About AAFI

AAFI

Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others.

Autism is defined by a certain set of behaviors and is a "spectrum disorder" that affects individuals differently and to varying degrees. There is no known single cause for autism, but increased awareness and funding can help families today.

In February 2007, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued their ADDM autism prevalence report. The report, which looked at a sample of 8-year olds in 2000 and 2002, concluded that the prevalence of autism had risen to 1 in every 150 American children, and almost 1 in 94 boys.

Today, 1.5 million Americans are living with the effects of autism spectrum disorder.  A national ASD source estimates that the lifetime cost of caring for a child with autism ranges from $3.5 million to $5 million, and that the United States is facing almost $90 billion annually in costs for autism (this figure includes research, insurance costs and non-covered expenses, Medicaid waivers for autism, educational spending, housing, transportation, employment, in addition to related therapeutic services and caregiver costs).

Become a part of the American Autism Foundation's capital fundraising campaign to help us build a new headquarters for the foundation at Rockin A Ranch in the beautiful Tennessee mountains.   Use our donate button or send an Email link to see the gifts you can receive for helping with this project. 

Rockin A Ranch will become the premier family education, natural therapies, and family recreation vacation retreat in the U.S.   65% of the United States population lives within a one-day drive of the retreat center.