Facts to Help You Fundraise

By the Numbers

• 1 in 31 children in the U.S. is diagnosed with autism.

• Autism is the fastest-growing developmental disability in the United States.

• Autism affects people of all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

The Spectrum is Wide and Unique

• Autism is a spectrum, which means no two people experience it the same way.

• Many individuals with autism experience challenges with: Communication, Sensory processing, Social interaction, and Behavior regulation.

• Some are nonverbal or have limited speech, while others speak fluently but may struggle with social cues or anxiety.

• Every person with autism has unique strengths, needs, and ways of connecting with the world.

Co-Occurring Conditions

• Up to 70% of individuals with autism have one or more additional diagnoses.

• Common co-occurring conditions include: ADHD, Anxiety, Sensory Processing Disorder, Seizures or epilepsy, and Intellectual disability.

Everyday Life Requires Extra Planning

• Activities like going to the grocery store, attending birthday parties, or visiting the dentist can be extremely difficult due to sensory overload or behavioral challenges.

• Parents often face long waitlists for diagnosis, limited access to appropriate care, and little to no support navigating these systems.

• Families also face limited childcare options, difficulty securing respite, and higher out-of-pocket costs for adaptive tools or specialized services.

Why Early Diagnosis Matters

• Early diagnosis and personalized support can dramatically improve long-term outcomes.

• When children receive services early, they build important communication, behavioral, and social skills that can carry them into adulthood.

• MAC Midwest was founded in 1996 and has been serving children, teens, and families impacted by autism for nearly 30 years.

• MAC currently serves over 300 learners every year across its growing network of centers.

• We work with individuals ages 18 months to 21 years, offering early intervention, school readiness, life skills programs, and specialized supports.

• MAC Midwest has 21 centers across Minnesota and one in Clear Lake, Iowa.

• MAC is one of the only providers in the region that specializes in serving individuals who are moderately to severely impacted by autism.

• Our centers provide compassionate Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, along with speech therapy, occupational therapy, food therapy, family coaching, and psychotherapy.

• We’re proud to offer specialized programs like Supports Plus, designed for individuals with more complex needs who require 2:1 support or more.

• MAC uses a whole-person, transdisciplinary approach—bringing together behavior analysts, mental health clinicians, speech and occupational therapists, and family support staff.

• MAC Midwest is a nonprofit organization—and fundraising helps us offer services and supports that insurance doesn’t cover, like sensory equipment, adaptive tools, staff training, and family programming.

• We are actively working to reduce wait times for autism evaluations and offer responsive care that meets families where they are.

• Your donation helps fund faster access to diagnostic assessments, which often have long waitlists elsewhere.

• You help provide adaptive tools, visual supports, sensory items, and safe play spaces that make learning possible.

• You support training and development for staff, ensuring high-quality, consistent care across all centers.

• You help launch innovative programs—like equine-assisted ABA therapy at our Esko center or our new outpatient psychotherapy services in Minnetonka.

• You help make sure families never feel like they’re navigating autism alone.