The 'Autism Who Knew?' Foundation Launches

The Autism Who Knew? Foundation was recently launched with the mission to educate, raise awareness and provide support for persons and families affected by Autism.

This foundation was established by the parents, family members, friends of an Autistic child with the genuine purpose to inform, empower and encourage persons who are in any way similarly affected.

At the helm of this initiative is Caribbean-American autism advocate Rosanne Small-Morgan known to many of her fans and online followers as 'Rosie'.

In addition to being an author, newspaper columnist, social media personality, well respected and sought after pubic speaker on autism, Rosie is the mother of an autistic son/internet sensation, Zane.

She drew inspiration for the formation of this foundation not only from her 13 year journey with son Zane but also from her desire to make Autism support and services more readily available for persons and families especially within the Caribbean and minority communities.

With respect to the foundation, Rosie who serves as its Executive Director shared, "Our main impetus is to create awareness, education, understanding and services, especially for those families who are extremely undeserved. We want to take a lot of that stigma and shame away from the families when having to share that they have someone who is on the spectrum of Autism. We want them to know that they are not alone."

AWK Executive Director and Autism advocate Rosanne Small-Morgan

In addition to Rosie, the non-profit organization Autism Who Knew? Inc. comprises of a pediatric psychiatrist, an ABA therapist, a lawyer and four other very dedicated professionals from various walks of life who all share the same vision to make autism more accessible and main stream for Caribbean, African and Latino families.

For its upcoming efforts the foundation will be collaborating with the AHRC Fay. J. Linder Centre for Autism and Developmental Disabilities and HeartShare Human Services of New York.

With an overall aim to merge services, agencies and advice, the Autism Who Knew? team is presently planning 2 conferences for the New York Tri-state area starting with its first annual Conference and Resource Fair on December 4th 2015 at St. Francis College, Brooklyn, NY.

AWK is also organizing workshops in the Caribbean region starting with Jamaica and is preparing fundraisers and awareness programs for affected families to gather, share and network with each other.

Treasurer and Founding Board Director of AWK Donald Morgan

Regarding the team, Rosie stated, "Our strengths are simple but powerful. We are people who are touched personally by this disorder. We can relate to your struggle of not knowing what to do and sometimes hopelessness. Yet we can still be that ear or word of advice to assist you to the other side of getting help. Autism is not a write off but an opportunity to be uplifted and see so many things from a deeper and more profound level, therefore making us such better people."

For more info on the 'Autism Who Knew?' Foundation please visit the foundation's website www.autismwhoknew.org/ its Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/pages/Autism-Who-Knew/ or contact them via: info@autismwhoknew.org

For speaking engagement requests and interviews for Rosie or the 'Autism Who Knew?' Foundation please contact: nuconceptcc@gmail.com