By  Jill Briesch

Autism BrainNet is a program that allows families to learn more about why the brain is important in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and what goes on in the brains of people with ASD. Autism BrainNet also helps families to donate the brain of a loved one at the time of death. I have two children; one is on the autism spectrum. Both are still living. So why would I consider Autism BrainNet?

While this is a program that helps families with donation options when someone passes, it also educates the community about why those donations are important and provides scientific updates on how the brains of people with autism work. The research aims to explain some of the challenges people experience with the hopes of identifying better ways to help those all along the autism spectrum. These updates are published on the Autism BrainNet website and sent out in a quarterly newsletter. They include research findings of things like why children and adults with ASD have difficulties with sleep, why people experience sensory overload, and why girls may show different symptoms than boys. Questions like these don’t affect just my family, but others as well.

Learning more about this program helps us understand more about ASD and develop meaningful interventions. This is how we are keeping the promise we made to our son to change the world for him and others. But it’s not the only thing we do. I am an advocate for insurance reform in Texas, I’m a CPA, and our boys are very active and involved in our community. Our days are filled with challenges and also successes, just like those of everyone else. We don’t want to think about a day when we might need to call Autism BrainNet, but we are committed to science and research and finding answers for families just like ours.  

Please learn more about this amazing program by visiting autismbrainnet.org and signing up for their quarterly newsletter and spend some of your precious time learning about the discoveries that will make a difference in your lives as well.