The Owen Foundation

03/03/2026

Last night, the City of Denison made history as Mayor Crawley officially proclaimed March 17th as Profound Autism Day and the month of April as Autism Awareness Month.

For our profound autism families, this is more than a proclamation. It is recognition.

It means the families whose children are nonverbal.
The ones who wander.
The ones who require 24/7 supervision.
The ones navigating self-injury, aggressive behaviors, feeding challenges, seizures, and complex medical needs.

It means the parents who live in a constant state of hypervigilance finally feel seen.

Profound autism represents individuals with the highest support needs- those who will likely require lifelong care. Their needs are different. Their risks are greater. And their families carry a weight that is often invisible to the outside world.

By naming March 17th as Profound Autism Day, Denison acknowledged that the most vulnerable within the autism community deserve focused awareness, support, and resources.

And by proclaiming April as Autism Awareness Month, they affirmed that every autistic individual, across the entire spectrum, it matters.

This proclamation does not belong to one organization. It belongs to every family in our community walking this journey.

Last night, Denison didn’t just sign a document.

They said, “We see you.” 💙

Thank you, Mayor Crawley and Denison City Council Members.

City of Denison, Texas Government

03/02/2026

Check out this upcoming Adaptive Water Safety event by Texoma Swim Academy!

Adaptive Water Safety Day is scheduled for March 13 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Waterloo Pool in Denison.

03/02/2026

Join us tonight at 6:00 p.m. as the Mayor Crawley and the City of Denison make history, proclaiming not only April as Autism Awareness Month, but also March 17th as Profound Autism Day.

We will be accepting this proclamation on behalf of all autism families in Denison.

City of Denison, Texas Government
Denison Chamber
KXII-TV
KTEN

03/01/2026

⭐️ Upcoming EVENTS ⭐️

👨‍⚖️ Monday, March 2nd, 6:00 p.m., City of Denison, Autism Awareness Month & Profound Autism Awareness Day PROCLAMATIONS at Denison City Hall

👨‍⚖️ Tuesday, March 10th, 6:00 p.m., City of Durant, Autism Awareness Month & Profound Autism Awareness Day PROCLAMATIONS at Durant City Hall

👨‍⚖️ Tuesday, March 17th, 6:00 p.m., City of Sherman, Autism Awareness Month & Profound Autism Awareness Day PROCLAMATIONS at Sherman Police Department

🏃‍♂️ Saturday, April 11th, 3rd annual AUTISM 5K, TOF Blazing Fun Run & 5K. Registration OPEN. See page for details.

⚽️ Saturday, MAY 30th, INDOOR, all inclusive Soccer Camp, Denison High School, times TBA (Registration open 4/1)

📣 Saturday, June 20th, INDOOR, all inclusive Cheer Camp, Grayson College, times TBA (Registration open 4/1)

🏀 Saturday, June 27th, INDOOR, all inclusive Basketball Camp, Grayson College, times TBA (Registration open 4/1)

02/21/2026

⭐️ Be an informed donor ⭐️

Your generosity deserves protection.

Not every organization that uses the word “nonprofit” is a federally recognized 501(c)(3). And that distinction matters both legally and financially.

A true 501(c)(3) charitable organization is officially recognized by the IRS as tax-exempt.

It operates under federal guidelines, is governed by a Board of Directors, and is required to maintain financial accountability and transparency.

Most importantly for donors, it is authorized to provide tax-deductible receipts for contributions, as permitted by law.

If you are giving with the understanding that your donation is tax-deductible, you should:

• Verify the organization’s 501(c)(3) status through the IRS
• Expect proper written acknowledgment of your contribution
• Receive a year-end tax statement for your records

⭐️ At The Owen Foundation, every donor receives an official annual tax statement by January 31 for the prior calendar year, issued by our appointed Treasurer in accordance with federal compliance standards.

We believe transparency is not optional, it is a responsibility. We believe stewardship is sacred. And we believe donors deserve clarity.

Please protect your generosity. Ask questions. Verify status. Give confidently.

Your gift should make an impact, not create uncertainty.

-The Owen Foundation

02/21/2026

I’ve been thinking about how people insist “autism is autism” and we don’t need terms like profound autism… so here’s a quick thought experiment.

Look at this headine:

“Looking for a babysitter for my autistic son.”

That headline tells you nothing.
Because “autism” can mean my son Jude who’s independent, brilliant, talks nonstop about soccer, manages his day, and mostly just needs someone in the house…

Or it can mean my son Charlie who cannot be unsupervised for even a minute, is nonverbal, uses AAC, may get aggressive or injure himself, eats inedible objects, has zero safety awareness, and can wreck a room faster than gravity.

Now add one word:
“Looking for a babysitter for my son with PROFOUND autism.”

Suddenly you know the assignment.
You may not know every detail yet, but you instantly understand this isn’t a “keep him company and heat up some nuggets” situation. You’re picturing a child who may be nonverbal, destructive, aggressive, have severe intellectual disability, require constant supervision, and need someone who actually knows how to keep them safe.

That’s why the term matters.
Not to divide people. To stop erasing those who need the most care.

Profound autism exists.
Naming it helps kids (and adults) like Charlie.
Ignoring it helps… mmh absolutely no one.

02/19/2026

Fifteen states recognized Profound Autism Day in 2025.

Help us expand that momentum to all 50 states in 2026 by asking your legislators to file a proclamation now.

👉 Take action here: https://ow.ly/p3Sy50YhKir

02/18/2026

🙌🏻

Elevate Cheer received a bid to compete at Worlds competition in Orlando, the team learned Tuesday night. The elite cheer team waited together to hear whether they would advance to the competition in April.

02/17/2026

In less than two weeks, the City of Denison will officially proclaim April as Autism Awareness Month and, for the first time in history, recognize March 17 as Profound Autism Day.

This is a meaningful moment for so many families in our community.

If this touches your heart in any way, we invite you to join us.

This gathering is open to the public and created for our autism community, so please come stand with us.

02/11/2026

So proud of our Kidlinx educators who spent their evening attending a special Autism Training tonight!

Your commitment to learning and growing helps us better support every child and every family we serve. Because of you, we continue to create an inclusive environment where all children can thrive.

Reach every child, every day, every way. 💙

02/07/2026

Congress has directed NIH autism research to include the entire autism population, including people with profound autism — the first time this language has appeared in a bill signed into law by a President.

This is a meaningful step forward. Now comes the work of ensuring it is implemented as intended.

Read more:
https://mailchi.mp/profoundautism.org/congressrecognizesprofoundautism