Dear Reader.

My name is Udi Rigai, And I am a father of two autistic children, a nine and an eight-year old. Due to the lack of a programs for autistic children under the age of six, on September 1st. 1990 and after a hard struggle a group of parents and I founded the first Center for Autistic Children. This center gave proper care to my first child as well as seven more children with autism, minimal brain damage and Pervasive Developmental Disorder (P.D.D.).

Just as the first center was on its way to be fully operational, the first scud missile of the Golf War landed directly on the center distorting it completely. Fortunately the children where home at the time. With no time on our hand and eight children in need for proper care the center had to be rebuild in a minimal amount of time.

Professionals in the field may differ on the method and approach of the therapy, but they all agree and stress the need for early intervention, preferably at the age of two where autism can be diagnosed reliably.

At present, the cost per child is $15,000.00 annually which is substantially less when compared to the $25,000.00 -- $100,000.00 per child in the US. The government of Israel is covering about 40% of the budget and the foundation desperately needs to raise the balance.

Today, six years later the centers provide care for over 60 children ages 2-7 with astonishing results.
The children have shown very impressive improvement. Some have been talking and communicating and 12 of kids are going to a regular school (Main Streaming). The center has grown beyond its ability to support itself from the existing Israeli sources alone and the fund raising is becoming increasingly difficult because of the relatively few sources in Israel.

The foundation has raised funds in England and Germany and help has been forthcoming. In September of 1995, I arrived in the United State for the purpose of raising funds. This was the first time that the Center has made on appeal to the good will of the American public. The responses have been very encouraging.

We have proven first hand how important early diagnosis is, and alone with early intervention and massive therapy they stand a very good chance of progressing, some of them dramatically.

Children without proper diagnosis, treatment and setting, stand no chance.

The center needs help and support in the following ways.

1. Help and support for construction. They suffer from an unbearable shortage of space due
   to the increase in the number of children.

2. They need help and support for therapeutic equipment.

3. Help for their most important asset: therapeutic staff.

How can I help?

1. You may give us some ideas on how to raise funds in the US.

2. You may help by spreading the word by forwarding this letter.

3. You may give up some of your time and professional wisdom.

4. You may donate your talent and get others to do the same.

5. You could even make a contribution.

It has been said that a good deed of A dollar is equal to one thousand.

Please accept their invitation to visit the Center on your next visit to Israel.

These children are handicapped, they do not know it and it is doubtful that they ever will.  This center is the only chance the children have and they deserve it.

Please help us help the children.

Thank you: Udi Rigai

Copyright © 1996 The Foundation for Children at Risk. Last modified: April 04, 2005 Webmaster e-mail