GAN’s Mission
To promote awareness and understanding of autism and to enhance the resources essential to community responsiveness
GAN’s Vision
A community sensitive to and supportive of those living with autism
Networking together, grandparents are a vital resource for autism … and each other!
What We Do
Autism is epidemic today and it is estimated that there are over 6,000 children with autism living in Orange County, California. While there are many support groups for parents of children with autism, the Grandparent Autism Network was founded in April 2006 to meet the unique needs of grandparents and to suggest ways they can help their families.
- Established as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in April 2006
- Provides free membership, programs and social opportunities for families
- GAN is the only international autism support group exclusively for grandparents
- All-volunteer based, contributions are 100% tax-deductible for donors
- Established the Family Autism Network program and website to provide an Orange County Autism Event Calendar, to recruit volunteers, to provide social opportunities for adults and their caregivers and to increase access to local and national autism resources
- Serves grandparents and their families world-wide as an information and referral service from two websites, www.ganinfo.org and www.faninfo.org
- Has sponsored more than 200 cost-free professional presentations, workshops and events
- Assists grandparents in establishing new support groups and autism resources in other communities
- Participates in raising support for local and national autism advocacy efforts
- Works collaboratively to develop new local housing options and other adult resources for people with disabilities
- Promotes employment opportunities for people with developmental disabilities in hospitals and other workplace settings
- Sends quarterly free eNewsletters world-wide to grandparents about issues that impact them and the quality of life for their families.
- Provides presentations for schools, philanthropic and business organizations
- Encourages enrollment in autism research studies
- Co-sponsors cost-free annual Socials and other events for Adults with Autism (ages 16 and up) and their Caregivers with support from student and faculty volunteers from Cal State Fullerton and Chapman University
- Provides volunteer opportunities and community service credit for high school and college students
- Trains teens to be peer advocates for people with autism and how to discourage bullying
- Maintains 2 eBay sites to sell donated items that support cost-free programs and services provided by GAN and FAN
- Collaborates with media to raise awareness about the autism community
- Represents the grandparent sector in national autism research studies, projects and guides
- Acknowledged as a national autism resource by Autism Speaks and other national and international autism organizations
- Assists in published grandparent research studies: Chapman University, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders, AARP study
Collaborations
- Regional Center of Orange County
- CHOC Children’s Hospital of Orange County
- Project SEARCH at CHOC Children’s
- Thompson Policy Institute on Disability and Autism
- University of California Irvine Center for Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disabilities
- California State University – Fullerton
- Chapman University
- University of California Los Angeles
- State Council on Developmental Disabilities Area Board XI
- Orange County Department of Education
- Goodwill of Orange County
- Chapter 4 American Academy of Pediatrics
- County of Orange Health Care Agency
- Orange County Asperger’s Support Group
- Team of Advocates for Special Kids
- Project Independence
- Department of Rehabilitation
- Orange County Adult Transition Task Force
- U.S. Office of Education Project with Industry
- Mariners Church Children’s & Family Ministry
- Special Olympics of Orange County
- United Cerebral Palsy of Orange County
- Autism Speaks
- U.C. Davis M.I.N.D. Institute
- Cambridge University, Autism Research Centre
- UCLA Center for Autism Research & Treatment
- Kennedy Krieger Institute
- Santiago Canyon College
- Northwood High School – Irvine CA
- Irvine Community Land Trust
Committee Memberships
- Gillman Project SEARCH Sponsor and Steering Committee at Children’s Hospital of Orange County
- Housing and Employment Committees, Regional Center of Orange County
- Chapman University Thompson Policy Institute Regional Business Advisory Committee
- Parent Support Group Leader Network, Regional Center of Orange County
Awards
Bonnie Gillman, Founder and Executive Director of the Grandparent Autism Network, has received the following recognition for her work with GAN:
- 2020 Distinguished Community Partnership Award
California State University – Fullerton - 2018 Pursuit of Excellence Award
Chapman University Thompson Policy Institute on Disability & Autism - 2017 Help and Hope Award
University of California – Irvine Center for Autism & Neurodevelopment Disabilities - 2016 Interagency Autism Group Certificate of Appreciation
Orange County Department of Education & Regional Center of Orange County - 2011 Lindt Unsung Heroes of Autism Award
One of 3 National winners for outstanding efforts in bettering the lives of those affected by autism - 2010 Women Making a Difference Award Recipient
from California State Senator Louis Correa - 2009-2010 Volunteer of the Year Spotlight Award
The Regional Center of Orange County
