Question about make a wish

[AutisticAlice]

I know that Make a Wish is more for those with life threatening illnesses but my question is, do they grant wishes to people with Autism as well?

It's not for me. It's for my story. I want it to be accurate so that I don't give my readers mixed signals about Make a Wish granting wishes to people with Autism, when they might not, you know?

I could email them, but I bet they get about a million emails a day so they may not respond right away to mine particularly. That's why I'm wondering if anyone knows how they work and what not.

I do know they are pretty good at granting wishes for Disney trips though which is why I chose them for my story, considering it's the only wish foundation I know of for that kind of thing.

But if anyone knows others, please say so.

 

[Kellykins1218]

I'm pretty sure Make A Wish is just for kids with life threatening illnesses. Autism wouldn't qualify. Believe me, with 3 kids on the spectrum, I'd know if they were eligible.

 

[kritter47]

The previous poster is correct. Make-A-Wish grants wishes to children between the ages of 2 1/2 and 17 (at the time of referral) who have a life-threatening medical condition. Autism is not, in and of itself, a life-threatening medical condition, though kids with autism may be eligible because of other medical conditions they might have (a kid with both autism and some types of heart conditions may be eligible, or autism and some types of life-threatening epilepsy).

Here is MaW's page on the subject: http://www.wish.org/refer/who_is_eligible

 

[WheeledTraveler]

Make-A-Wish doesn't grant wishes for kids whose only medical condition is autism, as far as I know. They do grant wishes to kids who have a life-threatening condition as well as being autistic.

There are other organizations that grant wishes for kids with autism. The Sunshine Foundation is the one that came up the quickest when I did a quick search online. It looks like they have their own separate resort near WDW and the other Orlando-area theme parks. (Different from Give Kids the World which is the one used by Make-A-Wish and many other wish granting organizations.)

 

[AutisticAlice]

Make-A-Wish doesn't grant wishes for kids whose only medical condition is autism, as far as I know. They do grant wishes to kids who have a life-threatening condition as well as being autistic.

There are other organizations that grant wishes for kids with autism. The Sunshine Foundation is the one that came up the quickest when I did a quick search online. It looks like they have their own separate resort near WDW and the other Orlando-area theme parks. (Different from Give Kids the World which is the one used by Make-A-Wish and many other wish granting organizations.)

That sounds perfect. In fact, I should contact them though. You know, to ask their permission for using their organization in my story. I don't want to do that and not be sure it's okay with them. That would be bad.

 

[AutisticAlice]

Sorry to make a double post but, it saves time from making a new topic. Does anyone know how these wish foundations work? Like, do they help the person fulfill there wish by being with them? OR do they just let the person and a few family members do their own thing? I really need help understanding how they work so I can do it right. D:

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Sorry to make a double post but, it saves time from making a new topic. Does anyone know how these wish foundations work? Like, do they help the person fulfill there wish by being with them? OR do they just let the person and a few family members do their own thing? I really need help understanding how they work so I can do it right. D:

Why don't you just go to the website of the organization and read the information there? Everything is explained. You could also Google the organization to find all the information you will need. If you're writing the story, you should do your own research,

 

[AutisticAlice]

Why don't you just go to the website of the organization and read the information there? Everything is explained. You could also Google the organization to find all the information you will need. If you're writing the story, you should do your own research,

I did... but I don't see anything where they've said they stay with the people they sponsor wishes for. I've never really made a wish before, so it's all new to me to be honest.

 

[SteveMouse]

It can, and does,vary, depending on the nature of the wish and the resources available to the granting organization.

 

[Mom2M07]

Most wish organizations do not stay with the family or child they are granting the wish for. They provide resources to allow the family to take the trip and fullfill the wish, but do not actively participate in it.

 

[AutisticAlice]

Okay so basically, if I were to make up a fake in for the story, I can pretty much have it say they help my character with her needs and to make sure everything goes well. I plan using fake one instead. But it would be really good one though. I'm thinking maybe the wish grantors could be touched by what she wrote, and they granted her wish in as little as two months... Maybe three. I don't want to make it any longer than that because it would throw the reader off, especially if they don't quite know how a wish foundation works. It could be confusing to skip to a few years later, where a few months is a little less drastic.

But that's just me. I just want this story to work out. I'm inspired by the idea of an autistic person's first experience at Disney World. I chose Disney World over Disneyland because I'm more familiar with disney world. I went there when I was in first and second grade.

 

[camper06]

Sorry to make a double post but, it saves time from making a new topic. Does anyone know how these wish foundations work? Like, do they help the person fulfill there wish by being with them? OR do they just let the person and a few family members do their own thing? I really need help understanding how they work so I can do it right. D:

There is a sticky at the top of the disabilities board called Wish Trippers unite. Those folks have tons of pre trip and trip reports regarding their childrens' wish trips. Maybe if you read some of the trip reports, you would get to see how the whole process works, from beginning to end. Just a thought.

Good luck with your story

 

[AutisticAlice]

Yeah, I figured out what that thread was AFTER I posted this. I thought of even going in there to ask them questions too. But I think it can work if I use a fake foundation specifically forth the story only. That way, I can organize it however I want and decide what they do, etc., you know? It makes it loads easier than going with one that exists, especially when they might like that very much.

 

[SueM in MN]

Yeah, I figured out what that thread was AFTER I posted this. I thought of even going in there to ask them questions too. But I think it can work if I use a fake foundation specifically forth the story only. That way, I can organize it however I want and decide what they do, etc., you know? It makes it loads easier than going with one that exists, especially when they might like that very much.

I would make it a fake organization. You would run ino problems making it a real one.
Google different names to make sure there is not one that exists with the name you choose. I would also add in the forward that your story is make believe - something like this:

All characters and orgnizations appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real organizations or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

There are Los disclaimers for using real things like Disney World in fiction. You can search for them and find disclaimers on the Internet.

 

[divergent]

I'm pretty sure Make A Wish is just for kids with life threatening illnesses. Autism wouldn't qualify. Believe me, with 3 kids on the spectrum, I'd know if they were eligible

 

[lanejudy]

Since this thread is more than 2 years old, and appears to have been bumped by mistake, I'm closing it.