A Letter From Our President
Last week, The Autism Hero Project turned 9 years old. 💙
And as I reflect on how far we’ve come, I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge the heart, sacrifice, resilience, and faith it took for us to still be here today.
Over the years, volunteers, board members, sponsors, and community partners have come and gone through different seasons of this journey, but every single person who poured into this mission helped shape it, helped grow it, and helped expand what was once just a dream born from love, fear, advocacy, and hope.
There were days I questioned whether I could continue carrying this work. Days when exhaustion felt louder than purpose. And if I’m being honest, one of the hardest realities I’ve wrestled with is wondering whether the very little boy I loved so deeply, the little boy I would do absolutely anything for, my son, somehow became the one I was unintentionally sacrificing time with while trying to build something bigger for families in the autism community.
That truth has never been easy to sit with.
But every single time I questioned whether it was worth continuing, something or someone showed up and reminded me why this work was so necessary.
And this year, the fruit of that labor is impossible to ignore.
Our second proposed piece of legislation officially left the Senate and in less than 60 days, the Blue Envelope Program will officially become law in Illinois, helping create safer interactions between first responders and neurodivergent individuals across the state.
What started as an idea rooted in advocacy and safety has now expanded into real-world impact. The Autism Hero Project has proudly helped create Blue Envelope Programs in more than 80 cities and counting across the country. You can learn more about it HERE.
We did that. Together.
Our 6th Annual #HeroesUnite event once again broke records with turnout, resources, and community impact.
Our impact film, Created with Purpose, premiered at the Chicago Latino Film Festival and now proudly holds a Bronze Telly Award for Social Impact, one of the most respected honors in regional broadcasting, independent production, and corporate media.
Over 50 news and media features involving AHP in the last 60 days.
Florida expansion officially in full effect.
New partnerships. New conversations. New stages, both local and international. New opportunities.
The little dream born from the love of a little boy and a community desperate to feel seen is no longer whispering.
It’s ROARING now.
And while I am deeply grateful for this momentum, this season is also teaching me something important:
Growth requires help.
Because we do not want to stop here.
We want to continue building. Expanding. Advocating. Creating deeper impact. Reaching more families. Training more first responders. Funding more scholarships. Opening more doors. Changing more lives.
But that kind of growth requires MORE HEROES.
We have bigger dreams ahead of us, and we cannot carry them alone.
So if you have time, talent, resources, sponsorship opportunities, connections, or simply believe in the work we are doing, we would love to connect with you. Send us an email at autismheroproject@gmail.com
Because The Autism Hero Project was never built by one person alone. It was built by a community willing to believe that inclusion is worth fighting for. 💙
With Heart,
Tamika Lecheé Morales
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