Welcome to the latest episode of At the Forefront: Fintech Conversations. Today we are featuring a very different client in an episode that’s a change of pace from what we have done so far.
Unique among Forefront’s clients, the Autism Science Foundation is a not-for-profit focused on supporting the scientists and organizations conducting and disseminating autism research. ASF also provides information about autism to the general public and works to increase awareness of autism spectrum disorders and the needs of individuals and families affected by autism.
Kathy Dowd, Senior Consultant at Forefront Communications, hosts this episode and interviews Alison Singer, the Co-Founder and President of the Autism Science Foundation.
Forefront first began working with Alison and ASF through our sponsorship of and participation in the Wall Street Rides Far charity bike ride that each year sees the top capital markets firms put aside their differences (for one day, at least) to join forces in the battle against autism. To date, Wall Street Rides Far has raised more than one million dollars on behalf of ASF and autism research.
Please visit the Autism Science Foundation website to learn more and to make a donation. And we hope to see you at Wall Street Rides Far 2021, to be held this October 2 in White Plains, New York.
“Our mission is very simple: to improve the lives of people with autism. The way we do that is by funding research and by creating family education events so the output of that research gets in the hands of the people that need it.”
– Alison Singer, President, Autism Science Foundation
01:27 — What is the Autism Science Foundation, and what is your core mission?
03:31 — You have a personal affiliation with autism through your family. Can you tell us why and how that prompted you to want to found ASF about a dozen years ago?
05:20 — Can you define autism for listeners who may be foggy as to what it is, and the range of the spectrum?
08:48 — How do donations to ASF support autism research that can really make a positive impact in people’s lives?
10:47— Do you have examples of work that ASF has funded that has made a measurable, positive differences in the lives of people who have autism in their families?
12:08 — Can you describe what the Wall Street Rides Far event is?
13:42 — What are some of the early warning signs of autism?
17:00 — What should families do if they are seeing the early warning signs in young children?
18:20 — How can listeners been more inclusive of people with autism in their community or workplace?
21:00 — Can you talk about how the pandemic impacted autism families and how ASF stepped up to support them?
24:48 — What about the changing needs of researchers?
26:33 — Talk about the annual Day of Learning Event. And how does that incorporate lessons from the pandemic?
