Envision Unlimited Blog

We're fortunate to live in a world in which scientific research has led to huge advancements in our understanding of things like developmental disabilities. And yet, in spite of our rapidly expanding knowledge, lack of awareness and misconceptions about developmental disabilities continue to persist among the general public.

Life is presenting us with a wealth of opportunities to overcome obstacles. Rising prices, a relentless pandemic, and rancorous politics are generating a tremendous amount of stress. You probably already know that stress can harm your physical and mental health. More important: Do you know how to protect yourself from it?

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), approximately 1 in 44 children (or 2.3%) has been identified as having autism spectrum disorder. However, in spite of its prevalence and growing awareness of autism among the general public, there are still a lot of lingering misconceptions about autism and the people who live with it. In this article, we'll dive into a few of the more common myths and set the record straight.

Invented in the 1960s, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy is a decades-old, tried-and-true method for teaching social and emotional skills to children with autism and other developmental disorders. In short, ABA is a type of therapy that helps to bridge communication or behavioral issues through reinforcement methods. The ultimate goal is for individuals to become more independent and successful, long-term.

Executives and owners of businesses in the architecture, engineering and construction community joined members of Envision Unlimited's executive team on April 11, to break ground on an ADA-compliant group home in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood for seniors with disabilities.

In response to the spike in autism diagnoses and news that minority children are less likely to be diagnosed or receive treatment, Envision Unlimited has expanded its accredited ABA Therapy program into underserved areas.

Envision Unlimited has dreamed of building an accessible group home for our older members for many years. Not only has this never been done, but the construction cost for a specialized home such as this exceeds $1 million.

Beginning March 17, all cryptocurrency donations made to Envision Unlimited can be doubled, thanks to our participation in #CaringWithCrypto, a $20M crypto fundraising initiative. It is run by The Giving Block and Shift4.

Tim Smith's support for Envision members and his involvement in our Buddy Biking program is well documented. He was named our 2020 Donor of the Year and 2021 Volunteer of the Year. He even created our "InMotion for Envision" alternative when the pandemic canceled our Bike the Drive fundraiser.

Meet Lauren Smith, the newest member of Envision's executive management team. Lauren joined us at the beginning of the year in the newly created role of Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). We are very excited to have her on board.