Recognizing the positive effect that computer technology has been shown to have in educating children with autism, the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation began the Laurie Flutie Computer Initiative in 2000 as part of the annual grant cycle. Through this program, the foundation has distributed over 400 computers directly to underprivileged families of children with autism and their school districts in New England and New York. In 2002, Doug Flutie along with his son Dougie and wife Laurie personally delivered a computer to the home of a 7 year-old boy with autism from Braintree, Massachusetts.

In 2003, the Flutie Foundation was able to begin to offer even more computers due to a partnership with Compaq/HP, who generously donated 35 complete systems to be distributed to children with autism and their schools. Along with the Compaq/HP systems, 50 refurbished machines were purchased for distribution by the Foundation from Mindshare Collaborative in South Boston, Massachusetts.

Since coming on board as a sponsor of the Initiative, Hewlett Packard has donated over 115 computers to the program and in 2007 allowed the Foundation to purchase an additional 20 machines at their cost.

Computers are given to families of children with autism who could not otherwise afford to pay for them and to autism-specific classrooms for the sole use of children with autism and their teachers. 

As part of the 2008 Computer Initiative, the Flutie Foundation has partnered with AutismPro. AutismPro provides software tools and professional services to families, schools and early intervention providers.

As a special offer, AutismPro is providing free one-year access to AutismPro Workshops and AutismPro Resources for those parents and organizations participating in the Laurie Flutie Computer Initiative. AutismPro Workshops is an online eLearning series designed to train parents and teachers to work with children with autism. AutismPro Resources is an online program that provides access to thousands of activity plans that parents and teachers can use to teach a child with autism.

The Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation is also proud to announce a partnership agreement with Jigsaw Learning, makers of TeachTown, Inc. and Timo products, to deliver software programs for past and future recipients of the Laurie Flutie Computer Initiative. For each computer donated by the Foundation to a family, to a school system or to an educational program, recipients can elect to have the following software:

TeachTown: Basics, which is grounded in the science of ABA, incorporates structured learning such as Discrete Trial Training as well as naturalistic and play based activities. The program includes on and off-computer activities, automatic data tracking, compelling reinforcers and a communication system to keep everyone informed. Designed for children ages 2-7. This software includes six months of subscription service for families or 5 student accounts for 9 months of subscription service for schools and educational programs.

Timo Stories helps to improve verbal skills and builds your child's ability to understand questions, answer questions and retell stories. This software is designed for children preschool to 4th grade. This software includes one child account for unlimited service for families or 5 student accounts for unlimited service for schools and educational programs.

Timo Vocabulary teaches your child new words and concepts. Additionally, helps with identification, reading, spelling and speaking. This software is designed for children late preschool to 3rd grade. This software includes one child account for unlimited service for families or 5 student accounts for unlimited service for schools and educational programs.

If you would like to learn more about the products, please visit www.teachtown.com and www.animatedspeech.com.

Due to the increased cost in shipping, the Laurie Flutie Computer Initiative is limited to individuals and schools in New England, New York and New Jersey.

For more information about the Laurie Flutie Computer Initiative, please contact Chris Chirco at cchirco@flutiefoundation.org.

Past recipients of computers include:

Asperger's Association of New England
Autism Resource Center - W. Boyslton, Massachusetts
Beverly Massachusetts Public Schools' AIM Program
Billerica Massachusetts Public Schools
Braintree Massachusetts School District
Bridgewater/Raynham Massachusetts School District
Cambridge Massachusetts Public Schools
Community Bridges - Bow, NH
Community Resources for People with Autism
Concord New Hampshire Public Schools
Crossroads Center for Children - Massachusetts
Crossroads Center for Children - New Jersey
East Middlesex ARC - Reading, Massachusetts
Family Autism Center at SNCARC - Westwood, Massachusetts
Farmsteads of New England - Hillsborough, New Hampshire
Garrett Pressley Autism Resource Center - Mattapan, Massachusetts
Gloucester Massachusetts Public Schools
Jowonio School - New York
Leominster Massachusetts Public Schools
Lowell Massachusetts Public Schools
Mansfield Massachusetts Public Schools
Methuen Massachusetts Public Schools
Milford Massachusetts Public Schools
Nashoba Learning Group - Massachusetts
North Shore ARC - Danvers, Massachusetts
North Shore Education Consortium - Beverly, Massachusetts
Port Resources - S. Portland, Maine
QSAC Day School - New York
RCS Learning Center - Natick, Massachusetts
South Shore Education Collaborative
Springfield Massachusetts Public Schools
Tewksbury Massachusetts Public Schools
West Babylon New York School District

As well as several individual families in New England, New Jersey and New York