About ACT Today!

Mission Statement. ACT Today! is a national nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to raise awareness and provide treatment services and support to families to help their children with autism be able to achieve their full potential. Since 2005, ACT Today! has helped more than 1,400 families and provided more than $1.65 million dollars in grants.

Organization Description. ACT Today's goal is to introduce and help facilitate early and on-going treatment by providing the necessary resources (including referrals, funding and guidance) to individuals with autism and their families throughout the United States. Studies demonstrate that early and intense intervention is important when treating individuals with autism, yet sadly very few of the effective treatments are covered by medical insurance and families are often relegated to piece together a treatment program for their child via multiple funding sources.

Often, the child with autism must go without vital interventions due to financial constraints. ACT Today! strives to provide necessary services so that each child with autism can reach his or her highest potential.

History. ACT Today! is the brainchild of several passionate people who believe that access to early, effective treatment is vital for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Together with Dr. Doreen Granpeesheh, a leading provider of therapy to autistic children with over 25 years of experience, this group created ACT Today! in 2005 to do just as the name implies – take action immediately to treat autism. With an active board and a small staff, ACT Today! has steadily grown since its founding.

Not only does ACT Today! continue to distribute funds for treatment services but ACT Today! has also launched the first nationwide campaign to help military children who have autism as they have unique challenges. Military families must fight a war on two fronts, one overseas and one for their loved one with autism. This campaign is called ACT Today! for Military Families (ATMF).

In addition, ACT Today! builds awareness that effective treatments for children with autism do work. We do this via providing parental resources, news articles, blogs, and television appearances.

Leadership. The organization is formed as a national nonprofit 501(c) (3) organization and authorized under the laws of the state of California, and is led by Dr. Doreen Granpeesheh, the organization’s President and Nancy Alspaugh-Jackson, the organization’s Executive Director.

Dr. Doreen Granpeesheh is a world-renowned clinical psychologist and expert in the field of autism research and therapy. Dr. Doreen has worked with a wide range of patients from high-functioning children with autism to the most challenging individuals whose families have been told to give up hope. Dr. Doreen has an unparalleled recovery rate, enabling children with autism to lead independent lives. With a PhD in Psychology from UCLA, Dr. Doreen is licensed by the medical boards of California, Texas, and Virginia and Arizona State Boards of Psychologists and is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst. She is the 2011 recipient of the American Academy of Clinical Psychiatrists' prestigious Winokur Award.

Dr. Doreen founded the Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc., (hereinafter "CARD") in 1990, the world's largest and most experienced organization effectively treating children with autism. CARD develops individualized treatment plans utilizing the principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA), a behavioral treatment approach which the scientific community has empirically validated. Under Dr. Doreen's leadership, CARD has seen success with every child over the past 20 years.

Nancy Alspaugh-Jackson is a former high-powered television producer turned author and activist on the subject of fearless aging and autism awareness. She co-authored Not Your Mother's Midlife: A Ten Step guide to Fearless Aging (Andrews McMeel) and Fearless Women: Midlife Portraits (Stewart, Tabori & Chang). She wrote and performed in the stage show Boomer Babes and has done motivational speaking to sold out audiences around the country. Alspaugh-Jackson is an Emmy-Award winning television producer and executive who pioneered the magazine program format with Westinghouse's PM Magazine. After serving as Vice-President of Group W Productions, she served as executive producer for a number of network and nationally syndicated programs, including the long-running NBC talk show, LEEZA. She has been honored with the United Press International Award, the Associated Press Award, the Gabriel Award, the Genesis Award, as well as having been named one of the Hollywood Reporters Women to Watch.