OUR VISION:

TO CREATE A NATIONWIDE INITIATIVE TO BUILD COMMUNITY CENTERS THAT HELP YOUNG ADULTS WITH AUTISM PROGRESS INTO A THRIVING ADULTHOOD. THERE ARE ONLY 25 SUCH CENTERS IN THE COUNTRY TO SUPPORT THOUSANDS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. WE WANT TO BUILD 50 CENTERS, ONE IN EACH STATE!

A LETTER FROM OUR CO-FOUNDER

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself and our non-profit organization dedicated to helping families with autism and disabilities. We are an organization founded on the knowledge gained from the struggle to find integration services for our co-founder's grandson with autism.

Our mission to provide a future for one child with Autism expanded to one that would change the lives of hundreds. Hawkeye Ranch's program is being developed to provide real life training skills to children and adults. We are expanding to include day care assistance, respite, assisted living centers, scholarship funds, summer camp options and a wide variety of therapies by collaborating with other organizations with similar goals.

We are now in the process of opening Hawkeye Ranch, a non-profit 501(c)(3) center for adults with an IQ over 70. This is the beginning of the vision. Currently, state and federal funding providing assistance to the families of children with autism ends when that child leaves the school system.  The young adult's dreams and progression is left to family members who may not be qualified or financialy stable enough to continue the valuable therapies and skill instruction for transition into a thriving adulthood.

The vision of the center is to provide a community that can house transitional services, day-camps, knowledge centers, family respite, assisted living and updated therapies. The center will be staffed with highly qualified and trained professionals, who will provide exceptional life skill therapies and valuable services, including but not limited to life and Social Skill Instructions, Behavioral Therapy and a wide variety of Job Skills Training Therapies.

Respectfully,

Gregg Whelen Co-founder, President, and Director of Hawkeye Ranch 4164 Austin Bluffs pkwy #110 Colorado Springs80918

WHAT IS CURRENTLY KNOWN ABOUT AUTISM?

Autism is a complex developmental disability which is neurological and brain-based, meaning that it relates to a biological issue within the brain, as opposed to a psychological disorder.

Although autism is more common in boys than girls, autism has no boundaries and is found in all classes, countries and ethnicities.

Though autism is commonly diagnosed before a child is three, many children and adults within the autism spectrum umbrella have mild symptoms which are never diagnosed.

Children and adults with autism have trouble with communication and language development, which can range from losing verbal ability altogether, to subtle communication challenges with full verbal ability.

Autism is associated with increased sensory ability or hypersensitivity that causes sensory confusion. Hypersensitivity affects each individual with autism differently, and it may include a sensitivity to sound, touch, taste, the visual world, smell, or all of the senses together. Sensory processing becomes a challenge.

When autism is suspected, immediate intervention is important, especially in early childhood. With current therapies and treatments, the development of children and adults with autism can be positive.

Autism is the most common member of a group of developmental disorders under the autism spectrum umbrella, which is also known as Pervasive Development Disorders, or PDD. The autism umbrella also includes Asperger's Syndrome, Childhood Disintagrative Disorder, Rhett's Syndrome, and PDD-NOS (NOS stands for "not other specified"). A diagnosis should only be made by a qualified medical practitioner.