More children are diagnosed with autism each year, than cancer, aids and diabetes combined. 1 out of every 150 children born today is on the autism spectrum. In New Jersey the number is even higher, 1 in 94 and 1 in 60 boys. There are many national and local organizations focused on autism research, but almost none dealing with teaching and reaching children already affected by this disorder. The needs of children with autism are often not met in a traditional special education environment, and parents are unprepared to deal with the daily challenges of having a child with autism.
POAC (Parents Of Autistic Children), a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, was formed to help address these needs. Founded in 1999, POAC's mission is to provide scientifically-based training to parents, teachers, and related personnel who provide direct services to children with Autism. In order to fulfill its mission, POAC offers targeted and sustained training to parents, professionals and paraprofessionals. This training focuses on Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), the only research-based treatment recognized by the U.S. Surgeon General for children with autism, and specifically B.F. Skinner’s analysis of Verbal Behavior (VB).
Because autism affects all those who provide services to children with the disorder, POAC serves not only the children and their families, but also the professionals who treat and teach them. Major goals are to:
- Provide information regarding effective interventions to the educational community through ongoing workshops, training and conferences
- Teach parents and families strategies for living successfully with autism through an ongoing free parent training series
- Increase the pool of individuals qualified to work with children with autism at all levels
- Bring “best practices” teaching techniques to model classrooms throughout the state
- Increase public awareness of the disorder
Since its inception, POAC has provided numerous services and support to thousands of people throughout New Jersey and across the country. Some of our accomplishments are:
- Free training to thousands of parents, teachers, and other service providers
- Free Five Part Training series offered at locations throughout the state
- POAC has reached out to colleges and universities and provided course work to students studying to be special education teachers
- This organization also provides free training to law enforcement professionals, emergency services providers, and other members of the general community who come in contact with children with autism every day
- Provided hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships for advanced training in best practices teaching procedures to public school teachers
- Funded the first statewide program for the early detection and intervention of children with autism.
- Hosts the largest attended autism family event in New Jersey, our Free Family Picnic/Carnival
- Provides fun, family centered activities for those with autism and their siblings
- Commissioned the first musical about autism and how it affects families, “Day After Day”
- Provides a free speakers bureau to civic, service, and parent groups throughout New Jersey
- Provides an informative quarterly newsletter, The Difference with a subscription of over 4000
Making a difference in the lives of children now is at the heart of everything we do at POAC. With your help, POAC has become a bastion of support and a beacon of hope to the autism community.
