Piecing the
Puzzle Together
Helping Families Affected by
Autism in Brevard County
Spring Forward for Autism (SFFA) is a nonprofit
501(c)(3) organization whose mission is
to raise awareness and provide financial support
to families to help their children with autism
achieve their full potential. SFFA awards grants
up to $2,000 per family per year, which can be
used for Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA),
Speech Therapy, OT, Medical Expenses, Sensory
Equipment, Legal Fees for Guardianships,
and more. Our goal is to provide guidance
through referrals, resources, and funding to
parents raising a child on the spectrum. Studies
demonstrate that early and intense intervention
is crucial when treating individuals with autism,
yet sadly, very few of the effective treatments
are covered by medical insurance. Parents are
often left struggling to piece together a treatment
program for their child with the limited
funds available. These children with autism will
go without vital treatments due to financial
restraints. Spring Forward for Autism strives
to help their parents so that each child with
autism can have the opportunity to reach his or
her highest potential.
SFFA provides services and funding for parents
of autistic children directly to the service
provider based on identified needs provided to
us by these providers. For example, we recently
approved a grant to a family with an autistic
child under the age of 5 who also has congenital
heart disease. This child has a sensory
processing disorder and is currently receiving
OT, Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy and
other Behavioral Therapies. The family applied
for a grant to fund sensory equipment to help
the child develop communication skills. SFFA
will require a list from the child’s therapists of
the sensory equipment that will best meet the
4 www.BrightFeats.com/SpaceCoast
child’s needs,
and then the funds will be used to purchase
the equipment.
We also approved a grant for a family with a
child over 18 who could not afford legal fees for
a guardianship. The grant will provide the funds
to ensure that the autistic child would be properly
cared for as he/she progresses into adulthood.
Grant recipients are required to complete
4 hours of volunteer service with SFFA.
We ask that our Brevard County partners
that support families affected by autism to
please refer any family seeking financial assistance
for resources or therapies for their child,
to SFFA for a grant application. We greatly
appreciate the assistance of our partners in identifying
qualifying applicants for this program.
SFFA would like to help these families piece the
puzzle together.
Spring Forward for Autism started in 2014
and we have continued to grow over the past
4 1/2 years. Our primary fundraiser, Illuminate
the Night Gala, is held every April to
raise funds for our grant program. Last year,
we raised over $56,000 at this event. With
the generous support from our community,
SFFA has been able to help families in Brevard
County raise a child with autism. Our 5th Annual
Gala will be held on April 21, 2018 and
we are excited to be able to expand the services
we deliver. This year’s theme will be “Keeping
the Dream Alive” and that is exactly what we
plan to do.
Please let us know if you would like to be a
part of our event committee, become a sponsor,
or provide a silent auction item for our Gala.
We would love for you to join us in helping us
make a difference in the Autism Community.
To apply for a private family grant or to
become part of our team, please contact Susan
Belcher (susan@springforwardforautism.net) or
Sheila Schmitt (sheila@springforwardforautism.
net). Visit www.springforwardforautism.com
for more information.
Spring Forward for Autism
awards grants up to $2000
per family per year...
/SpaceCoast
/www.springforwardforautism.com