About Hope for Michael

Michael with his Service dog Kevin

Hope for Michael was established in honor of our son "Michael" who through his daily struggles has inspired our family by overcoming many obstacles associated with Autism.

Mission

To provide assistance to families with Autistic children through our "Hope for Michael" Autism Relief Fund and its associated programs.

What is Autism?

Autism is a life long neurological disorder which affects a person's ability to communicate and also affects their motor skills, social interaction and behavior. Autism is also commonly referred to as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Autism is also considered a spectrum disorder which means that a person with Autism can be affected mildly or severely.

Possible signs that a child may have Autism

Child has poor eye contact, does not babble or make meaningful gestures by age 1, does not speak a word by 16 months old, does not respond to his/her name, lines up his/her toys, does not know how to play with toys appropriately, does not like to be held and doesn't like playing with others.

How does one treat Autism?

Each child with Autism is unique, establishing an intervention plan to address the specific requirements of the individual child is essential. Intervention measurers can include therapy such as Speech, Occupational, Physical and ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis).