Rachel, the heart and inspiration behind our mission, was born with autism and intellectual disability. As her mother, a practicing dentist and primary caretaker for Rachel and her sister, I quickly learned that navigating the world of special needs was fraught with challenges. Finding appropriate services and direction for Rachel was not just difficult—it was often impossible. Every day was a battle to secure the care she required and provide her with opportunities to grow, develop skills, and live a fulfilling life.

I founded The RACHEL Project with a singular vision: To help families like mine. RACHEL stands for Realizing Abilities, Creating Hope, and Empowering Lives. Our mission is simple but powerful—to foster greater independence, self-esteem, and fulfillment for individuals and families touched by autism.

As Rachel grew, so did my anxiety. Adulthood, which should be a time of blossoming independence, instead brought even more uncertainty and fear. The support services and school structure that I relied on to maintain my career began to dwindle. Social and recreational opportunities became scarce, care providers disappeared, and finding meaningful employment for Rachel became unattainable.

The world felt shockingly small, the opportunities fewer, and the future more daunting. But this story is not one of despair—it is one of hope, resilience, and transformation.

Caring for an adult with autism across a lifetime is expensive. Many individuals and families remain in poverty, unable to work while balancing care, government benefits, and medical or behavioral issues. Families are often stuck with little hope of any future change. We want to be a lifeline. The RACHEL Project offers direct financial assistance with no red tape to those in need. Help us be a lifeline to those in the struggle every day.

This is more than just a charity; it’s a movement born out of a mother’s love, dedicated to empowering lives and creating a future full of possibilities.

We work to ensure that individuals with autism, like Rachel, and families like mine have the chance to live big, full lives filled with opportunities, joy, and hope. No one should be alone on this journey.