Q. What is the Highlands Center for Autism?
A. The Highlands Center for Autism is a year-round private day school for children, from the earliest diagnosis through school age, diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and their families. The Center will provide high-quality education and treatment services using Applied Behavior Analysis and will target academic, communicative, and behavioral needs. It was developed through a consultation between Highlands Health System and the Cleveland Clinic Center for Autism (CCCA) to bring a “mirror” program to the CCCA’s to Prestonsburg.
Q. What is the purpose of the Highlands Foundation’s “Changing Lives” Funding Project?
A. The purpose is to raise funds to provide scholarships for children whose families do not have the financial means to place their children in the program, to help fund and endow the program’s approximate $750,000 annual operating expenses, and to help fund staff positions, programming, activities, and equipment.
Q. Why is this project necessary?
A. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 1 in every 150 children born in the United States has autism with rates 4 to 5 times higher in males than in females. There are no high quality, research-based programs, specific to the needs of children with autism, located anywhere in Kentucky or in the surrounding regions. This prompted Highlands to take action to develop a high quality, research-based program specific to the needs of children with autism and their families.
Q. How (OR WHY) was the decision made to develop this project?
A. Highlands Health System was approached by several families from local communities to provide a treatment program for their children with autism. After Highlands determined that a high quality, research-based ABA program did not exist anywhere in Kentucky or the surrounding area, they made a site visit to the Cleveland Clinic Center for Autism to observe their program that is considered to be one of the best in the country. The result was favorable and after conducting a feasibility study, the CCCA agreed to enter into a consultation agreement with Highlands to develop a “mirror” program to the CCCA’s in Prestonsburg.
Q. Why should our community support the Highlands Foundation’s “Changing Lives” Funding Project?
A. The Center is a place of hope for both children with autism and their families. Whether your contribution goes to either one child's $60,000 tuition or the $750,000 annual operating cost, a gift to the Funding Project will make a positive change in the lives of the children. You will also be a part of something special, a new health care and education service never before offered in or around Kentucky.
Q. Are gifts tax-deductible?
A. Yes. Highlands Foundation is an IRS designated 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation and a registered charity in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. All gifts to the campaign are tax-deductible within the regulations of state and federal laws. All donations designated for this project will be held in a restricted account and will be applied only to costs associated with this project.
Q. How will gifts to the campaign be recognized?
A. Donors will be recognized through publicity, publications, and commemorative opportunities. A list of donors will be published occasionally during the course of the campaign and again when the campaign is completed. Although Highlands Foundation encourages donors to accept public acknowledgment of their gifts, we will respect the wishes of those who choose to remain anonymous.
Q. Why a three to five year pledge period?
A. With a three to five year pledge period, donors will be able to maximize their generosity to the campaign. Donors can also benefit from income tax laws written to encourage gifts to nonprofit institutions like Highlands Foundation over a multi-year period.