An increase of 375% in assistance requests from families with Intellectual Disability or Autism Spectrum Disorder since 2015

SHERBROOKE, QC, Nov. 8, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - The exponential increase in the number of diagnosed cases of people with Autism Spectrum Disorder and related Intellectual Disability represents a growing concern for organizations involved with patients and their families.

Most recent data indicate that the number of cases involving ASD has reached 1.4% in 2016, according to the US CDC. In 1975, the prevalence of Autism in the population was of 1 child out of 5000. Over the past 40 years, the number of cases has soared and ASD affects 1 child out of 68 today.

While causes of ASD remain unclear, financial needs are very real. "We have seen a 375% increase in direct requests from families in the last year," says Don Warnholtz, General Manager of the Dixville Home Foundation. "Since the recent integration of Centre Notre Dame de l'Enfant Foundation into our activities a few months ago, we have recognized the importance of increasing needs right here in our community!"

For the past 40 years, Dixville Home Foundation has provided support to programs managed by the Centre de Réadaptation en Déficience Intellectuelle et Troubles Envahissants du Développement (CRDITED). "We are trying to provide assistance in areas where the government is not directly involved with affected families to support the CRDITED programs and individuals as well", Warnholtz says, "On one hand, we provide the organization with physical infrastructure which help support projects in various areas such as housing or specialized day activities for our clientele... while on the other hand, we provide direct resources towards requests received from families with various needs for specialized educative material or equipment for example... and we support initiatives which are designed to empower and integrate clients to the community". Dixville Home Foundation is very active in the community with its mission to improve the quality of life of a growing clientele.

With the launch of the 2017-2018 fundraising campaign, the Honorable David Price, Vice-President of the Dixville Home Foundation, introduced Nicolas Pépin, the father of a 10-year-old autistic child, who was chosen to act as Spokesman of the campaign and Honorary President of the annual Wine and Cheese Reception to be held on November 10th.

In an emotional testimony, a message of hope: "We often say that a child does not come with an owners manual... believe me... an autistic child either! Families are often isolated and hopeless. They require a great deal of assistance with fundamentals such as learning to understand and communicate with their child. My son is 10 years old and I did not even know the existence of the Foundation until a few months ago... If we have agreed to share our story and participate in the activities of the Foundation, it is to enable people in our situation to discover that there is hope and that there are resources to help them! "

SOURCE Dixville Home Foundation