Connecting people facing the challenges of autism with the broader

Connecting people facing the challenges of autism with the broader

 Connecting people facing the challenges of autism
with the broader community
voice
A Note from Our
Executive Director
Meet Our Leadership Team
Dear Friends,
Thank you for standing by families affected by autism when
they need you most.
As we celebrate our 18th anniversary, the CDC reports 1 in 68
children is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
Demand for VIA services is increasing dramatically as the
number of people challenged by autism climbs at a stagEmily Callahan
gering rate.
Director of Outpatient
Behavioral Services
Rorie Hutter
Director of Education
James C. Hormel School
Your continued support enables VIA to grow and improve
to keep up with the demand. You ensure that people
diagnosed with autism in our community get the services
they need.
Thanks to your generosity, VIA has hired additional clinicians and educators with autism expertise to enhance the
students’ outcomes at the James C. Hormel School. Our
Outpatient Behavioral Services team is not only providing
more local services, but has also developed a state-ofthe-art remote telehealth clinic to help military families in
the Fort Lee community. Our Adult Services continue to
expand to provide meaningful lifelong learning opportuni- Cresse Morrell
Clinical Director
ties for adults with autism.
James C. Hormel School
Matthew Osborne
Director of Adult Services
With the support of our generous donors, we have broadened our reach to the whole
family. In August 2013, VIA hired a licensed clinical social worker to serve as our first Family
Resource Navigator. Any family in the community – not just those already accessing VIA
services – can turn to us for support no matter where they are in their journey with autism.
You are giving families all-encompassing care, and helping them overcome the challenges
of autism.
I look forward to strategically expanding our services in collaboration with you: our community partners, advocates, donors, volunteers, families and wonderful VIA Board of Directors.
You are changing the lives of people affected by autism. Thank you.
Marisa Taylor
Ethan Long, Ph.D., BCBA-D
Director of Development &
Communications
James C. Hormel School
As we begin our 19th year of service, we are celebrating an
exciting time of growth. This year we are partnering with 13
school districts, expanding our reach across Virginia. In 2013,
three students graduated from VIA.
We are always sad to see our students leave us, but we know
we have accomplished our ultimate goal: we have given them
the skills and the support to succeed without us.
We are proud of the achievements of all of our students, and
we look forward to giving as many students as possible a foundation for success.
Click here to read our students’ success stories.
Outpatient Behavioral Services
Our Outpatient Behavioral Services team meets students
where they are, and figures out how to help them connect
with their families and communities.
Right now, we are expanding the types of services we provide
to meet the needs of people across the spectrum. The Pathways Social Skills Program gives high-functioning individuals
on the autism spectrum a supportive space to learn and practice difficult social skills.
Imagine watching a teenager refuse to speak in front of her
peers, and after one ten-week session of Pathways, learning
that she presented to her classmates about Asperger’s. This growth is remarkable, and through our programs, this type of success is becoming typical.
Adult Services
Leaders in the field expect 500,000 children with autism to become
adults in the next decade. We are facing an enormous challenge.
Since its launch in April 2012, our Adult Services program has grown
significantly. We have refined our vision, and we are excited to build our
Academy for adults with autism - a place to turn for adults, just as our
James C. Hormel School has been a place to turn for children.
The Academy gives adults across the spectrum continued learning opportunities in the areas of business, life skills, and health and wellness.
We are eager to expand our reach to keep up with the growing demands
of our community.
Click here for a window into VIA through VIA Videos!
2013 VIA Donors
We would like to thank the following donors of $500 and above for their generous gifts to VIA in 2013
Founders’ Circle
($50,000+)
Anonymous
Directors’ Circle
($25,000 - 49,999)
Ambassador James C. Hormel &
Michael P. Nguyen
Anonymous
Anonymous
Thomas D. Hormel
I.J. and Hilda M. Breeden Foundation
Kristin & David Macknight
Platinum
($10,000 - 24,999)
Charlottesville Area Community
Foundation
Bertie D. Heiner & Bill Atwood
Melissa & Mark Hillery
Dr. Alice Meador
Perry Foundation, Inc.
Virginia National Bank
Alison & Bernie Webb*
Gold
($5,000 - 9,999)
Rebecca & Thomas Bannatyne
Blue Ridge Bread, Inc / Panera
Brown Automotive Group
CFA Institute
Claudia Campo & Jason Cockerill*
Austin Cox
ExxonMobil Foundation
First Systems & Resources, Inc.
Lucy & Thomas Goeke
Sarah P. Hendley
Elizabeth M. Hormel
Kathy & Jimmy Hormel
Optimist Club # 16032
Quantitative Investment Management
Kenneth Rosen
Wesley T. Helmbrecht RTS Foundation
Gina & Greg Yoder
Stay up to date
with VIA’s blog:
viaschool.org/news
*VIA Board Member
Spotlight on Our Family Resource Navigator
A position made possible by our community
Family Resource Navigator Hilary Nagel joined
the VIA team in August 2013, thanks to the support of our generous donors. Whether families
are searching for services right after diagnosis,
grappling with financial challenges, or seeking
peer support and respite care, they can turn to
VIA.
Cherie Salerno reached out to Hilary for help accessing services and understanding the Medicaid
waiver after her son, Christopher, was diagnosed
with autism.
“I wanted to find people in the community who
could support me,” said Cherie. “It’s emotionally draining when you’ve just gotten a
diagnosis, and Hilary is so good at providing a sympathetic ear and helping you find the
right people.”
Hilary referred the Salernos to VIA Outpatient Behavioral Services. Now, Christopher’s
Outpatient team says he is responding well to his applied behavior analysis sessions.
In five short months, Hilary has answered hundreds of phone calls from families looking
for answers, like the Salernos. She has planned “Parents’ Night Out” programs for VIA
families, hosted free public workshops covering topics like abuse prevention and special
needs trusts, and organized a holiday drive accessed by 26 families in financial need.
Through these new initiatives, VIA is shedding light on the huge range of needs facing
families of people with autism, and expanding the definition of autism services.
Better Living Foundation
Silver
Dr. Jo Buyske
($2,500 - 4,999)
Laura Shull-Chandler & Robert Chandler
Ben & Jerry’s
Annemarie Clemente & Milton Dunlap
Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign
ECHO of Northrup Grumman
Anne C. Hormel
Pam & Frank Edmonds
Caroline & Jay McNeely
Tarina & Bernard Esclapez
Becky & Jeff Mitchell
Fabcon
Sharon Moody
Julie Hormel & Ian Fletcher
Kelly & Alex Moore
Kenner Foote
Melissa & Chris Powell*
Leslie & Richard Gilliam
Jean Pearce & William Sherman
Cheairs & Dave Graves
Larry Soule
Mark Hampton & Jay Alexander
Eileen & Jeff Stanczak
Tracy & Rodney Harrington
The Dorothy & Jonathan Rintels
Hallie & Matthew Hegemier*
Charitable Foundation
Polly & John Hormel
Trident Seafoods Corp
Suzanne Sasic & Gregory Hormel
Dr. Morris Jampol
Bronze
Heidi & Bob Johnson
($1,000 - 2,499)
Rebecca* & Lane Kneedler
Karin & William Banks
Camilyn & Peter Leone*
Barbara & John Battiston*
Joan Marionni
Best Buy
Thank you to all our supporters - every dollar, volunteer hour, and word of support makes a difference!
2013 Stephen B. Perry Award
Presented by Virginia National Bank
Virginia National Bank and VIA were proud to present
the second annual Stephen B. Perry Award for Outstanding Service to
People with Autism to Tom McQueeney.
Tom served on VIA’s Board of Directors from 1997 to 2010. He worked
tirelessly to make sure VIA was helping as many people as possible. Tom
participates in the Run for Autism 5K and sponsors the Gala every year,
and even dressed up as Santa Claus for VIA students.
Tom usually serves only one term on an organization’s board because
he doesn’t contribute to “still ponds,” but he stayed with VIA for 13 years because the organization was continually moving forward.
Tom ended his speech at the Gala with a very important call to action: get involved, volunteer, and donate to the Virginia Institute of
Autism.
Save the Date for VIA's 18th Anniversary Gala: September 5, 2014
$MJDLIFSFUPbecome an early sponsor!
Suzanne Yeaman & Tom McQueeney
Wendy & Alex Moore
Optima Health
Kathy & Troost Parker
Frances & Curtis Powell
Barbara & Hank Rainville
Angela Sherman
Nancy & Bortie Twiford
Erika* & Robert Viccellio
W.S. Scharff Family Foundation
Wells Fargo Philanthropy Fund
Ariana & Greyson Williams
Kara Williams
Katherine & Matt Williams
Sustainer
($500 - 999)
Mary & Stanley Abel
Nancy Achilles
Liz & Erdal Adam
Margo & James E. Allen
Jeannie Anderson*
Anonymous
Blue Ridge ESOP Associates
Lori & Tommy Brannock
Anne & Paul Breza
David Cattell-Gordon*
Donna Cattell-Gordon
Elizabeth Chandler
Mary Kay & Paul Cheek
Gillian & Tony Cockerill
Charlotte Moore & Joe Csicila
Angela Dempsey
*VIA Board Member
Claudia Dodge*
Linda & Penn Dupuis
Dunkin’ Donuts & Baskin Robbins
Community Foundation, Inc
Roger Durrett
Liza & Bill Edgerton
Sarah & Tommy Everett
Dominique & Lee Faust
Ferguson Enterprises
Fleurie
Patricia Coffin & Carl Frischkorn
Katie & Wayne Fusco
Caitlin & Sean Gallagher
John Garner
Ellen & Michael Geismar
Giant Seminole Limited Partnership
Glass Haus Kitchen
Anne Lawrence Grasty
Martha Grasty
Greater Niagara Mechanical, Inc.
Louise & William Hay
Elizabeth & Col. Terry Hope
Julie Horne
Lara & Anthony Ignaczak
Kathleen & Jeffrey Johnson
Jennifer Michaels-Kelly & Patrick Kelly
Aven & Andy Kinley
Kate Lambert
Amy & Bobby Lamy
Alisa Bahl & Ethan Long
Cynthia & Mark Lorenzoni
Julia Whiting & John Malone
John McAllister
Mary L. Meador
Merck Partnership for Giving
Mincer’s
Susan & Lawrence P. Molloy
Katherine & Peter Moore
Northrop Grumman Corporation
Rebecca & Jerold Olson
Orzo Kitchen and Wine Bar, Inc.
Georgene Palacky
Jane & Bill Perkins
Peggy & Perrin Quarles
Michaele & EJ Rackel
Kate & Boyd Rawles
Cynthia Reusche
Schnitzhofer & Associates, LLC
Jane-Ashley & Peter Skinner
Brendan Smith
Joyce & Jim Smith
State Farm Companies Foundation
Lori & Richard Stevenson*
Maureen & John Strazzullo
Suzie & George Szatkowski
Marisa & Jeff Taylor
The Downtown Grille
Tiger Fuel Company
Renee Viette
Walmart Logistics
Emily & Rick Wampler
Lisa & Bill Ware
Kris Bell & David Webb
Patricia & Edward Williams
Zocalo
Click here to make a gift to the Virginia Institute of Autism!
Thank you for supporting the
Run for Autism 5K!
1,240 runners. $100,000.
A world of difference for people facing the challenges of autism.
Click here to watch our 5K thank you video!
Mark your calendar for our annual Gala on September 5, 2014
and stay connected with VIA all year round...