The Riley Behavioral and Educational Center is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization currently offering services at or below cost to families struggling with autism in Huntsville, AL, and the surrounding areas.

The prevalence of Autism, Pervasive Developmental Delay and other related disorders are currently at an epidemic level nationally, statewide and most alarmingly locally. Autism is the nation’s fastest growing developmental disorder with a child receiving a new diagnosis every 20 minutes. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recently reported that 1 in every 110 children are now diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. This new statistic represents a 57% increase over a 4-year period, with a higher prevalence among boys (60% increase) than girls (48% increase). The CDC continues to track and monitor the increasing prevalence of Autism, Pervasive Development Delay and related disorders specifically in Alabama’s northern 32 counties. As suspected in previous CDC reports, the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders in Alabama is higher with an increase of 82% over the same 4-year period. This increase is nearly 1.5 times larger than the national average. We are burdened by the fact that what lies beneath this statistical discussion are the faces of children. These children can lead happy productive lives with proper intervention. Without effective intervention, they will face an incurable, lifelong disability, which will affect the dynamics of the entire family and our community.

Your donation will allow The Riley Center to continue offering our diagnostic and intervention services at or below cost to families and to extend these services to more children. No child should be denied the chance for an improved quality of life due to lack of treatment choices or economic restraints.