Talk About Curing Autism

Talk About Curing Autism
Abbreviation TACA
Founded February 13, 2003 (2003-02-13)[1]
Founder Lisa Ackerman
27-0048002[2]
Legal status 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
Headquarters Irvine, California, United States[2]
Glen Ackerman[2]
Lisa Ackerman[2]
Revenue (2013)
$1,249,851[2]
Expenses (2013) $1,280,698[2]
Employees (2013)
24[2]
Volunteers (2013)
498[2]
Mission To educate, empower, and support families affected by autism.[2]
Website www.taca.now.org

Talk About Curing Autism (TACA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2000[1] and based in Irvine, California, by Lisa Ackerman when her son was diagnosed and the doctor gave her no hope. TACA provides information, resources, and support to families affected by autism. TACA aims to reduce the lag time between autism diagnosis and effective treatments and endeavors to strengthen the autism community by connecting families and professionals who can help them, allowing them to share stories and information to help people with autism be the best they can be.

Currently, TACA holds monthly meetings featuring speakers in many states across the United States.

National spokesperson

In September 2007, TACA announced the appointment of its new national spokesperson, Jenny McCarthy, whose son Evan Asher was diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.[3][4][5] Evan's recovery from autistic symptoms is described in McCarthy's book, Louder than Words – A Mother’s Journey in Healing Autism, published on September 17, 2007.

In 2008, TACA and Jenny McCarthy ended their relationship.[6]

Pacific Life Foundation Grant

In January 2009, TACA received a $300,000 grant from the Newport Beach-based Pacific Life Foundation. TACA launched three new programs for Orange County, California families including a Spanish-language program, the addition on an in house advocate to provide education, training and support for families, and scholarships that would allow families to procure independent assessments for their children. All of these programs are offered at no charge to families affected by families.

As a result, TACA now has a Spanish-language section of their website, En Español, which is a resource for Spanish-speaking parents of children with autism regardless of their location.

References

  1. 1 2 "Talk About Curing Autism". Business Entity Detail. California Secretary of State. Accessed on February 27, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Form 990: Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax". Talk About Curing Autism. Guidestar. December 31, 2013.
  3. Our New Spokesperson, Jenny McCarthy. TACA. Retrieved on 2007-11-16.
  4. Wiser, Paige. Actors in action; Chicago-rooted stars use lofty platform to help. Chicago Sun-Times, October 18, 2007. Retrieved on November 16, 2007.
  5. Deardorff, Julie. McCarthy puts hope in lexicon of autism. Chicago Tribune, October 30, 2007. Retrieved on November 16, 2007.
  6. Ackerman, Lisa. "TACA & Jenny McCarthy". Talk About Curing Autism. October 5, 2008.


This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 6/13/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.