Autism Nonprofit Receives $1 Million Donation
Submitted by Deb DeFago Turso
Autism Think Tank can now expand their reach. After being recently given a $1 million donation, the nonprofit launched new innovative programs on November 22, 2019. They want families who face medically complex autism that have nowhere to turn for help — no matter where they are, including rural and underserved areas — to present their cases to them. It’s all done by videoconferencing with the family and local doctor, collaborating with five medical specialists throughout the country. No travel expenses or inconveniences, as many autistic children cannot travel.
The NJ-based nonprofit Think Tank is the only organization that focuses on medically complex autism. Think Tank was founded by Warren’s Dr. Paul Abend, who was inspired by his son living with medically complex autism. Think Tank not only helps individuals and their families, but also educates their physicians about commonly occurring complex medical conditions, so that knowledge can trickle down from the experts to the boots on the ground to reach more individuals that are affected with medical issues that co-occur with autism.
ASD profoundly affects the entire family. When families present their case to the Think Tank, they have the opportunity to get much-needed relief for the entire family. Did you know that families living with ASD have more health issues and that autism moms have stress hormone levels similar to that of combat soldiers?
ASD affects 1 in 35 New Jersey Children. According to the NJ Health Department Autism Registry, ASD affects 1,944 Union County residents, 1,057 Somerset County residents, and 2,537 Middlesex County residents.
Autism Think Tank does not provide direct patient care. They provide Autism Think Tank medical experts. Families get a neurologist, gastroenterologist, psychiatrist, allergy immunologist and a neuropsychologist to consult with at the same time for one hour. And, all those doctors weigh in on what’s going on and advise the family’s doctor who is participating in the conference call on how to treat the individual. Because local physicians report a lack of proper education when it comes to complex medical ASD, they welcome the knowledge of experts and use it in their practice with other ASD cases they see.
For more information visit AutismThinkTankNJ.org.
