Parent Advocates Marjorie Madfis and Jonah & Ellen Zimiles
to Receive the Caryn Schwartzman Spirit Award

Marjorie Madfis, founder of Yes She Can Inc., and Jonah and Ellen Zimiles, founders of [words] Bookstore, are the 2018 recipients of the Caryn Schwartzman Spirit Award, named in memory of parent advocate Caryn Schwartzman. The awards will be presented at the Fifth Annual Day of Learning on April 11, 2018 in New York. 

Marjorie Madfis was inspired by her daughter, Isabelle, to establish Yes She Can Inc., a nonprofit organization, in order to help teenage girls and young women with autism spectrum disorders develop transferable job skills to enable them to join the competitive workforce and achieve greater independence. For their first program, t rainees use their expertise in American Girl dolls to delight customers while learning functional business skills and workplace social skills in an authentic business, Girl AGain, a resale boutique in White Plains, NY for American Girl dolls and their accessories and books.

Ellen and Jonah Zimiles founded [words] bookstore in Maplewood, NJ, with the mission of offering an engaging and welcoming atmosphere for people and families of all stripes to pursue their literary interests. The vocational program at the bookstore has provided job training opportunities for over 100 young adults with autism. [words] has received numerous awards and has been named the best independent bookstore in New Jersey.   

To read the press release, click here.
Are you an autism researcher?  You Can Help Shape Employment Policies for the Autism Community

Autism Science Foundation needs your input to help develop a policy brief for employment in people with ASD.  In partnership with the Social Competence & Treatment Lab in the Department of Psychology at Stony Brook University, we are conducting a survey of perspectives of individuals with autism, parents, caregivers, researchers and employers! Please take 30 minutes and fill out the survey  here.  
Walk or Ride FAR; Register for Wall Street Rides FAR

Ride FAR rider smiles
Wall Street Rides FAR (For Autism Research) is back!

For the first time, ASF's annual cycling event will include a 5K walk! Everyone can participate! Come out with your family and friends to support ASF-funded research. Enjoy the fall foliage in beautiful Westchester County on Saturday, October 13, 2018

Learn more and register for the event here

Want to volunteer? Please follow the instructions here.
Apply for Undergraduate and Accelerator Grants!
 
2018 Undergraduate Summer Research Grants
Applications Due: February 16, 2018 5:00 PM EST
Notification of Awards: March, 2018

The Autism Science Foundation invites applications from highly qualified undergraduates interested in pursuing basic and clinical research relevant to autism spectrum disorders during the summer.  The proposed research must be scientifically linked to autism or a closely related field. Research must be conducted in a university-based laboratory or in the field under the supervision of a highly qualified mentor for a period of no less than 8 weeks. 

Awards of $3000 will be made directly to the university sponsoring the research. Of this, the university must pay $2500 directly to the student as a stipend; $500 shall be used for lab expenses and indirect university costs.

Please visit the ASF site here to learn more about the grant, eligibility, past recipients, and application instructions.

2018 Research Accelerator Grants
Applications Due: April 3, 2018
Notification of Awards: June, 2018

ASF also  invites applications for its Research Accelerator Grants. These grants are designed to expand the scope, speed the progress, increase the efficiency and/or improve final product dissemination of active autism research grants. 

Grants of up to $5000 are available to enhance, expand and enrich grants currently funded by other sources (including ASF). Staff salary may be covered by this award.

Please visit the ASF site here to learn more about the grant, eligibility, past recipients, and application instructions.
Your donations matter!
 
Your support makes ASF's scientific initiatives possible. Donations to ASF n ot only help to advance scientific progress, they give families challenged by autism the gift of hope. Consider making a tax-deductible donation today.
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