Bronx-based nonprofit helps families navigate Autism

A nonprofit organization in the Bronx is helping families navigate the world of Autism.

News 12 Staff

Apr 5, 2022, 10:01 PM

Updated 919 days ago

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A nonprofit organization in the Bronx is helping families navigate the world of Autism.
Magnify Autism was created by co-founder Johanna Escobar after her experience coping with her son Nido’s diagnosis.
“We had a really bad experience with early intervention,” Escobar says.
She tells News 12 that after her son was diagnosed, she wanted private therapy for him, but it cost anywhere from $50,000 to $80,000 a year.
The cost of therapy, along with the stress of searching for quality care for her son, is what made Escobar want to support other families.  
“We wanted to start an organization where we can help underprivileged families have that same access to high-quality therapy that we’ve been able to afford,” she says.
So far, Magnify Autism has partnered with other programs including, Michelle Solomon Speech, The Waverly Group, and Rivertown Academy, a swimming school that offers two free scholarships.
In the coming months, they have fundraisers lined up and will also provide training for parents who need access to a board behavior analyst.
“We are partnering with organizations we can attest to,” Escobar says. “To this day, my son is the most affectionate boy; we play music, we sing, we dance, we laugh and I feel like that, along with good therapy, is how your child will begin to develop.”