Our very dear friend, Jaquelyn McCandless, M.D. passed away earlier this year. She was a colleague and mentor to many people within the Autism Research Institute/Defeat Autism Now! network, as well as a beacon of light to many families worldwide. She participated in our think tanks and was a frequent lecturer at our conferences and clinician seminars. Dr. McCandless' book, Children with Starving Brains, first published in 2002, still provides advice to many. We will all miss her greatly. 

ARI has established a memorial research fund in honor of Dr. McCandless. One-hundred percent of the contributions to the fund will be earmarked for research studying interventions that were pioneered and/or supported by Dr. McCandless. You can make a donation on ARI's secure website by selecting "I want my donation credited to the Jaquelyn McCandless Autism Research Project (JMARP)" (located near the bottom of the webpage).  

Donate to the McCandless Research Fund 

Launch your Puzzle Piece campaign today to promote autism awareness in your community & support ARI this April.  

It's so easy: we send you a free kit with everything you need - you simply pass it around the office, take it to local stores, or sell pieces at meetings and events.   

Project Success Stories 

Tracy - Larose, LA

I am the mother of a beautiful 3-year-old boy named Nicky who has Autism. I am ready to do anything I can to help. My mother in law works in a Catholic high school of around 400 and almost everyone there knows my little Nick and I don't think I'd be surprised as to the generosity that will be put forth for the cause. Please, if there is anything else I can do that you know of to raise awareness and raise money for the cause let me know! Thank you so much for fighting for my son before he was even born!    

Bloomingdale IL

The reason I got involved with the million puzzle piece fundraiser is because my cousin Aaron is autistic. I'm just trying to help my cousin and the millions of other people and families affected by autism.  
Center Valley, PA

I went to the autism.com website when I was searching for information about autism for my research paper for an English class and happened to come to the article on the Million Puzzle Pieces. I first came in contact with autism when we found that one of my cousins was autistic many years ago. Since then, I've been paying much more attention to it by movies (such as Rain man) and many books. I would like some puzzle pieces that will be available at my high school and other activates I am involved in.     

Marshalltown, IA

I am a president of an education organization here at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. In April, my organization as well as 2 other education organizations on campus have an autism awareness benefit, and raise money. I have a lot of friends and family that would support me in raising the money as well as the benefit my organization does. I have been attracted to autism and working with children as well as helping raise money for two years now and would love to continue this journey on finding research!    

Whitewater, WI

I'm a mother of a nine-year-old son who has Autism. I wanted to join the million dollar puzzle project to help raise awareness and money for Autism Research. I'm selling puzzle pieces at my son's school, where I also work as a nurse. I'm displaying the pieces in a local business, my husband's office and my mother's workplace. This is a very small town but I plan to reach as many people as possible. Thanks for letting me be a part of this wonderful project.  
Greensburg, KY

I decided to participate in the Million Dollar Puzzle project to help spread awareness and educate others about autism. I am the mother of a child who has autism, so it is important to me to do whatever I can for the autism community. I am distributing the puzzle pieces through e-mail.  
Wake Forest, NC

I am a special education teacher and was interested in selling the puzzle pieces at our school. We plan on selling these at our school during the month of April as part of our Autism Awareness month. Thank you for your help!   
Potomac, MD

I look forward to receiving the puzzle pieces and getting started with this project. My 5 year-old-daughter, Chely, was diagnosed last year and is such a fixture in my office that she's been kind of adopted by everyone here. Again thanks so much and we look forward to receiving our puzzle pieces.   
Baton Rouge, LA