Global Autism Project : 2015 Gratitude Report

GRATITUDE REPORT 2015

Photo by Debbie Rasiel Photography

There are 70 million people in the world with autism.

85% of them live in developing countries.

EVERY CHILD HAS A RIGHT TO LEARN. Together, we will fulfill their right to education.

CONTENTS WELCOME MISSION OUR STORY GLOBAL IMPACT PROGRAMS SUSTAINABILITY: How We Work 2015 TIMELINE KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS SPOTLIGHT: India OUR COMMUNITY GRATITUDE DIGITAL ENGAGEMENT FINANCIALS WHERE WE'RE HEADED NEXT

WELCOME Molly Ola Pinney, Founder/CEO As I sit here reflecting on 2015, I’m struck by the contrast of how far we’ve come and how far we have to go. A vision of a world where all children with autism are accepted in their communities guides our work and fuels our passion. In the pages that follow, you'll learn how this organization began and where we are today.

I’ll never forget the moment when a mom in Ghana told me, “when he was diagnosed with autism, I would have preferred the diagnosis was a terminal illness.” I’ll never forget that moment because this sentiment is echoed all over the world. Parents and families in places where autism is not understood are terrified -- and they don’t have to be.

People with autism can live beautiful, meaningful and productive lives. You could simply walk into our Brooklyn office and meet some of the incredible autistic adults who are employees of the Global Autism Project. From our local staff to our international partners, I couldn’t be more thrilled with how far we’ve come since our ever so humble beginnings in Ghana. We've come so far since a coffee table with a printer and laptop made up the “official headquarters” of the Global Autism Project.

Because of you, our partners in India, Indonesia, Kenya and the Dominican Republic have been able to serve more children with autism this year than ever before. Our own staff has expanded to support field work of over 100 SkillCorps members who have given generously of their time and talent. Together, we can ensure that the next parent who learns their child has autism will have access to the resources they need to help him or her thrive in a supportive , accepting community.

We can’t thank you enough. We wanted to share our 2015 impact with you in this Gratitude Report, because you are the reason this work is possible. We are beyond humbled and grateful to have you working with us to promote lasting acceptance for people with autism. 2015 was a year for building our own capacity so that we can train more professionals, empower local advocates, and launch new partnerships in the coming year. It's time.

Sincerest thanks,

We promote the acceptance and integration of individuals with autism worldwide by training local communities in culturally relevant, sustainable practices.

OUR STORY One student.

One therapist.

One country.

The Global Autism Project began when one therapist traveled to Ghana to work with one student. The plan was for her to stay until the family could find a local therapist, but what she found instead was a lack of trained teachers ready to take over. Faced with the shocking disparity of quality services, she decided to take action and the Global Autism Project was born.

"We'll start in Ghana..."

"and go all over the world."

What began in Ghana is now a global movement for change, promoting the acceptance of individuals with autism across all borders. We believe if there are quality services anywhere, there can and should be quality services everywhere. Our model is founded on the conviction that people local to their own community should have access to the training and resources they need to change their worlds.

PROGRAMS International Partnerships

We partner with locally led centers, provide training in culturally relevant practices, and empower staff to become experts in their field.

It is our belief that local people are the most qualified teachers in their communities. Our role is to simply provide the training they need, building their capacity -- not our presence.

SkillCorps

Three times each year, our international partners receive direct, hands-on training from volunteer clinicians who travel with our SkillCorps program. SkillCorps teams work for two weeks in the field. Between trips, our partners continue to receive weekly remote supervision and ongoing support to ensure training is sustained and effective.

Local Initiatives The Global Autism Project runs a gainful employment program for adults with autism called R.A.I.S.E. This program is designed to promote acceptance and empowerment of professionals with autism in our local community.

R.A.I.S.E. Real Advancement Independence Social skills Empowerment

Training and Resources We provide globally accessible, online resources to ensure all professionals can receive the quality training they need to best serve individuals with autism in their communities.

SUSTAINABILITY

How We Work INQUIRY

DISCOVERY AND COMMITMENT

COLLABORATION AND TRAINING

SUPPORT AND MENTORING

DISSEMINATION

WORLD CLASS CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM

May

TIMELINE Celebrated World Autism Awareness Day with partners across the globe

March

SkillCorps clinicians train staff in Indonesia

April

April SkillCorps clinicians train staff in Kenya

Participated and presented at Applied Behavior Analysis International June Conference SkillCorps (ABAI) clinicians train staff in Indonesia

May SkillCorps clinicians train staff in Dominican Republic

July Launched COMPASS, our innovative monthly giving program

Expanded SkillCorps R.A.I.S.E. clinicians train program to 3 staff in Indonesia employees in Brooklyn office

October

August

SkillCorps clinicians train staff in Kenya

November Our biggest Giving Tuesday yet!

August July SkillCorps clinicians train staff in India

Launched our brand new website

October

SkillCorps clinicians train staff in Dominican Repuplic

December

SkillCorps clinicians train staff in India

KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS THE RIPPLE EFFECT

When teachers are trained in culturally relevant, quality practices, their students can reach their full potential.

Access to education does not simply impact the individual.

Trained teachers can educate their communities, promote acceptance and support families. By starting with locals, working with what they have, and building on what they know, the ripple effect of our impact becomes endless.

2,740 Lives Impacted 1,748 Community Members Impacted 763 Family's Members Impacted 76 Teachers Trained

154 Students Served

FIELD SPOTLIGHT Early Intervention...

After a hopeful launch of an Early Intervention (EI) unit in 2014 at our partner site in Chandigarh, India, we're thrilled to see amazing results in 2015 of this thriving program.

The EI unit went from 1 therapist and 2 students, to 24 students below the age of 6 receiving direct therapy.

How We Work

When diagnosed with autism, the early years of therapy are crucial in reaching developmental milestones. By receiving direct therapy at such a young age, children have better odds of reaching and surpassing learning goals. Because of this EI unit, newly diagnosed children have access to the services they so desperately need.

Youngest Student's Age

The graph to the right shows the incredible decrease in age of the youngest students receiving services in the EI unit. In 2010 the youngest student enrolled was 6 years old. In 2015, the youngest student welcomed to the school was 18 months old.

OUR COMMUNITY

Meet Wafa

Meet Jen

Meet Crystal

In 2014, Wafa traveled to Kenya with a SkillCorps team, marking the beginning of an exciting journey with Global Autism Project.

She is currently preparing to travel with us to Indonesia, and is a graduate of our Leadership Academy.

Jen began volunteering in June 2015, and hasn't stopped since! She has fundraised over $10,000 in 6 months, traveled to two different partner sites in 2015, Jen graduated from the Leadership Academy, and will be leading her first team in 2016.

In 2015, Crystal applied for a third SkillCorps trip, leaving her footprint on 3 different continents with the Global Autism Project. She is a recent graduate of our Leadership Academy and will be traveling to new partner sites this coming year!

In July 2015 we launched COMPASS, an innovative program designed to keep the Global Autism Project on course.

In the final 6 months of 2015, 166 incredible champions joined COMPASS, our monthly giving program to help guide our direction and leave lasting change everywhere we travel.

Kerrian Fournier Amanda Broughton Trey Gunning Zack Migioia Michelle Zube Nikki Bilderback Jen Fisher Ginger Miles David Freiman Kristoffer Hanson Christina Lovaas Wafa Aljohani Laura Bunda Denise Zube Zalis Angelica Atkins Frances Nieves Serret Lindsey Shepherd Mary Jo Thomas Day Jen Turrell Leslie Holsomback Kathryn Harden Lauren Boudreaux Cailey Rodgers George Hornig Aja Davis Anna Faircloth Lauren Peterson Jade Lindsey Adam Johnson Jessica Zipperer Ashika Lakhani Maria Visco Leta Ann Thompson Brittney Paye Marissa Bennett Nicole Skotz Teresa Day Deanna Jantzen Julie Steinman Ambar Picazo Dana Wurtz Jackie Dekle Elyse Davis Noor Syed Maddisen Currier Munawar Syed Jacob Sadavoy Ali Syed Renee Anderson Jason Rosenfeld Lisa Boster Michelle Autiero Lorrie Spencer Miriam Harden Theresa Alexander Inman Caitlin Smith Megan Dare Dee Costello Jenni Russell Candace Hayes Danielle Cassano Elizabeth Ho Danielle Licursi Kamylle Mac Intosh Yolandi Jooste Katie Ward Winnie Looby Francis & Marie Hickey Meaghan Allen Mohammed Taher Giulia Mascetti Maureen Day

Linda Barrabee Sarah Boone Debora Sherman Chantal Kerzner-Sweeney John Maley Krystina Gilhuly Lisa Gunning Terri Rodgers David Scott Carlie Jones Katherine Whelchel Candace Cashbaugh Kathleen Ventura Susan Robinson Seanna Walsh Robert Lively Lauren Skonieczny Erin Heimler Danielle Edwards Kate McAvoy Thomas Cleary Joann Totah Janet Klingler Erin O' Halloran Esther Ricketts Faith Skeete Tanner Forehand Kristin Glick Michaela Holland Raging Skillet Tanvi Malik Kristin Ruehman Jennifer Quinonez Tracey Slater Rebecca Dickson Mariam Aldhahi

OUR GRATITUDE To those investing in change with us.

Amie Elmore Jennifer Grom James Anthony Kate Hart Beth Pinney Wyetha Cairns Karianne Bekier Jamie Moses Keely Scarlata Melissa Tremblay Anna Castaldo Fabienne Prince Ruth Lapin Brittany Bader Liz Corbel Lincoln and Bennett May Kristen McKeithan Anastasia Katehis Sydnee Sanchez Emily Boshkoff Smitha Nair Jason Zube Amy Tanner Darcy Walsh Freddie Scibelli Ksenia Kravtchenko James Paye Ghaidaa Alserihi Jill Hickey Susan Buttigieg Lujain Alserihi Andrea Cota Douglas Trabilcy Alwalid Aljohani Elizabeth Sparling Jacqueline Brown-Harvest Hanan Alsareihi Michael Gallemore Patricia Lynch Mohamed Aljohani Roderick Edge Sheillah Dallara Rashid Aljohani Geraldine Boone Keith Copeland Brenda Miles Elizabeth Bland Mary Morton Giselle Flora Sunny Choi Rebecca Wildengar Brittany Hall Tarik Davis Crystal Carter Maria Guzman Todd Pinney Deborah Paye Steven Holt Suzanne Price Julie Parish David Kaplan Shelly Pinney Amber Sroka Ann Karabin Amy Levine Kady Gahman Farrest Fisher Sarah Trautman-Eslinger Merrill DeCamp Oto Bartecek Kelly Sanders Jacob Dahlin Amal Aljohani Eslinger Family Natasha Willard Schuyler Ivey Kayla Henry Matthew Widjaja Naomi Pitskel Melvina Ray-Davis Allison Bickelman Marc Picchierri Anne Day

DIGITAL ENGAGEMENT We launched a brand new website!

Through a strong social media presence, people all over the world learn about our organization. This means, partnership inquiries come from locals who have discovered the Global Autism Project independently -- guaranteeing we work only where we are wanted and needed.

4,466 New Likes in 2015 43,028 Total Likes In 2015 we launched a new channel on YouTube to showcase our work in the field!

FINANCIALS TOTAL REVENUES

TOTAL EXPENSES

$422,801.29

$417,256.85

SkillCorps Fundraising: 68%

Programs and Services: 90%

Training and Resources: 27%

Operating: 8% Fundraising: 2%

General Donations: 5%

Photo by Caroline White Photography

Each week we receive inquiries from around the world, from local people who have recognized their need for services.

As our map continues to fill, we look forward to taking this journey with you!

WHERE ARE WE GOING NEXT?