Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the status of Teach Autistic Children Today?

We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation in the State of Maryland! Our incorporation date was August 2007 and in September 2007, a permanent Board of Directors was put in place. Bylaws were created and we instituted a Conflict-of Interest Policy modeled on one recommended by the Internal Revenue Service. We are 100% volunteer but will occasionally use consultants to help with administrative or event management. Our 100% volunteer Board of Directors is working on everything from administration, grant management, grant applications to help pay for our grants to families, fund-raising and more. If you would like to be a part of this amazing work for kids with autism, please mail us a letter of interest in working on the board and a resume.

2. What is Teach Autistic Children Today and what is your mission?

Our mission is to help children with autism get the treatment services they desperately need. Taking into consideration both financial and therapeutic need, Teach Autistic Children Today provides grants to families to pay for therapies for the child with autism, until and if insurance pays for the treatment or until the child is eligible to receive services through the Maryland Autism Waiver. Teach Autistic Children Today also hopes to, one day, subsidize internships for local college students majoring in disciplines such as special education, speech therapy or psychology so they can work with local providers and increase the number of assistant home therapists available to our community's families. We also hope to help parents and siblings learn how to practice new skills with their child with autism, enhancing and building on the child’s therapies. We could even someday open a clinic to make services more accessible to the children!

3. Who is involved in Teach Autistic Children Today?

This organization was founded by a grandmother, Christine Patterson, and a speech and behavioral therapist, Jennifer Bobbitt, both in Frederick County. Mrs. Patterson saw her daughter's family struggling to give their child with autism the best they could with very limited resources. Ms. Bobbitt, saw many families struggling to get help with too little help to pay for services and too many children going nowhere despite so much potential! Now joined by local families, community leaders, education and therapeutic experts and friends, Teach Autistic Children Today has a Board of Directors that is moving the vision forward.

4. What does your organization have to do with the Autism Waiver?

Good question. We have absolutely nothing to do with the Autism Waiver. However, if a child becomes eligible for services under the Autism Waiver and begins receiving services, Teach Autistic Children Today will no longer provide services for the child because the child will no longer need us! That’s when we can make the funds available to other needy children and families.

5. Are you only going to help pay for therapies for very young children?

Also a good question! As a relatively new organization, we are still working out where we are going and how to get there. However, our limited resources are primarily being used for children 10 and under to get early intervention services. Of course, our hope, our dream is to someday be able to offer support to children with autism of all ages as every single child deserves a chance.

6. What can I do to help?

This is our favorite question of all! It goes without saying that we can always use people with energy and enthusiasm to help with our work. There are many ways to help that don’t involve knocking on doors or begging for money (which we know is so hard for folks) so if you can help, let us know. You can make the difference for a child with just a little of your time. No experience needed! You can also help by volunteering for one of our current committees or coming events. If you want to help on any of the committees or in any other capacity please contact us at tactevents@yahoo.com.

Board Development Committee - These individuals are responsible for seeking out and vetting potential new board members.

Fund-raising Committee – Fund-raising is an ongoing issue. It includes fund-raising events, grants, and whatever other means are out there for collecting contributions!

Administration/Media Committee - This team is working on all the paperwork, applications, and details of operating this organization, in addition to issues related to the media (advertising, press releases, etc).