“In a country where 1 out of every 110 children is born with autism, it is critical to keep the Autism Initiative in the budget,” said Jennifer Torres, a YAI Network parent whose child has autism.

Earlier this month, Torres, along with other parents, consumers and staff from the YAI Network, joined advocates from more than 20 other agencies on the steps of City Hall in a rally to protect the New York City Council’s $1.25 million Autism Initiative. 

This funding has helped YAI over the past year to host free autism family support and training programs for parents of children on the spectrum in English, Spanish, Mandarin, and Cantonese, a full-day conference on autism (including one entirely in Spanish), free health education workshops for professionals, and many other programs.

Despite the June heat, supporters of the Autism Initiative enthusiastically filled the steps of City Hall, holding hand-made signs that read “Save the Initiative!” and “Restore the Funds!”

“I’ve done this once before,” said Carlos, a consumer from YAI’s Employment Initiatives program who has advocated in the past, “and it’s important that we’re here.”

Allan, from YAI’s NYC Self-Advocacy Association said, “It’s not fair for people with autism to lose their funding. Leave the autism funds alone!”

Concluding her speech before advocates and City Council members, Jennifer Torres couldn’t have agreed more.

“No child should be excluded from these opportunities, which cannot exist without city funding,” Torres said. “These services are absolutely necessary for the success of our children.”