Our Mission & Purpose

Name of Organization: Threshold, Inc.

Organization’s Location: Orlando, Florida, USA

Name of Executive Director/CEO/President: Robert E. Wright

Incorporation Date: March 4, 1976

IRS 501(c)(3) Determination Date: March 4, 1976

Nonprofit’s Primary Purpose: Our mission is to provide parents and siblings of children on the autism spectrum with appropriate education and training to continue school programs at home. Parents will become quality-control experts for the services provided by schools and agencies. We do this through a region-wide network of centers, each representing a district, and further engage the regions to ensure families have the skills to manage their children throughout their lives.

Threshold will serve in a capacity similar to that of other autism support organizations worldwide. However, most agencies focus on the child from diagnosis to age 22. Parents get support information but little in the way of targeted counseling and training. We intend to build a network of support entities throughout the country, providing education and training for parents of children on the spectrum. Schools, faith-based organizations, and local behavior-based businesses are educating or training children needing special needs education. However, these efforts are limited to developmentally disabled children. Lack of funding, resources, and awareness of the need for direct family support and training for parents and siblings.

Nonprofit’s Secondary Purpose: Our purpose under this heading is related to the impact of nutrition, food allergies, and food processing (digestive disorders) on the behavior of children on the spectrum. Nutrition fuels the body. If the food items are inappropriate for the child, it can directly impact their education, training, and potential improvement. Threshold intends to partner with research agencies to test, evaluate, and provide dietary recommendations to families. In addition, we will offer meal-preparation training programs to ensure families eat properly.

Nonprofit’s Tertiary Purpose: The potential for accidents exists in every home and location. With children on the autism spectrum, the potential for significant injury exists at levels beyond those that exist in neurotypical homes. Parents, siblings, and family members must be prepared to identify potential harm and mitigate it. In the event of injuries, families must be prepared to be the first responders until definitive care arrives. In addition, families must be trained to recognize events that can lead to significant behavioral incidents and to de-escalate undesired behavior. Our goal in these training programs is to prepare families.