Our daughter Rory is 5 years old.
In the summer of 2023, she was formally diagnosed with autism — a diagnosis that was only possible because of a grant that fully funded her evaluation through the Autism Alliance of Northeastern New York.Without that grant, we would have been waiting far longer for answers.
Rory has received Early Intervention services since she was just two months old. Because of early support and the right advocacy, she now attends a 6:1:1 PreK classroom at North Country Kids — a setting that doesn’t just support her diagnosis and needs, but truly sees and celebrates who she uniquely is.
Rory loves art, music, and expressing herself in ways that are entirely her own. She gravitates toward letters and numbers, finding joy in patterns and learning. Water activities bring her a deep sense of calm and happiness — whether it’s splashing, swimming, or simply being near it.
Rory and her brother Reid are both diagnosed with autism. For our family, that diagnosis is not a limitation — it is a doorway. It opens access to support, to understanding, to community, and to honoring their beautiful brains for exactly how they are wired.
The Autism Alliance of Northeastern New York does more than fund evaluations. They provide autism-related grants for critical services, AAC communication devices, sensory equipment, therapy supports, workshops and speakers focused on best practices, parent education, scholarships, conferences, and meaningful community events — from early childhood through adulthood.
They are actively breaking through archaic stigmas and shining a light on children like Rory and Reid — and on the full range of autistic profiles in our community.
Every donation made through their website is tax-deductible, and every single dollar stays local to help families access the resources they need to thrive.
For families like ours, this isn’t abstract.
It’s access.
It’s advocacy.
It’s dignity.
It’s opportunity.
And every dollar truly counts.
Thank you for supporting the Autism Alliance of Northeastern NY!
