Pictured is Team Blackthorn, who came together to raise over $16,000 in this year’s Ride 4 Autism. The event as a whole raised over $105,000 to support the Comprehensive Learning Center in Warminster!
The AJ Foundation For Children With Autism (AJF) is a local non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals with autism and their families. AJF formed in 1997 as a family’s personal journey to help their son who, diagnosed with autism at two-years-old, was lacking the resources needed to provide him the opportunities every child deserves.
Since then, AJF has developed into a highly respected organization, serving as a vital resource for many families and raising awareness about the autism community.
Proceeds from AJF’s efforts go directly to support the Comprehensive Learning Center (CLC), one of Pennsylvania’s first specialized private schools for children and adults with autism, opened by AJF in 2000. At CLC, students between the ages of three and 21 years benefit from a full day of programming tailored to their individual needs across all areas of skill development and daily life, with an emphasis on language and social skills, academics, self-sufficiency, and community participation.
Pre-vocational and vocational training is provided through CLC’s Adult Life Skills Program, so services may continue past the age of 21 years. CLC utilizes the scientifically validated procedures of Applied Behavior Analysis to prepare students to be as independent and socially adept as possible so they may be active, contributing members in their families and communities.
The success of CLC’s program is made possible by The AJ Foundation’s fundraising efforts, which aim to provide CLC with the necessary funds to meet the growing needs within the autism community. With the support provided by CLC and the awareness raised by The AJ Foundation, both organizations work towards creating equal opportunities in healthcare, socialization and employment for individuals with autism.
Visit www.ajfoundation.org or www.clcschoolprograms.org.