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FOUNDERS
Kristin
Farmer
Susan & Chad Mooney
BOARD
Jaeny Colmenares
Heather O'Shea
SPONSORS
SUSAN
& CHAD MOONEY
Founders/Advisory
Council
Susan Mooney past President sits on the advisory board of
La
Casa Center for Autism. Susan and her husband, Chad Mooney are co-founders
of La Casa, a center that provides educational and recreational programs
to individuals with autism and their families. Chad, Chairman of the Board
for
La Casa is also a Board member of the Children’s Hospital of San
Diego where he is involved in fundraising and has been extremely helpful
in their efforts in research and education of autism. Susan has served
as a member with the Rancho Santa Fe unit of Children’s Hospital
auxiliary for the past three years. Both are involved with a number of
charitable and philanthropic causes in both Palm Desert and San Diego.
After the birth of their
second child Austin, the Mooney’s began searching for answers
to their son’s unusual behavior, which began between 18 and 24
months of age. Austin had lost the language skills that he once had,
as well as his ability to make eye contact to be with others in a small
group. After talking to three different pediatricians and being told
that Austin “was just fine”, Chad and Susan kept searching.
Finally, a parent contacted them after observing Austin in a pre-school
setting and provided them with information about autism. One of those
resources the family uncovered was a company called ACES, based in San
Diego.
Today, ACES continues to supervise their son’s program both at
school and at home. Susan and Chad are forever grateful for the progress
that Austin has made. “He brings joy to everyone that he meets”
says Susan, “he is a true blessing from God”.
It is the desire of Susan and Chad, along with Kristin Farmer the founder
of ACES, to help other families struggling with the challenges of raising
a child on the autism spectrum. With that in mind, La Casa Center for
Autism was formed in 2003.
