Yet it isnt viewed as strange that there are only two Autism Speaks board members out of over thirty who are autistic. The rest are neurotypical, and the organization entirely caters to neurotypicals. In all its testimonies and information, we never hear from autistic people. We only see examples of autistic children, not adults, and we never get to hear autistic adults speak about autism. We dont even get to hear the children talk about their experiences or opinions.
The information Autism Speaks gives out is written by and for neurotypicals. All its guides, toolkits and ads focus on how families and peers will feel. We are told how the parents will be sad, how siblings will be confused, how friends will be upset. We are never taught to question how the autistic person might think or feel. Its like autistic children have no ability to communicate for themselves, and autistic adults are non-existent.
At the end of the toolkit, Autism Speaks encourages parents to seek out the autism community, which according to them is made up of therapists and parents of autistic children. Guess whos not part of the autism community according to this list? Autistic people.
Best Autism Charities In The Us
Autism Spectrum Disorder rates in the United States continue to climb. ASD is a developmental disorder that impairs an individuals ability to communicate and engage socially with others.;
Those diagnosed with ASD may also have difficulty learning and experience heightened sensitivity to sensations. Luckily, early diagnosis and intervention can help those on the autism spectrum improve their social, communication, and learning skills.
Thankfully, there are many charities that are designed to help those struggling with Autism.
Below, we have listed 25 of the best autism charities in the US.
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Dont Speak About Us Without Us
Every advocacy organizations purpose is to serve the population it represents and ensure that this main goal is, in fact, executed. Many organizations will employ members of the population it serves. Autism Speaks does not do this, which means the organization is out of touch with the desires of the autism community. According to the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network, There are no autistics on their board of directors. There are no autistics in any of their major decision-making bodies. If Autism Speaks does not even fulfill this base requirement of representation, how can we expect this organization to teach others to treat people with autism like equals if they are not even employable?
How Do I Donate An Autistic Child
Make a donation in support of autism! Your tax-deductible gift will help support autism education, awareness, advocacy, research, and most importantly, enable us to assist families living with autism. Our online donation form is fast, easy and secure. You can also donate directly through PayPal here.
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