Autism Speaks Awards Local Organizations Summer Camp Scholarship

Autism Speaks, the world's leading autism science and advocacy organization, has awarded Horses Healing Humans and Sensations Charitable Foundation, Inc. each with a $1,000 Autism Speaks Baker Summer Camp Grant scholarship for its summer programs. The scholarship fund was designed to allow financially disadvantaged children and young adults with autism to attend a program this summer through the Autism Speaks Baker Summer Camp Program.

Horses Healing Humans in Stonington offers Equine-Assisted Activities and Therapy (EAAT) as a collective term for various methodologies used to promote healing of mind, body, and soul. Individuals suffering physical, psychological, cognitive, emotional or social challenges, autism, brain injury, depression, eating disorders, ADD/ADHD or behavioral difficulties benefit greatly from equine assisted activities. Therapeutic riding provides a rewarding recreational, educational and leisure experience while working towards improvements in socialization, mobility, language, pain management and overall improved health and quality of life. For more, visit www.horseshealinghumansct.org. 

Located in Mystic, Sensations Charitable Foundation Inc.’s mission is to create, conduct, and support effective programs for families affected by disabilities and health conditions. Through its summer program, Sensational Summer, Kids of All Ages can become a member of the sensational “grand family.” Local residents of Stoneridge Retirement Community and children (ages 6-16) with their siblings get connected by sharing culture, tradition, skills and talents each week during Sensational Synergy for the summer. Participants, young and young-at-heart, work together while enjoying traditional summer activities designed to strengthen pro-social behaviors. For more, visit www.linkedin.com.

Autism Speaks’ Baker Summer Camp Program selects eligible camps across the country to identify qualified campers and offer a scholarship fund of up to $5,000 to be distributed to as many campers as it may benefit. Originally funded by Norma and Malcolm Baker and specific to southern California, the program was expanded to the national level by Autism Speaks. In 2010, the Baker Summer Camp Scholarship Program joined the Autism Speaks community grants initiative as a mainstay of the Family Services grants program. During the past four years, the program has funded close to 1,500 camp scholarships, totaling $695,000 awarded by 200 different camps in 31 states. For a complete list of 2013 Baker Summer Camp grant winners, click here.

To receive funding, camps must have a successful history of supporting individuals with autism. Preference is given to camps that provide opportunities for inclusion with typically-developing peers and those located in underserved communities.

About Autism

Autism is a general term used to describe a group of complex developmental brain disorders – autism spectrum disorders – caused by a combination of genes and environmental influences. These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by communication difficulties, social and behavioral challenges, as well as repetitive behaviors. An estimated one in 88 children in the U.S. is on the autism spectrum – a 78 percent increase in six years that is only partly explained by improved diagnosis.

About Autism Speaks

Autism Speaks is the world’s leading autism science and advocacy organization. It is dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. Autism Speaks was founded in February 2005 by Suzanne and Bob Wright, the grandparents of a child with autism. Mr. Wright is the former vice chairman of General Electric and chief executive officer of NBC and NBC Universal. Since its inception, Autism Speaks has committed more than $195 million to research and developing innovative resources for families. Each year Walk Now for Autism Speaks events are held in more than 100 cities across North America. On the global front, Autism Speaks has established partnerships and related activities in more than 40 countries on five continents to foster international research, services and awareness. To learn more about Autism Speaks, please visit AutismSpeaks.org.