National Autism Association

The mission of the National Autism Association-Northeast Ohio is to give families who have a child or children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder the tools to locate and access necessary treatments. We will fulfill this mission by providing financial assistance to help defray the costs of such treatments and by connecting families to existing resources.

This program is intended for families in great financial need with a child/dependent who has been diagnosed with autism.

Q: How do I know if my child/dependent qualifies for help from the National Autism Association?
A: Your child/dependent must:

Reside in Ashtabula, Columbiana, Cuyahoga, Erie, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Mahoning, Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit, and Trumbull counties of Ohio
Diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.

There is no upper age limit for your child/dependent to receive funds from this program.

Q: How much money can I request?
A: The maximum amount we can award per family is Three Hundred Dollars ($300.00).

Q: Can I apply for a grant in the amount of Three Hundred Dollars ($300.00) for each eligible dependent?
A: Yes, you can fill out a separate application for each eligible child/dependent. However, there is no guarantee that all of the affected children/dependents living in one household will receive a grant. This will depend on the overall demand for our grants this year. Depending on the volume of applications received NAA-NEO may or may not be able to consider more than one application per family.

Q: How do I apply for assistance from the National Autism Association for my child/dependent?
A: First, review the basic criteria above. If you meet these, complete a GRANT APPLICATION. You must attach a letter from your child's/dependent's physician that confirms your child's/dependent's diagnosis and a recommendation letter from a professional for your child/dependent to obtain the service you are requesting financial assistance with (i.e. a doctor may recommend supplements or required testing; an occupational therapist may recommend a weighted blanket). If you need assistance regarding this requirement please contact Andrea Pattison at apattison@autismnortheastohio.org. E-mail is strongly preferred.

Q: Are grant funds paid directly to families?
A: Under some circumstances funds will be paid to families only if the family provides proof of payment for a service that was approved beforehand by NAA-NEO's Board of Directors. NAA-NEO will only reimburse families in two installments/disbursements per year. If a family is approved for a grant, the first deadline to submit receipts and proof of payment for services already paid for by the family is September 30, 2010. Families then will receive their reimbursement check from NAA-NEO by October 30, 2010. The second and final submission deadline for receipts and proof of payment for services already paid for by families is January 1, 2010. Reimbursements to families will be completed by February 1, 2010, which concludes the 2010 Helping Hand Grant cycle.

Q: I've sent my application in. How long until I know if my application has been approved?
A: Once we have received all components of the application (completed application form, doctor's and other professional's letter), your application will be reviewed by NAA-NEO by June 20, 2010. NAA-NEO will notify grant recipients via mail and email whenever possible by June 30, 2010. Please make sure you provide your exact current address and that you write it on the form and envelope clearly and legibly. APPROVED and WAITING GRANT RECIPIENTS WILL BE CONTACTED BY NAA-NEO by June 30, 2010. "Waiting" application forms remain active until January 1, 2010. We will attempt to fund as many families as possible but on a continuous basis as we obtain funds through our fundraising efforts.

Q: I have health insurance. Can I still apply for assistance?
A: Yes. However, we encourage you to explore your health insurance coverage to the maximum extent so that we can help with those expenses that cannot be covered by any other source.

Q: We have so many medical bills, we're having trouble paying the rent/electric/water/telephone bills. Can NAA-NEO help us?
A: The guidelines of this grant do not allow payment for anything other than respite care, a variety of therapy services such speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, behavioral therapy, tuition assistance, summer camp expenses, marriage counseling for parents or special family counseling, as well as necessary medical testing and treatments, including biomedical treatments for a dependent(s), child, or children with autism. For more information about other eligible services, please contact Andrea Pattison at 216.544.1231 or via email at apattison@autismnortheastohio.org. We strongly prefer contact via e-mail.