Who we are and what we do
Children’s Autism Foundation (CAF) is a registered a Charitable Trust, established in 2000, registered as a charity in 2003 and with the Charities Commission (CC11460) in October 2007. We currently provide services across the Auckland region to over 400 families/ whanau.
The Foundation is governed by a Board of Trustees, employs three part time staff, contracts highly skilled experts for specific projects and has a team of active volunteers.
Autism is considered to be at epidemic proportions internationally, occurring at 1:100 people, with rates increasing. Children’s Autism Foundation is stepping in to meet the growing demand for quality services in Auckland. Our family-centred programmes are unique among service providers in Auckland, complementing services provided by other agencies such as Autism NZ and Parent2Parent.
Our vision
For people with Autism Spectrum Disorder to have a great life, fully valued and included in society.
Our mission
To provide the support for children with ASD, and their family/whanau, to have a great life.
We provide whanau/family support services to families of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), from pre-diagnosis up to 21 years of age. We have a strong track record of quality service to families/whanau of children with ASD, providing advice, support, holistic, family-centred solutions to help families manage the intense emotional and practical impact of autism.
The long term aims of our services are to equip the families to have the strategies and resilience to demonstrate valuing and including a person with autism, a model for the wider community, thus preventing isolation, dependency on respite care, and increasing the naturally occurring social and support networks of the individual. This is the long term key to individuals having a life included in the community, having the opportunity to contribute their unique gifts and strengths, and enjoying a full meaningful life, rich in relationships and caring connections.
