Table of Contents 2Our Mission and Vision 2Message from Board President and Executive Director 3Board of Directors 4Statistics of Support 5Programs and Services 6Education and Training 7Fundraising Events 8-92018 Donors 10-11Financial Highlights 12Quality of Life Goals 13Gratitude 14How You Can Support Our Mission 15

TABLE OF CONTENTS

OUR MISSION AND VISION

Our MissionImproving the lives of all affected by autism.

Our VisionThe Autism Society envisions a world where individuals and families living with

autism can maximize their quality of life, are treated with the highest level of dignity, and live in a society in which their talents and skills are appreciated and valued.

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MESSAGE FROM BOARD PRESIDENT AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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This year, the Autism Society of Southeastern Wisconsin celebrates over 42 years of serving the autism community. From a small group of dedicated parents, we have grown into a leading organization that serves thousands of individuals and families a year and is recognized for our impactful programs and services. There are now over 3.5 million Americans living with autism. Our mission continues to remain the same: To improve the lives of all affected by autism. We focused on fostering connections in the community, in the family and with each other in 2018.

Your on-going investment and trust in the Autism Society is critical toward helping further strides toward our mission and vision. Our work with family members, educators, child-care providers, EMTs and law enforcement officials is creating opportunities and improving lives daily. Our success is due to individuals like you who share our vision of an inclusive community, where people with autism and other developmental disabilities are accepted and treated equally.

In 2018, the New-Parent Kit containing printed materials to help families with limited internet access learn about autism continues to be a critical tool for the autism community. Many families from lower-income homes hear about autism for the first time during an Individual Education Plan (IEP) meeting. There is no medical diagnosis and many of the families have limited access to the internet. To get information to these families, we are providing the New-Parent Kits to Milwaukee, Racine, Kenosha, and Waukesha school districts. We are also mailing this kit to any new parent who requests one. In 2018 we distributed 235 kits.

We will continue to raise awareness and deliver innovative services because we can rely on individuals like you – who are willing to invest in the Autism Society and our work to make communities in Southeastern Wisconsin more diverse and inclusive. We are grateful for the trust and faith you place in us, and in our community. We thank you for your continued support.

Brian BeeghlyBoard President

Emily LevineExecutive Director

Emily LevineExecutive Director

Rechelle ChaffeeMarketing & Public Relations Director

Sue LeBuhnAdministrative Associate

Heather RauschDevelopment Coordinator

Dana WurzburgerInformation & Referral Coordinator

2018 STAFF

2018 Directors

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2018 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

2018 Executive CommitteePresident: Brian Beeghly, informed360Vice President: Chris Scherer, DeWitt Ross & Stevens S.C.Vice President: Dr. Amy Van Hecke, Marquette UniversityTreasurer: Ryan Michalski, KPMGSecretary: Julie Arens, Racine Unified School DistrictPast President: Howard Miller, Nova Systems, Inc.

Mark Cyganiak: ServiceMaster RecoveryDr. Elizabeth Drame: University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeRosemary Gardner: Lakeland SchoolRiv Goldman: Optimus SolutionsDr. Mike Gutzeit: Children’s Hospital of WisconsinJennifer Kopps-Wagner: KemperErin Miller: Autism Self AdvocateAndrea Nelson: Unisource InsuranceDawn Schwartz: ADX CreativeDr. Cheryl Serb: ProHealth Medical GroupNicole Sova, CFP: Robert W. Baird & Co.

Director EmeritusPatti Meerschaert: Community Volunteer

Ardis BurkeBookkeeper

Daysi JimenezInformation and Referral Coordinator,Spanish helpline

Renée Logee Director of Development

Julie QuigleyDirector of Education & Outreach

3,390+ Calls and Contacts for Support

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The Information and Referral Team continued to provide support to those in need in 2018 with over 3,390 interactions through phone calls to our Helpline, dedicated Facebook channels and support request emails. Our focus continues to be to support those in need and the community by providing resources to help individuals make connections, offer a listening ear and share program information.

STATISTICS OF SUPPORT

Contact Purpose

“Our family’s experience, as is the experience of many families, is that programming becomes more sparse and social connections sometimes even harder to make as our kids get older. I have been grateful for the programming that ASSEW makes available to individuals with autism across the lifespan, and especially to teens with autism at a point when other opportunities may not be available to them.” - Rachel Crites

Direct Support

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FAMILY PROGRAMSOur 7 family programs including over 1000 participants at the 9 events provided a sense of community and support. They offer a chance to connect and interact with other families that understand in a judgment free zone.

CAREGIVER/EDUCATOR PROGRAMSBy providing helpful information and education that leads to better understanding, hope and support for all affected by autism, we make a better world. In 2018 we served as a resource in the community to caregivers, educators and any touched by autism personally or professionally through a variety of 11 programs and workshops and 71 events. Program highlights included New To Autism, Insights For Educators, and TRAILS.

SPECTRUM ADULT PROGRAMSAdults on the Spectrum need support, friendship and camaraderie just like everyone else. Our Program goals included providing support and a conduit for making connections through the 6 programs and 28 event activities we facilitated in 2018.

TEEN PROGRAMSHelping autistic teens learn about the many changes that they have going on, how to meet their ever-changing needs and become more socially aware of others is what our teen focused events are all about. The 4 programs and 17 events were designed to provide a forum to help make friends and create long-term relationships.

CHILDREN’S PROGRAMSProviding a supported environment through events structured with the goal of providing our children a chance to comfortably learn how to interact with their peers and enjoy these activities is what we accomplished with our 6 programs through our Keeping Kids Moving 15 events. These events provided an outlet because it is never too early to start making connections and friends.

PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

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EDUCATION AND TRAINING

75+ Parents attended one or more of three special Transition Series (TRAILS) classes designed to assist parents of transition age youth (ages 14-21) to prepare to the transition from school to community.

106 individuals attended one of two SOAR events. SOAR is an airport rehearsal designed for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), their families, and aviation professionals. The goal of SOAR is to alleviate some of the anxiety that people with disabilities and their families experience when traveling by air. It includes a unique MKE social story that participant families review before the big rehearsal day.

We offer a group of supporters who understand what you are going through so that you have an outlet to interact, share your experiences and learn from others. In a word...make connections. Our five different in person support groups served 658 individuals. Our four FaceBook Groups served another 998.

“This support group has helped me realize that I am not alone in my experience of being on the spectrum. It’s really nice to be able to talk with other people who are dealing with the same or similar things.” - Marty Griffin

560+ First Responders including police officers, EMTs and firefighters received training through 16 unique Safe & Sound Training sessions.

95 individuals attended one of two free Insights for Educators Workshops. These specialized workshops provided a high-level introduction and overview of autism, case studies, stories and solutions and strategies for students with autism and other special education needs.

$126,000267 attendees • 18 volunteers

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TABLE SPONSORS Advancing Choices, Inc., Mr. & Mrs. Jim and Julie Arens, Mr. & Mrs. Brian and Elizabeth Beeghly, Behavioral Development Group, Caravel Autism Health, LLC., Cardinal Capital, Mr. & Mrs. Mark and Rosemary Gardner, Mr. & Mrs. Alan and Rebecca “Riv” Goldman, Johnson Controls Inc., Nova Systems Inc., Plastic Surgery Associates and Korkos Investments, Wisconsin Early Autism Project

This event allowed us to continue hosting autism training programs and education sessions in the community through presentations and forums to everyone from child care providers to police departments.

Raised through the 2018 Gala

FUNDRAISING EVENTS

2018 GALA SPONSORED BY:

GOLD LEVEL SPONSORS

SILVER LEVEL SPONSORS

BRONZE LEVEL SPONSORS

COCKTAIL HOUR SPONSOR

NICK & KELLY BACKES

2018 DYLAN’S RUN SPONSORED BY:

SILVER LEVEL SPONSORS:

$114,0001,611 participants • 164 volunteers • 73 teams

Raised through Dylan’s Run 2018

The success of this event allowed us to continue helping families of a newly diagnosed child to connect with autism resources in our community. Creating connections to those who need it most by providing targeted support groups for various audiences and unique programs for children, teens, young adults, families and adults that enrich their lives.

FUNDRAISING EVENTS

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BRONZE LEVEL SPONSORS:

ROUTE SPONSORSAutism Treatment for Children, ABA of Wisconsin, Caravel Autism Health, Curative Care, IDS, Northwestern Mutual, Richardson School, Total Spectrum, Wisconsin Early Autism Project IN KIND ADX Creative, Premium Waters, Indian Summer Festival, Center Street Station Photography

2018 DONORS

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$5,000 and greaterActionCOACH of Elm GroveAnthem, Inc.Nick and Kelly BackesChildren’s Hospital of Wisconsin Concours d’EleganceMark and Mary CyganiakDeWitt, LLP.Friends of Doug ProebstingGrounds Maintenance Services Hive SalonKohl’s Department Stores, Inc.John and Bonnie MeerschaertHoward and Sara MillerOshkosh Area Community Foundation Roger and Cindy SchausStackner Family Foundation Craig and Rachel Wolf

William & Sandy Heitz Family FoundationHupy and Abraham Richard G. Jacobus Family FoundationScott and Cindie JoersJohnson ControlsShantelle JonesRick and Jennifer Kopps Wagner Lake Geneva Joint School District 1Woodrow and Andrea Leung Deloris Marson Meijer, Inc.Steve and Ruth MielkeElizabeth Moran Bob and Andrea Nelson Oak Creek Bleacher BunchPPC FoundationProHealth Care, Inc.RMB CapitalAngie Schubert Sussex Area Service Club, Inc.Andrew Tidey James and Leigh Ann Tidey Christopher and Rosalie Tocco Merrick and Barbara Wells West Bend Mutual InsuranceRichard and Faye Wetzel Vulcan Global ManufacturingWisconsin Early Autism ProjectWoman’s Club of Wisconsin Foundation

$2,500 thru $4,999Anon Charitable TrustBrian and Elizabeth Beeghly Lisa Blair Brewers Community FoundationMark and Rosemary Gardner Alan and Rebecca GoldmanGreater Milwaukee Foundation, Inc.Hussman FoundationMarcus Hotels and ResortsNettie’s Irish PubNeil and Karen Pinsky Spectrum Investment AdvisorsDan and Lynn Tarrence Gordon and Susan Telford The Townsend FoundationUnisource Insurance Associates, LLC.

Advancing Choices, Inc.Aon FoundationAppleby Charitable Lead TrustJim and Julie Arens Autism Treatment for ChildrenBaird Foundation Inc.Jack BalkeBehavior Development GroupBrookfield Congregational ChurchCaravel Autism Health, LLC.Cardinal Capital Management, Inc.Andrea Emilia Carranza-Gomez CHUBBAnne D and Walter B Clark Family Donor Advised FundJim and Bonnie Cyganiak Jon and Liz CyganiakEdith M Dacquisto Family TrustGary and Kathryn DunnJohn Dyer and Theresa SkrivsethElevate MKE, LLC.Erie InsuranceFaye’s 1 Inc.Fidelity Charitable Fund Shirli Flack Greater Milwaukee Association of REALTORS Youth FoundationRuth Harper Todd and Elise Haschker

$1,000 thru $2,499

2018 DONORS

ABA Of WisconsinAce American Insurance CompanyDavid and Bethann Ambrose Gary and Laura AndersonThe Center for Autism and Related DisordersPhil and Kelley Balcerowski Alan and Lisa Bronikowski Paul and Mary Brunner Burlington Area SchoolsCNH IndustriesCannon & Dunphy, S.C.Caravel Autism HealthRechelle Chaffee Adam CherryNorman and Carol Christman Robert and Penny CorrisCurative Care NetworkGary and Kimberly DraegerDivergent Dance TeamElm Grove Park and ShopTom and Mary Gavinski Larry and Holly Haskin Todd Hensersky and Renée LogeeBrian HoffmanReAnn HolmesIntegrated Development Services (IDS)Tom and Christine Korkos Korkos Investments, LLC.Adam and Beth Laurin

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$500 thru $999Robert and Emily Levine Daryl and Kim LueckRena McGurk Patti Meerschaert Mark NeubauerNorth Lake Bear TrapNorthwestern MutualTheresa OttersonORBIS CorporationCamthu PhamBrad and Christine PiperPlastic Surgery AssociatesPrairie TrustThe Richardson School Robert W. Baird & Company Chris and Catherine Scherer Scott and Dawn Schwartz Stamm Technologies Kurt and Lynda Thomas Total Spectrum, LLC.Matthew Tratar and Celina BornMarc and Amy Vandiepenbeeck Clarke and Andrea Warren WaterStone Bank Waukesha County FoundationWisconsin Sports Collectors Association William Wong Robert and Joan Ziegler

$250 thru $499Alter Executive OfficesAmerican Endowment FoundationAmerican Transmission CompanyAnonymousGayle BlythDennis and Amy BoettgeHarry and Rosalind Boyer-ColeBriggs & Stratton Corporation Foundation, Inc.Zach and Jana BrownNicole Asunto Charles Curly’s WaterfrontTimothy Curtis Anjum and Shahela DalviDoc’s Dry DockElizabeth Drame Patrick and Jean Dunks Isaac Eagan Matt and Jill Fehler John Ferguson Force Industrial SalesGagnon, Inc. Eric and Carrie Goetsch

Joanna Gonzalez Thomas and Rebecca Goulet Patrick Grimes Michael and Nancy Gutzeit Mark and Wendy Haglin Halen HomesAndrew HarriganMichael Ignatowski Illingworth-Kilgust Mechanical Joe Mama’s Bar & GrillRobert and Jean Jordan Bill and Ellen Judson City of Kenosha Employee Networking TeamKettle Moraine CounselingFred and Barb Kilp Herbert H. Kohl Philanthropies, Inc.Greg and Margaret Larson Pieter Lens George and Sharon LoxtonM2M Machining, Inc.Suresh Kumar Marimuthu Katherine Martin

Gwendolyn Matkey Ryan Michalski New Berlin Lioness Ogden & Company, Inc.Brian and Christina Pfeil Robert Pingel Myron PocianKathy Rajchel Darren and Heather RauschMike and Margaret Reedy Jerry and Joan Reiter Chris and Katie Robleski Al and Michelle Schmitz Thomas and Michelle Skelton Michael and Ellie Szablewski Omar VelezScott Weltz Peter and Teresa WilderWisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities Tom and Ruth WoodsAndrew and Gail Zielke

FINANCIAL SUMMARY

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AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTFOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2018

REVENUE AND SUPPORT Contributions $198,042 Grants $ 50,550 Membership Dues $ 9,790 Workshops and Programs $ 29,634 Special Events $240,282 Less Direct Expenses $(77,382) Interest and Dividend Income $ 15,517 Unrealized gain (loss) $(27,179) Realized gain (loss) on Investments $ 2,724 Other $ 765 Net Assets released from restrictions $2,500 $ - TOTAL REVENUE AND SUPPORT $442,743

EXPENSES Program Services $404,730 General and Administrative $ 22,641 Fundraising $ 76,985TOTAL EXPENSES $504,356

Change in Net Assets ($61,613)Beginning Net Assets $345,536Ending Net Assets $283,923

Revenue Expenses

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QUALITY OF LIFE GOALS

QUALITY OF LIFE GOALSThe Autism Society of Southeastern Wisconsin’s vision is to improve the quality of life of everyone living with autism. Quality of life refers to basic human rights that allow people to interact with one another and with the world on their own terms.

Quality of life indicators such as the ability to communicate, making social connections, meaningful employment, respect and safety are all essential aspects of the human experience. The Autism Society of SE WI keeps these quality of life goals in mind with the programs and services we provide.

FINANCIAL STABILITY

SOCI

ALCO

NNEC

TIONS

RESPECT &DIGNITY

MEA

NIN

GFU

LEM

PLO

YM

ENT

&

FAIR

WA

GES

Quality of Quality of

Goals

INCLUSION

AUTONOMY &SELF-SUFFICIENCY

RECREATION &LEISURE

HEALTH &WELL-BEING

ACADEMICSUCCESS

SELF-IDENTITY& ACCEPTANCE

PURSUIT OF DREAMS

SUBJECTIVEWELL-BEING

COMMUNICATION

SAFE

TYIN

DEPE

NDEN

TLIV

ING

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GRATITUDE

Kristi & Jennifer...“We met at a support group with the Autism Society of SE WI about four years ago. I think we just clicked, we had a lot in common and just started talking one day. We had lunch...”

“There were four or five of us at lunch, Kristi and I just hit it off. She is the Ying and I’m the Yang! We fit together really well.”

“We went on vacation a year ago, a girl’s trip...the moms needed a break...it was the perfect four day getaway.”

”We travel together really well.”

“We get along, we understand what it is like to be a mom of a child on the spectrum.”

“I have a nine year old daughter that has befriended her daughter, which is really nice. It takes a lot to manage my son and Kristi has come through to take care of my daughter on many occasions when I really needed her.”

“I am so grateful for the Autism Society of SE WI. I went to them a whole year before my son was diagnosed. I had met some of the people from the support group in a different group and after talking to them, there were so many parallels to my son, he was diagnosed at age seven. It is another family for me that I don’t have to put up my good side with. I don’t have to do up my hair, I can just be myself.”

“All of us struggle with our kiddos on the spectrum, but some are really challenging, and I have one of those and I don’t know what I would do without the support of the Autism Society of SE WI. Julie Quigley has been like a sister to me, I feel like I know her so well, she gets it. When I met Kristi, I fell in love with her southern accent, she is just the sweetest thing, she is a beautiful soul. She can just make me laugh and I swear that is the best medicine. Kristi is my lifeline!”

“She is MY lifeline!”

“We will be friends forever.”

“Definitely!”

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a story of connections, friendship and gratitude

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HOW YOU CAN HELP SUPPORT OUR MISSION

Your generous support enables us to provide programs for parents, children, teens on the spectrum, educators, the community and adults living with autism. We thank you for the trust you show through your continued generous contributions of time and money.

The contents of this report highlights our commitment to be good stewards with all the funds you so generously donate and to continually invest in much needed programs and services to meet this ever-growing need.

We are not a government agency, nor do we receive any government funding. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and so donations given to us are tax-deductible and help make a huge difference in your communities. Giving opportunities include sponsoring/attending our fundraising events, underwriting one of our unique programs/services and giving to our annual campaign.

Donations are always accepted athttps://www.assew.org/donate-now/

Make Your Donation Go Farther

Many corporations match donations made by employees to a wide range of nonprofits, to support employee charitable giving, and to extend corporate philanthropy. See if your employer participates.

Your investment helps us reach those that need our help the most.

All the money we raise stays within in our communities, serving local families so please consider donating. We served over 6,000 individuals within our nine-county community in 2018 and have the largest population service area in the state.