Thank you in advance for taking the time to visit our website, and hope you find the various links both informative, rewarding and fun. Given that approximately 1 in every 98 children are now currently diagnosed with autism, having a sense of community and the chance to make a difference to those not as fortunate as ourselves is so important!
AYABA, a program of the 501C3 Ascent Funding Organization, is a small army of student volunteers helping local children impacted by autism reach their full potential-by not only raising funds necessary for their education and enhancement of their socialization skills but by promoting awareness, tolerance and acceptance as well. 4Boyz Autographs to Battle Autism (4Boyz ABA) donates autographed memorabilia for the AYABA Student Volunteer Fundraiser and over 25 autism and children related charities across Long Island, NYC and New Jersey.
As for us, we attend Syosset High School on Long Island and are the 3 older brothers to our now 10 year old brother Conor. Conor attended the Ascent School for Autism for nearly 5 years and now, due in large part to the generosity of our local community and AYABA's student volunteers, he has gone from not speaking, playing, looking you in the eye or having virtually any interaction with our family to speaking beautifully, reading, writing and doing math. Best of all, despite the challenges before him, Conor is a truly happy boy, an integral part of our everyday life and a 4th grader at the same elementary school that we graduated from in a self-contained class!
Along with our Mom and Dad, we recently completed the 15 minute short documentary "Making a Difference: The Ascent Youth Alliance to Battle Autism". Our primary goal is to have the film shown in classes and/or at assemblies in school districts throughout the metropolitan area, both through our own efforts and those of AYABA student volunteers.
If you are a student, you can make a difference by volunteering for the Ascent Youth Alliance to Battle Autism (AYABA) Program. Notwithstanding the fact that it will take up very little of your time-your efforts will play an integral part in making a difference for kids with autism and other disabilities. At the very least, changing the mindset about people with disabilities, promoting volunteerism and giving back will be but a few of the consequential benefits of your volunteerism and the documentary.
A sample of the letter we will conform for you-to bring to your principal, dean, school administrator and/or teacher along with a DVD of the film-appears below along with a copy of the poster and DVD jacket for the film. Also know that as a small token of our thanks to you for volunteering, we will give you 2 tickets to a future Yankee or Islander game!
For those who are not students, you very well are in a position to make a difference! If you have friends or family who are educators, please put them in touch with us. If you have children, nieces, nephews, cousins, brothers, sisters or friends who are students, please tell them about AYABA. Or if you simply would like to make a donation to the Ascent Funding Organization (the 501C3 non-profit of which AYABA is a program of), that would work as well. Whether by "sweat" or "financial" equity, IT'S ALL GOOD!
We appreciate your taking the time to hear our story, and thank you for hopefully becoming part of a great group...special people helping those with special needs.
Best Regards,
Sean, Ryan & Kyle Haber, Syosset High School Students
AYABA & 4BOYZ ABA Co-Chairmen
Brothers of Conor Haber, an Ascent School for Autism Graduate
2009 Recipients of the Association of Fundraising Professionals Young Leaders of Tomorrow Award-L.I. Chapter
The Ascent Youth Alliance to Battle Autism is a Program of the Ascent Funding Organization Inc., a 501C3 Not-for-Profit
