The Autism Advisory and Support Service is a Health Promotion Charity (HPC). It is endorsed as an Income Tax Exempt Charity and has been endorsed by the Australian Taxation Office as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR).
AASS does not currently receive any regular government funding, instead relyng on donations, fundraising and grants to operate the service. AASS is run by unpaid volunteer parents who all have children with Autism. AASS fills the gap in service provision that exists, and do so, at no charge to families affected. This is important, as studies have shown that raising a child with a disability costs at least three times more than raising a child without a disability.
The main benefit that AASS provides is that we do and can personally identify with the issues faced by parents accessing our service. We have all experienced the isolation and grief that a diagnosis brings; the frustration of searching for affordable and appropriate services; the battle to find a suitable edcuational environment for our children; the guilt connected with focusing on the child with the disability and possibly not enough attention on other children; the burden of wondering what will become of our children when they are older.
So when a family comes to AASS for assistance, our empathy and understanding is real. We have learnt about ASD from life, not a textbook. We understand that ASD should not be approached with a "one size fits all" attitude. This unique approach brings families coming back to volunteer when they are more comfortable with their situation. AASS provides unbiased advice, encouragement, guidance and support.
Help us to continue to fill the gaps by donating to AASS today.
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