This Giving Tuesday Support Children with Disabilities and Their Families - Donate to Carly's Cause

For the past 10 years, we’ve proudly served as a local, community-based nonprofit organization dedicated to making a difference in the lives of special needs children and their families. As we reflect on this milestone, we are excited to announce that it’s time to take our mission to the next level. We're expanding our reach, bringing our impactful programs to more families

At Carly's Cause, our goal is to provide essential resources and supportive services to children with disabilities and their parents, ensuring every child has the opportunity to thrive. However, to realize this vision, we need your help. Growth requires funding, and we’re asking for your support as we work to extend our programs to as many families as possible.

In 2010, the prevalence of autism was 1 in 68 children, according to the CDC (Maenner, 2020). Today, that number has increased to 1 in 36, meaning that almost twice as many children are being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This rise in diagnosis highlights the growing need for specialized support and resources for affected families. Alongside the increased prevalence of autism, advancements in genetic testing have led to the identification of several new "rare diseases." There are currently 6000 identified rare diseases worldwide. These modern testing techniques allow for more precise diagnoses, offering clarity on conditions that may have gone undiagnosed in the past, but they do not have a lot of information to support treatment. Due to the increase in the testing accuracy, parents reported 1 in 6 children diagnosed with a developmental disability such as autism, ADHD, Cerebral Palsy, and others, between 2009-2017 (Zablotsky, 2019).

When parents receive such a life-changing diagnosis that affects their child and family, they are often directed to online social media groups for support. While these groups can provide a sense of community and shared experiences, is that truly enough? The reality is that navigating the complexities of this new world—managing doctors, therapists, Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), marriage counseling, transitions to adulthood, and other critical services—cannot be done effectively through social media alone. Families need real-world support systems that can guide them through the challenges ahead.

Many of the parents who participate in the Carly’s Cause parent support group have reported symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), that have been left untreated due to not having proper resources. Research shows that parents who encounter challenging behaviors due to autism and rare disease are significantly more likely to experience PTSD on a scale similar to war veterans, than parents of typically developing children (Stewart, et al, 2020). A significant number of these parents feel that they are alone in this path and do not reach out to others for help. Men, especially, are prone to internalize their feelings and symptoms due to pride. However, internalizing a stress related disorder can lead to self-medication, alcoholism, violence, abuse, and thoughts of suicide (National Institute for Mental Health, 2024).

San Diego County is the second most populous county in California, yet it lacks sufficient services for parents at the point of diagnosis (San Diego County Health and Human Services, 2024). Is it that medical professionals are unaware of the research, or do they simply lack effective referral options tailored specifically to the well-being of parents of newly diagnosed children? Either way, there is a clear need for change.

In the case of our founder, the lack of personal wellness referrals at the point of diagnosis happened ten times, as her daughter received ten separate diagnoses before the rare disease was identified. Even when the doctor finally diagnosed the rare condition, his only referral was to a Facebook group.

These situations can change with well-designed programs that support parents and help build strong families, preparing them for the lifelong care of their disabled child. Ongoing research and practical application are crucial to empower the next generation of parents with special needs children. Now is the time to offer better services to support families caring for these children.

Our Program: Empowering Parents and Children

One of our cornerstone initiatives is the Parent Support Group, which has been a lifeline for many families navigating the challenges of raising a child with disabilities. We are eager to help parents become resilient. As the saying goes, "It takes a village to raise a child," but when it comes to raising a child with disabilities, parents need an army. We are that army, providing resources, support, and encouragement every step of the way.

How You Can Help

None of this is possible without the support of generous donors like you. Your contributions will directly fund the expansion of our support group, helping us reach more special needs children and their families who are in dire need of support. Together, we can create a brighter, more inclusive future for all children with disabilities.

Thank you for supporting Carly's Cause and for being a part of our mission to support families of children with physical disabilities and neurological disorders by providing therapeutic resources, financial education, and emotional support that foster resilience and community connection.