Our Mission
Chicago Autism Network is 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to helping families find and afford effective autism therapy and supports. While the Chicagoland area has a wealth of autism service providers, too often families can’t access these services due to lack information and lack of funding.
We believe autism therapy should be accessible to everyone on the spectrum regardless of income, race, neighborhood or gender!
To help families connect with important information, we hold free monthly Autism Parent Workshops. Click here to see our schedule of upcoming virtual events!
To help families afford effective therapy, we offer financial aid through our Therapy Assistance Grants. To date (as of January 2024), we have awarded over $300,000 in financial assistance to local families. Click below to learn more about our grant recipients and the impacts of your donations.
While these grants are open to anyone in Illinois with a current autism diagnosis, we are dedicated to helping families from underserved communities access the services they need:
100% of our grantees have been individuals of color, with 42% latinx, 27% African American, and 23% Asian.
85% of our grantees have had income levels below the poverty line.
69% of our grantees live in Chicago city limits, with 50% living on the south & west sides.
To date, our Therapy Assistance Grants have accomplished the following:
Enabled 9 children to start intensive autism therapy (in-home, in-clinic & therapeutic day schools)
Helped 16 children continue receiving services they wouldn’t have been able to afford without assistance,
Assisted 5 families in paying off medical debts accrued from ABA therapy,
Helped 3 children pay for neuropsychological evaluations, giving them an official diagnosis needed for treatment.
The Numbers
The median household income in the US in 2019 was $69,187.
The National Research Council recommends young people with autism get
25+ hours a week of therapy.
25 hours/week = 1300 hours/year
Without insurance, therapy can easily cost more than $70/hr.
$70 x 1300 = $91,000/year
Even with insurance, max out of pocket rates are typically around $8,000/year.
If you have to purchase insurance, premiums can be around $400/mo = $4,800 -
then you still have to pay out of pockets up to $8,000.
It can be tough to get by with just everyday expenses. Therapy costs add up quickly. Frequently one parent must stay home to manage therapy schedules and crises. Don’t let accessing effective, intensive autism therapy be a luxury - join us now in ensuring it is available to all.