Corner Pieces is a small Michigan-based organization that was formed with help of family and friends by Ben and Tiffany Duff, the parents of a young autistic boy. When the Duffs received the heartbreaking diagnosis shortly before their son, Brian’s, second birthday in 2008, their intense efforts to improve the quality of his life led them to discover that Brian best responded to educational tools and applications on one of the most portable devices available today: the iPod Touch.

Through the establishment of Corner Pieces, the Duffs have made it their mission to provide iPods and iPads to autistic children and other youth in need who struggle with communication. The Duffs also seek to educate and inform the general public and other affected families about the causes, signs, and treatment of Autism. Corner Pieces is currently working with a few school disricts to determine the process of being able to provide the iPods and iPads to kids in need of the devices to communicate. As Corner Pieces becomes more established, they hope to be able to offer the devices directly to families through an essay/video contest. Corner Pieces is currently collecting the communication devices to distribute. You can donate used iPods and iPads to Corner Pieces via their website.

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Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. It effects every one in a one-hundred ten children in the United States.

Michigan has been ranked as one of the worst places to live for people with autism, according to an online survey conducted by the advocacy group Autism Speaks.

The survey, which collected data from more than 848 respondents throughout the lower 48 states and the District of Columbia, has been released by the organization in recognition of April’s Autism Awareness Month. Seventy-four percent of survey participants expressed general unhappiness with the quality of medical care and educational services available in their region of the country, while only 26 percent reported to be generally happy. Nearly all of the participants indicated a greater need for respite support — the ability to take a “break” from the daily challenges of caring for an autistic individual.

Although well advanced in autism research, Michigan still appeared on the list of states that generated the most negative survey responses, along with Virginia, Tennessee, Ohio, Florida, Texas, and California. The state’s lack of autism support in the political arena became evident in December 2010 after the Michigan Senate failed to pass legislation, HB 4476 and 4183, which would have reformed state health insurance laws regarding the treatment and care of autism.

Corner Pieces, a Michigan-based nonprofit organization, has taken on the challenge of raising awareness about autism spectrum disorder in Michigan. Founded by Ben and Tiffany Duff after their young son was diagnosed with autism in 2008, the organization works to provide advocacy and support for families of autistic children. To raise funds for autism research, Corner Pieces will sponsor a golf outing at the Lapeer Country Club in Lapeer, Michigan on May 22, 2011, as well as a second outing at the Tanglewood Marsh Golf Course in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan on September 18, 2011.

To learn more about autism and Corner Pieces’ work in Michigan, visit their website.