Contact: Catherine Herman (518) 956-8150

ALBANY, N.Y. (October 16, 2006) -- The NFL Alumni, Inc. Upstate New York Chapter will award the University at Albany's Center for Autism and Related Disabilities a grant to support education and awareness of autism spectrum disorders. The $3,250 grant will be presented during the opening ceremonies of CARD's 5th Annual Conference: Promoting Positive Outcomes for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders, held Wednesday, Oct. 18 at the Desmond Hotel and Conference Center.

"On behalf of the University at Albany and the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities, I thank the NFL Alumni Upstate New York Chapter for their dedication to helping families and educators improve the lives of children with autism," said Kristin Christodulu, Ph.D., director of CARD. "Their support will help us target areas of need in the Capital District and facilitate outreach to communities in the upstate New York region."

"Autism confronts so many families, including right here in upstate New York," said Tim Sherwin, president of the chapter. "On behalf of the NFL Alumni of Upstate New York, I am delighted to offer our support to the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities. We are encouraged by their efforts to assist children and their families through education and outreach."

The goals of the grant are to increase awareness of autism spectrum disorders and effective intervention strategies as well as local resources available to assist families, educators, and professionals; to develop more extensive outreach programs for parents/siblings of children with autism spectrum disorders; and to design widespread education/training programs on autism spectrum disorders for area medical professionals.

Cathy Pratt, Ph.D., the director of the Indiana Resource Center for Autism at the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community, located at Indiana University, will give the keynote address at the conference. Pratt is on faculty at Indiana University, and presents internationally at conferences and workshops. She serves on numerous advisory boards, including Maap Services, Inc., and the Autism Society of Indiana. She currently serves as chairman of the Board for the National Autism Society of America. The conference is scheduled from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Wednesday. For more information, visit the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities.

The Center for Autism and Related Disabilities is a university-affiliated resource center that brings research and practice together in community settings. CARD Albany provides evidence-based training and support to families and professionals and through on-going research contributes knowledge to the field of autism spectrum disorders. To date, the Center has provided services at no cost to over 3,800 families, educators, and community professionals in twelve counties: Albany, Columbia, Fulton, Greene, Hamilton, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Warren, and Washington.